Club events
26 November - 31 December | Rotary Club of Lake Country-Hartland, Wisconsin
Yule Feed Families
This holiday fundraiser and food drive was founded in 1991 by longtime club members Gary Jasiek and Scott Peterson and for many years was organized in partnership with the newspaper they both worked for. Since its inception, the annual campaign has collected more than $1 million in donations and tens of thousands of grocery items for five food pantries in the Lake Country area of Waukesha County. This year, the club hopes to raise at least $55,000.
28 November-31 December | Eight Rotary clubs in District 6250 (parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota)
Holiday Light Show
Since 1995, Rotary clubs in and around La Crosse, Wisconsin, have put on an extravagant display of lights that draws thousands of people to Riverside Park each holiday season. Opening night is the day after Thanksgiving and includes a parade and fireworks. Santa and his reindeer roam the park nightly through 23 December, and carriage rides, hayrides, and a live nativity are offered on select evenings. Admission is free; organizers encourage donations of cash and nonperishable food items to benefit local food pantries.
4 December | Rotary Club of Hattiesburg (Sunrise), Mississippi
Gingerbread House Decorating Contest
One hour. Fifty teams. A whole lot of candy. These are the essential ingredients for a contest in which people of all ages race to build the best-looking gingerbread house, decorated with confections like candy canes and chocolates. The finished structures are judged by a jury of community members, who award cash prizes of $100, $250, and $500. Proceeds benefit local projects and nonprofits.
Tell us about your club’s upcoming event: Write to magazine@rotary.org and put “calendar” in the subject line. To be considered for inclusion in Rotary magazine’s print edition, submissions must be received at least five months before the event.
4-7 December | Rotary Club of Greenville, South Carolina
Holiday Fair and Kringle Village
In 2021 the club launched the Kringle Village, an annual European-style Christmas market. Last year the village merged with the Greenville Convention Center’s long-running Holiday Fair to provide people in South Carolina’s Upstate region with a single spectacular event for seasonal shopping and entertainment. Visitors can browse the wares of more than 400 vendors, enjoy live musical performances, meet Santa, and more. Proceeds benefit local projects and nonprofits.
5-7 December | Rotary Club of Hammonton, New Jersey
Winterfest
This weekend festival offers something for everyone. Under a large heated outdoor tent, dozens of vendors sell arts, crafts, food, and drinks, while a high school jazz band and chorus make merry music. Activities for kids include balloon art and face painting. On Saturday morning, the Galloping Grinch 5K race takes off from the fairgrounds. Attendees are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys or nonperishable food items for local families in need.
13 December | District 7950 (Rhode Island and part of Massachusetts)
Family Day on the Polar Express
Rotary members and their families are invited to hop aboard the Polar Express, a 90-minute ride on a vintage train with a view of “the North Pole.” The fun-filled experience begins at the historic Blackstone Valley station in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and is produced by the local tourism council. To foster holiday spirit and camaraderie, the district has reserved an 88-seat train car, with discounted tickets sold by the Rotary Club of Woonsocket.
20 December | Rotary Club of Georgetown-Sun City, Texas
Breakfast with Santa
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the club’s holiday breakfast, which fills bellies and warms hearts as hundreds of families feast on pancakes and sausage and take photos with Santa. The proceeds, which reached almost $30,000 last year, provide food-related assistance to children and families in the central Texas communities that the club serves.
1 January | Rotary Club of Fair Lawn-Sunrise, New Jersey
1st Day 5K
Since 2003, the club has held a New Year’s Day 5K run to promote healthy habits and community spirit, with last year’s race attracting more than 400 participants. This year’s doubles as the kick-off event for Fair Lawn’s celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States. Those who prefer a more leisurely experience can take part in a 1-mile walk. Proceeds from the event benefit local projects, nonprofits, and scholarships.
10 January | Rotary clubs of Daytona Beach West, Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach, and Southeast Volusia Golf, Florida
Ride to End Polio
Originally organized by the New Smyrna Beach club, this annual bike ride to raise money for End Polio Now is now a joint effort with three other clubs in District 6970. The ride begins at a park sponsored by the Edgewater club and continues along the scenic East Central Regional Rail Trail. Cyclists can choose among routes of 6, 20, and 30 miles.
24 January | Rotary Club of Cypress-Fairbanks, Texas
Bourbon and Brisket
Held at a renovated barn on a 10-acre pasture, the club’s second annual barbecue dinner features mouthwatering brisket alongside a range of bourbons and other libations. There will also be music, backyard games such as horseshoes and cornhole, and live and silent auctions. Proceeds benefit Guns to Hammers Construction, a nonprofit that remodels the homes of military veterans with disabilities to make their living spaces more accessible.
24 January | Rotary Club of Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Chilly Chili Challenge
This chili cook-off is part of Blowing Rock’s four-day WinterFest celebration. There are separate divisions for home cooks and professional restaurant chefs, with the chefs partnering with local nonprofits to raise awareness of the organizations’ missions. Celebrity judges name the overall winners, while chili-sampling attendees determine the People’s Choice Award by donating money to their favorite chef’s nonprofit partner. The chef who raises the most wins. Event proceeds benefit local nonprofits and Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART Fund).
24 January | Rotary Club of Whitnall Park, Wisconsin
Sheepshead Tournament
Sheepshead is a trick-taking card game that derives from the Bavarian game Schafkopf (“sheep’s head” in German) and is especially popular in Wisconsin. This tournament takes place at the Greenfield Community Center and includes three rounds of play, a 50/50 raffle during each round, and lunch and drinks for a $25 admission fee. Cash prizes are awarded to the players who come in first, second, and third place. Proceeds benefit local projects.
30-31 January | Rotary Club of Skaneateles Sunrise, New York
Skaneateles Winterfest
The centerpiece of the club’s annual midwinter celebration is the Taste of Skaneateles, featuring samples of food and drinks from about 20 area restaurants. Attendees can also stroll past ice sculptures, watch an ice carving demonstration, go on a scavenger hunt, and participate in an ice-cold plunge into Skaneateles Lake. The event kicks off Friday night with the ceremonial lighting of a bonfire inside an ice block chimney. Proceeds support local and international projects.
31 January | Rotary Club of Lake County Golden Triangle, Florida
Sixth Annual Tri-City Fire Department Food Drive Challenge
Three fire departments in the cities of Eustis, Mount Dora and Tavares engage in a friendly annual competition to see which agency can gather the most food donations. Over the past five years, the Lake County Golden Triangle club has coordinated collections totaling more than 120,000 pounds of food which provided over 101,000 meals to community members struggling with food insecurity. Other partners include Lake Technical College, Chick-fil-A Mt. Dora and the Leesburg Elks Lodge. The food is donated to Lake Cares Food Pantry, which provides food and other necessities directly to people in need in Lake County. The club also has become a member of Club 500 to help meet the capital campaign goal for the pantry’s new building.