Millions of lights. Millions of smiles.

During the holiday season, the Fantasy World resort in Kissimmee area goes all out for Christmas with Night of a Million Lights. At Give the Kids the World Village, the holiday is a chance to become a fairytale wonderland — with more than a million lights creating displays from the whimsical to the breathtaking, from the fantasy to the fantastic.

Each year, the village becomes a Christmas memory in the making, transforming the entire area with millions of lights, dancing light shows, a sparkling tree trail and larger-than-life displays to the delight of every kid and kid-at-heart who turns out for the annual tour of the neighborhood.

Added to the fun are a holiday marketplace, visits by Santa and a guided storytelling tour.

There is a 150-foot light tunnel, more than 50 holiday displays, dozens of decorated residential villas, a gingerbread arch, and more.

Started in 1986, the village is an 89-acre, nonprofit resort that gives sick kids and their families free vacations at no cost. Since its founding, the village has hosted more than 176,000 families from all 50 states and 76 countries.

Tickets to Night of a Million Lights allows the resort offer those trips.

The event began as an "inventive pandemic pivot," according to the Good News Network website. With more than 92,000 visitors in 2020, it has been recognized as the top thing to do in Orlando in December.

The event takes nearly two months to set up, and is run by volunteers who, by the end of each Night of a Million Lights, contribute more than 30,000 volunteer hours. But, by the end, visitors are immersed in the magic of Christmas — from the light shows, music, and holiday vignettes.

Also immersing everyone in the magic of Christmas are the Sandpoint Lions, who each year, dedicated hours upon hours into raising money, shopping for the perfect gifts and working to make merry.

To make that happen, the Lions partner with local residents and business to raise $75,000 to buy toys and gift cards for more than 1,000 youth in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Today's generous donations, totaling $2,550, come from: Linda and Steve Schaffner, $200; Brian and Kathryn Powell, $200; Carol and Gary Steinway, $200; Lynda M Roberts, $500; anonymous, $100; Ronald W Forsberg DDS and Laura Forsberg, $500; Serve and Barbara Wilson "In Memory of our son, Todd Serve Wilson," $500; Douglas and Janice Mueller, $100; Charles A. and Tracy A Tigert, $100; and James and Susan Austin "In memory of Jimmy", $150.

To date, the campaign has raised $15,872.50 toward its $75,000 goal to provide Christmas presents to those in need in the Lake Pend Oreille School District

If you know someone who needs help, make sure they sign up so Christmas is a happy holiday for everyone in the community. The deadline this year is Dec. 12 to sign up and Dec. 13 to pick up toys.

Each year, the Lions team up with local businesses and residents through Toys for Tots to ensure everyone has a merry Christmas.

Funds raised go toward purchasing new toys for area children — or gift cards for older youth — who live in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Every Christmas, the Lions help almost 1,000 area children, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in between.

This year’s goal is $75,000 to ensure all area youth receive a present. Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, P.O. Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864, or dropped into any coin jar around town. Donations should include a note that it is for Toys for Tots and, if you wish to remain anonymous, please mention that in your note.

Donations made by check are preferred. Be sure to include a note with your check indicating that it is a Toys for Tots donation. If you wish to make an anonymous donation, please include a note.

If the donation is being made in someone’s name, be sure to also include a note.

Each day during the drive, donors’ names will be published along with the amount of their donations. A running total will be included to help the community know where the Toys for Tots campaign stands.

If you can, please consider donating. Every penny, every dollar adds up, and if we all pitch in, we can make this, once again, a successful Toys for Tots campaign. Additional donations help the Lions buy ahead and make the most of the community’s generous support.

In Sandpoint, toys and donations can be dropped off at the Bonner County Daily Bee, Mr. Sub, Columbia Bank, Connie’s Cafe, Serv-A-Burger, Mountain West Bank, Pivo Peaks Alehouse, Sandpoint Family Medicine and Urgent Care, and the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

In Sagle, toys and donations can be dropped off at Buckin’ Beans and Encoder Products (in the front lobby, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

In Ponderay, toys and donations can be dropped off at Alpenglow Salon, Walmart, North 40, Columbia Bank, Arnie’s, Better Together Animal Shelter, Community Resource EnVision Center, Litehouse, Elite Tire, Vinnie Todd’s Barbershop, Hoot Owl, Papa Murphy’s and Mountain West Bank.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118, [email protected] or bit.ly/SandpointLions