Fantasy in Lights Offers 8 Million Lights at Callaway Gardens for its 19th Year

This holiday season marks the 19th Annual Fantasy in Lights® -- named one of the top 48 events in the world by Chicago Tribune -- at Callaway Gardens, a 13,000-acre destination south of Atlanta. Fantasy in Lights features 8 million lights stretching more than five miles, creating 14 larger-than-life holiday scenes. As the most spectacular holiday light and sound show in the South, Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens sets Pine Mountain, Ga., ablaze from November 19 through December 30, 2010. Ticket prices range from $16 to $22 for adults and $8 to $11 for children, with children five and younger always admitted for free.

Visitors experience the light and sound extravaganza on the “Jolly Trolley” or by driving through the lighted scenes in their personal vehicle. The sparkling, animated displays include Snowflake Valley, a winter wonderland filled with enormous snowflakes and thousands of white lights; Magical Christmas Garden with a 24-foot wreath entrance; and Santa’s Workshop, showcasing animated lighted versions of Santa’s elves busy making all the toys for the big night. Be sure to see the two scenes on Robin Lake Beach that are both narrated, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Nativity. They each last about 10 minutes.

Ninety-nine percent of the frames used to create the scenes in Fantasy in Lights are custom designed and built just for Callaway Gardens, taking 3,900 man-hours to install. With a mission of connecting man and nature, every kilowatt of power used to light up Fantasy In Lights is compensated with “green” power as Callaway Gardens recently became the first resort in the Southeast to offset 100 percent of its electricity use by purchasing wind power credits.

Families experience the Christmas Village, an indoor magical Christmas wonderland shopping with opportunities to visit Santa Claus and other holiday characters. Inside the Village, guests have the opportunity to shop for specialty food items from the Callaway Gardens Country Store®, unique gifts, nostalgic toys from simpler times and an assortment of holiday ornaments. An array of Georgia crafters are on hand making and selling their wares.

The American Bus Association has once again selected Fantasy In Lights at Callaway Gardens as a “Top 100 Events in North America” for 2011. Fantasy In Lights also has been recognized numerous times by the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast and by America’s Best and Top Ten as one of the Top Three Light Shows in America.

For those interested in exploring the entire destination, Callaway Gardens offers a Fantasy In Lights overnight package that starts at $159* per night in the Mountain Creek Inn and includes:

• Fantasy In Lights admission
• Accommodations
• Special Jolly Trolley loading area dedicated for overnight guests
• Fantasy In Lights commemorative ornament
• Breakfast for two
• Admission to the world-class Gardens and its many attractions

This package also is available in the Southern Pine Cottages, Mountain Creek Villas the Lodge and Spa.

Callaway Gardens®, is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus. To experience nature at its finest, call 1-800-CALLAWAY or visit www.callawaygardens.com.

To experience the most spectacular holiday light and show in the South, visit www.callawaygardens.com or call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292).


*Rate is per night based on double occupancy in the Mountain Creek Inn. Based on availability. Some restrictions apply. Not applicable to groups.


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Celebrate the Holidays with Family and Friends at Fantasy in Lights®

T2F Note: A perennial favorite of our staff during the holidays is to see the magic and wonder of the holiday lights. We've always found it a sure way to brighten the holiday. Callaway Gardens is a sure bet for our coveted Fayette Front Page Day Tripper Award.

Make holiday memories that last a lifetime with family and friends amongst more than eight million sparkling lights and holiday sounds at the 18th annual Fantasy In Lights® at Callaway Gardens® November 20 through December 30, 2009.

Nestled throughout the wooded landscape of the Gardens, the southeast’s largest holiday light show features 12 unique holiday scenes and a truly magical Christmas Village for family members of all ages to enjoy.

Guests celebrate the joy of the season and the wonder of nature as they travel through five miles of larger-than-life lighted scenes on either the Jolly Trolley or in their personal vehicle. Custom designed holiday scenes, such as the favored Snowflake Valley and Santa’s Workshop, are set to classic Christmas music provided by more than 400 speakers making this an experience everyone will truly remember. Two favorite scenes, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Nativity, can be found on the shore of Robin Lake. Both are 10 minute presentations with spectacular animation, narration and music.

The Callaway Gardens Christmas Village is beautifully decorated with Christmas trees; a Toyland filled with classic Christmas toy treasures; and is the place for boys and girls of all ages to share their Christmas wishes with Santa. The Christmas Village also is filled with unique Christmas gifts and decor; wares made by Georgia crafters; a cookie decorating station; a candy-by-the-pound shop; a Fantasy In Lights souvenir shop and more. A food court will provide an option of food and sweet treats.

