The 35th annual Fantasy of Lights gets kicked off at the end of this week with fun-filled days scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3-5.

The Snowball Classic Softball Tournament presented by Texas Elite Fastpitch Events gets things rolling Friday at B&PW Park before a stacked Saturday starts with the Jingle Bell Fun Runs hosted by the Girls Who Love To Run at 8:30 a.m. (5k) and 9:30 a.m. (1k) that will benefit the Sealy PTA. Visit raceroster.com/ events/2021/54669/jinglebell-fun-run to register.

The Saturday events culminate in the annual parade through downtown Sealy at 6 p.m. and Melanie Willingham, the President of Sealy Community Foundation who enters her 16th year at the helm of the winter festival, bestowed the honor of this year’s Parade Marshal to the Sealy Eastside Foundation during a Facebook live interview in The Sealy News Studios Nov. 15.

“We wanted to start recognizing those local nonprofits from around our community that have worked so hard not only around our community but with Sealy Community Foundation,” Willingham said. “This particular group has stepped up in more ways than one, we called at the lastminute needing someone to fill in and this group has been the one to step up and just go for it. It gives me goosebumps to think about how much they have done for us.”

They’ll be in charge of the parade which features a theme of “Cajun Christmas,” that Willingham hopes sets records for participation numbers.

“If you don’t want to do theme, you don’t have to. The only thing we ask is lights, lights and more lights,” Willingham said. “My goal this year is to have the biggest parade we’ve had so far. I want a lot of entrees. If you’re thinking about it, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Just come out, sit on the back of your truck, put some lights out and join our parade. Let’s see the sense of unified community here.”

The parade will serve as the cherry on top of a busy Saturday that has vendors, live performances (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), children’s activities (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and live snow (3 p.m.) all on the docket. Willingham said she was exceptionally excited about another Saturday item, however.

“We always like to add one thing every year but this year we’re adding two,” Willingham said. “We’re going to do a pet parade that starts at 3:15 p.m. The sign up is that day, meet behind city hall on Atchison and Second Street and you’ll go in front of the stage and around the park and we’re going to award prizes for the most creative, best owner/pet duo, best behaved and funniest.”

Visit fantasyoflights. sealycommunityfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-FOL- Pet-Parade-Final.pdf to print out the registration form.

“The second new thing we’re adding we’re really bringing back because we did it the first five or so years I was involved, it’s a home decorating contest,” Willingham said. “Decorate your house any way you want to, it’s free to enter and you can win gift cards to a local hardware store. The award categories are for best overall, most creative, most outlandish – so I’m thinking Chevy Chase Christmas vacation – and a business. The houses will all win gift cards but for the businesses we’re going to do a pizza party for up to 10 people in the office.”

According to information on the Fantasy of Lights website, all entries must be submitted online at fantasyoflights.sealycommunityfoundation.com/; emailed to mwillingham@wilsonengr.com; or mailed to Sealy Community Foundation, PO Box 406, Sealy, TX 77474. All entries must be received by Dec. 10, judging will take place the evening of Dec. 12 and the winners will be announced Dec. 13. It says the winners need not be in the city limits, however, the address/business must be a Sealy address.

For those looking for a smaller-scaled decorating contest, a gingerbread house decorating contest will be taking place Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. The FOL website had directions on how and where to pick up decorating kits.

A limited number of houses will be available the day of the event. Please reserve yours before the event to ensure there are enough: Sealy City Offices – Daily through Saturday, Dec. 3, 11 a.m. (405 Main Street); Sealy Chamber of Commerce – Daily through Friday, Dec. 3 (309 Main Street); 9th Annual Vendor Blender – Thursday, Dec. 2, 12-8 p.m. (131 Main Street).

Winners will be crowned from age categories 5 and under; 6-11; 12-17; 18+; Special Needs; and 65+ at 2 p.m. at the Levine Family Park Pavilion at 406 Main Street. Contact Abby Moyle (616-260- 8186) with questions.

“My goal this year is to have the biggest parade we’ve had so far. I want a lot of entrees. Let’s see the sense of unified community here.”

— MELANIE WILLINGHAM, PRESIDENT OF SEALY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION