Lincoln Park creates holiday magic with annual Fantasyland

 

By SUE SUCHYTA

Sunday Times Newspapers

LINCOLN PARK – Fantasyland and Festival of Trees kicked off the city’s annual holiday tradition Nov. 29 at the Kennedy Memorial Building, 3240 Ferris Ave.

Past Mayor and Exchange Club leader Thomas Karnes said the event is put on by the Chamber of Commerce with the help of numerous volunteers.

“It’s really a labor of love,” he said. “Most of the people are volunteers that have put all this on and they spend all their holidays here, and they’ve been doing this since Nov. 1 to get this open now.”

Karnes said money raised through admission goes toward supplies for next year, including storage trailers.

He said some tableaus have been around since the event began, with some new displays added each year. This year, Bumble’s Café and Sven’s Haus are new additions.

“This is a labor of love that they do and it is primarily a benefit for kids Downriver and even families that come from up north as part of their traditions,” Karnes said.

 

He said there are also sensory-friendly viewing times by pre-arrangement for those with special needs.

Karnes said he enjoys seeing the joy in children as they discover Fantasyland for the first time, as well as the look in their eyes when they approach Santa.

“They will look back at the memories that they had here and their Christmas traditions,” he said.

Karnes said the Festival of Trees on the upper level, for which a $50 entry fee is submitted by each group decorating a tree, will benefit the Junior Rails, which sponsor sports and cheer programs, this year.

Also located on the second floor is the Lincoln Park Train Club, which has expanded its display to include a second level for its trains.

Member Bob Adler said they have three new loops of 24 feet of track, which allows the club to run three more trains in addition to the four on the lower level during the Fantasyland display.

He said the new layout took about three-and-a-half months to build, install and make operational. 

“It has lights and all kinds of wonderful features,” Adler said. “We’re here all the time. Next year will be 20 years.”

 

He said they are open to the public every Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting in February, until Fantasyland opens in late November, then they follow its schedule through the holidays.

“We’re just big kids playing with trains,” he said.

Sean Hobbs said he joined the group because of his 15-year-old son’s interest in trains, which began when his son was 2 years old. 

“It’s a good way to get the kids off the screens and interact and see something they can’t see every day,” he said.

Adler said it’s an ongoing hobby that teaches many skills, including carpentry, electrical expertise, engineering and artistry.

“This is a great hobby to have,” he said.

Volunteer Mike Horvath said the best part of Fantasyland for him is seeing families smiling and happy together, creating good memories. 

He said he remembers visiting Fantasyland as a boy during the 1960s.

“It’s very positive that people come and it’s good memories,” Horvath said. “There are good things that they see on TV, but it’s more of a reality than it is just something from afar.”

Fantasyland runs 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 17, 18, 19, 22 and 23; 2 to 8 p.m. Dec. 20 and 21; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 24 at the Kennedy Memorial Building, 3240 Ferris Ave.