Callaway Gardens is proud to announce that Fantasy In Lights has been honored by the American Bus Association as a 2009 Top 100 Event in North America and by The Chicago Tribune as one of the Top 48 Events in the World in 2009. Since 1992, more than two million visitors have made Fantasy In Lights part of their holiday tradition. It is a wonderful way to spend quality time with family members.

Fantasy In Lights tickets start at $16 per adult and $8 per child and include same-day admission to Callaway Gardens to enjoy the beautiful holiday floral displays at the John A. Sibley Horticultural Center; the tropical warmth at the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center and the amazing feats of the Birds Of Prey show (weather dependent). Advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended. Simply purchase online at www.callawaygardens.com/fil or call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292).

Admission to Fantasy In Lights begins at 6:00 p.m. nightly. November 22nd is reserved for pedestrians only as more than 6,000 guests will stroll through the winter wonderland of Fantasy In Lights for the annual March of Dimes Night Walk.

Callaway Gardens is offering guests a special Fantasy In Lights package to provide families with an affordable and memorable holiday vacation to celebrate the season and reconnect with loved ones. Overnight packages are available at all four lodging options.

For additional information about Fantasy In Lights or to make a reservation for a special holiday experience, please go to www.callawaygardens.com/fil or call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292).

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Do You Miss Fantasy Football? Too Soon for Fantasy Baseball? Try Fantasy Fishing ... and Win $1 Million!

/PRNewswire/ -- Just because Steelers season is over and the Pirates are still two months away doesn't mean you still can't enjoy all the fun and excitement of fantasy sports.

And a $1 million grand prize with no entry fee doesn't hurt, either.

That's because fantasy fishing season is upon us. Established by the creator of FLW Outdoors and the Forrest Wood Cup, fantasy fishing is rapidly growing in popularity. There is no entry fee to enter, but for that added edge, participants can purchase Player's Advantage for only $10 to assist them in trying to win a $1 million payday, plus six $100,000 payouts, one for each qualifying tournament.

Fantasy Fishing is sponsored by FLW Outdoors, which brings the world's richest bass fishing tournament, the Forrest Wood Cup, to Pittsburgh this summer from July 30-Aug. 2. The Forrest Wood Cup is the final event in the Walmart FLW Tour, and just like fantasy football and fantasy baseball, you can follow the leading money winners on the FLW Tour all season long and win America's richest fantasy event when the Fantasy Fishing winners for 2009 are announced here in Pittsburgh on July 31.

There's no entry fee, it is easy to play, and one lucky winner will receive a check for $1 million. Runners-up will win prizes such as a $54,000 Ranger boat, a brand new Chevy vehicle, a $25,000 gift card, or one of more than 1,800 additional prizes.

The FLW Fantasy Fishing season kicks off on Thursday, February 12, with the first Walmart FLW Tour event in Lake Guntersville, Ala., the Chevy Open. Fantasy league players increase their chances of winning the $1 million grand prize by entering all FLW Fantasy Fishing tournaments throughout the season and accumulating a greater amount of points leading up to the Forrest Wood Cup.

The Richest Sports Fantasy Game

In just one season, Fantasy Fishing soared to the top of the fantasy sports world, gaining fans from all over the world attracted to the game's $7.3 million in cash and prizes, the highest payout of any fantasy sports game in the world.

More than 4,400 prizes were awarded during FLW Fantasy Fishing's first season, including seven $100,000 prizes, which went to the players who came in first place at the conclusion of each fantasy fishing tournament during the FLW Tour season. The $1 million grand prize went to the player who obtained the most points over the seven tournaments.

Last year's million dollar winner was Michael Thompson, 34, of Minneapolis.

Participants from 123 countries enjoyed Fantasy Fishing and prizes were awarded to players from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Indonesia, Poland, South Africa, Estonia and a number of other countries.

Easy to Play

Fantasy Fishing is one of the easiest fantasy sports to play, especially with Player's Advantage. Players can simply register online at www.fantasyfishing.com and start enjoying the fun. A team of ten anglers will be selected randomly for all players, who can simply play all season with that team, or select their own team from the FLW roster of anglers.

And Fantasy Fishing is free to all players, unlike other fantasy sports that require an entry fee that is used to create the prize pool for winners. Participants can win prizes for individual tournaments as well as accumulate points over the six event season to make them eligible for the $1 million cash prize, which will be awarded to the player with the highest overall points for the season. That winner will be announced here in Pittsburgh at the Forrest Wood Cup on July 31. Fantasy Fishing also offers $3 million and $5 million exacta bonus games by correctly ranking the top five finishers in the Forrest Wood Cup or the top seven finishers in a tournament.

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