Optimist Club welcomes families to annual Christmas Fantasyland

A fully decorated Christmas Fantasyland has opened inside the Optimist Club hall on Gilmore Road, offering Fort Erie families a place to visit Santa and support children’s programs across town.

Now in its 23rd year, the Fort Erie Optimist Club is running Christmas Fantasyland 2025 at its hall at 1555 Gilmore Road over two weekends from November 28 to December 7. Admission is free, with families invited to bring non-perishable food for the Community Outreach Program Erie (COPE) food bank and money for activities that support snowsuits, sports and other programs for local children.

Inside the hall, volunteers have turned the main room into a walk-through Christmas scene with a central display that changes theme every year. The Optimist Club starts planning that theme in January, keeps it under wraps until opening day and leaves the decorations in place so anyone renting the hall through to January 1 walks into a ready-made holiday setting.

A local painter, 24-year-old artist Madison Chappelle, created the hand-painted backdrop that frames the front of the room this year after also contributing last year. Club members told Fort Erie Radio they avoided posting photos of her work before opening, so children see the artwork for the first time when they walk in with their families.

“We spend numerous hours getting it like this, and then we have the kids come in with Santa, do cookies with Mrs. Claus, and run around,” said Lucille Cashman, president of the Optimist Club.

Families can visit Santa, hand over wish lists and pose for photos, while Mrs. Claus helps children decorate cookies before they leave with a bag of candy.

Volunteers have also set up a penny sale with donated prizes from residents and local businesses, as well as a long table of homemade baked goods. Cashman said some adults drop in mainly to take part in the penny sale and visit the bake table, even if they are not bringing children.

Next to the baked goods, volunteers serve hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks throughout the day. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

“All the funds we have coming in go to kids. This year we donated 34 snowsuits, hats and gloves for the Salvation Army so those little kids can be warm,” said Cashman.

She said the club also backs local youth sports and other child-focused efforts once basic needs such as winter gear are covered.

“We do everything for children. This is one of our main things every year, so the kids can come in and see Santa and have some fun. It’s important to get them out and get them in this kind of atmosphere,” said Cashman.

Cashman said every person on site is a member volunteer who gives time without pay, including decorating at the hall.

“I just do this out of the heart,” said Cashman.

At the bake table, club member Anne Taylor said volunteers split up the work of baking pies, butter tarts and other sweets at home before each weekend.

“Next weekend, during the week, we go home and bake some more for next weekend,” said Taylor.

Club members said they hear from parents who visit other seasonal events in town and still make a point of returning to the Optimist Hall each year.

“They loved this because it really screams Christmas,” said Cashman.

Christmas Fantasyland 2025 continues at the Optimist Club this Friday, with families welcomed to bring non-perishable food for COPE and cash if they wish to take part in the penny sale, buy baked goods or support the club’s work for local children.

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