Fantasy of Lights & Fantasy 5k

Kick off your holiday season with the Fantasy of Lights! Enjoy local dining and shopping, meet Santa and his reindeer and watch one of the longest running holiday parades in the area!

On our festival street, otherwise known as State Street, spectators can shop with local merchants, grab refreshments, enjoy live entertainment, and pop in for a visit with Santa and his Reindeer.

The Fantasy 5K race and one-mile family fun walk is one-of-a-kind. Runners don their favorite holiday apparel, costumes and lights to race along the parade route. The atmosphere is fun and exciting with a crowd on each side of Grand River cheering on our festive racers.

The main event of the evening is the Fantasy of Lights Parade, hosted by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation. It has been the official kick-off to the holiday season in Howell for almost 40 years, becoming a holiday favorite for many families. When the lights go down, grab a hot chocolate and watch beautifully lit floats soar down Grand River along with local marching bands, first responders, special guests and the big guy himself, Santa!

3:30 PM  |  Cleary University’s Peppermint Path Opens (State Street)

4:00 PM – 5:45 PM  |  Photos with Santa

5:30  |  Fantasy 5K Costume Contest at Library

6:00 PM  |  Fantasy 5K & Family Run/Walk

As a safety precaution, please note dogs are not permitted in the race/walk

7:00 PM  |  Fantasy of Lights Parade

Entertainment Schedule

Westbound Grand River: Vehicle traffic traveling westbound on Grand River will be detoured to northbound on National Street, to westbound Clinton, to Byron Road. At Byron traffic will be routed northbound to W Highland Rd, westbound to N Highlander Way back to westbound Grand River Ave.

At the intersection of Clinton and Michigan, no left turns will be permitted from westbound Clinton to southbound Michigan, eastbound Clinton to northbound Michigan, and southbound Michigan to eastbound Clinton.

Eastbound Grand River: Vehicle traffic traveling eastbound on Grand River will be detoured to southbound S Highlander Way changing to McPherson Park Drive to eastbound Mason Rd. Continue straight transitioning to Marion St., to northbound Dearborn St, to eastbound E Livingston, to Northbound Fowler, to eastbound E Sibley, to southbound S National and back to eastbound E Grand River. Vehicles will be permitted to turn southbound Michigan, if they choose.

Southbound Michigan Avenue: Vehicles travelling southbound on Michigan Avenue will be directed westbound on Clinton. Left turns onto eastbound Clinton will be prohibited. Detour signs will indicate traffic to travel to Byron Rd, which will lead them out to W Highland Rd to southbound Highlander Way back to westbound Grand River.

Northbound Michigan Avenue: Vehicles travelling northbound on Michigan Avenue will be directed to eastbound on Sibley; left turns onto westbound Sibley will be prohibited. Detour signs will indicate traffic to travel to southbound National, which will lead back to Grand River.

1984   Mike Hagman

1985   Sally Witt

1986   Margaret Starkey & Charlie Itsell

1987   Ed MacDonald

1988   Bob Wood

1989   Ed & Margaret Doane

1990   Don Monroe

1991   Loretta Shafer Powell

1992   Delmar Richards

1993   Vic Lopez

1994   Janet Miesle

1995   Don* & Sandee Greene

1996   Pam Rietsch

1997   Frank & Mary Cleary

1998   Rod Bushey

1999   Greg Clum

2000   Martha & Jerry McKenzie

2001   Jeff Boyd, Jim Reed & Stephanie Schlusler

2002   Duane Zemper

2003   Lee Reeves

2004   Vic & Kathy Spaniola

2005   Peter Bowen & Charlotte Swann

2006   Becky & Ed Harwood

2007   Jackie Mullaney

2008   Dr Ismael Yanga

2009   Harry & Mary Griffith

2010   Jack* & Bev LaBelle

2011   Joyce Fisher

2012   Mike Hall

2013   George Moses

2014   Melissa Gilbert & Timothy Busfield

2015   Les Rodwell

2016   Joe & Becky Parker

2017   Kathleen Zaenger

2018   Cathleen Edgerly & Kate Litwin

2019   Richard Lim

2020  George Basar/LuAnn & AndyPless  (Howell Rec) & Erv Suida (Acting City Manager)

2021   Erin MacGregor

2022   Steve Manor

2023   Clark Gill

2024   Tony Poma

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