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.
Held yearly since 2004, the club’s signature fundraiser consists of pitting local Briarcliff All-Stars against the nationally famous Harlem Magic Masters. More than a quarter of a million dollars has been raised and donated to local food banks, high school scholarships, the Cookstove International Project, Gullotta House and many other worthy charities.
A Toast to World Peace: Uniting Cultures through Wine & Food is the theme for the 13th annual event in sunny downtown El Paso. A new Gastronomic Battle on Friday will showcase local collegiate and high school culinary teams. Saturday’s traditional Grand Tasting features 500 premier wines from around the country and food from 24 of El Paso’s finest restaurants. An original Toast to World Peace event art poster will connect all attendees to the Rotary message. Proceeds benefit local projects.
Las Vegas in the 1970s is the theme for the club’s annual fall fundraiser. The imaginary trip to the Strip includes casino games such as blackjack, craps, and roulette, as well as a buffet dinner featuring retro-inspired dishes and drinks. Attendees are encouraged to dress the part (think bell bottoms, velour suits, and halter tops). An Elvis impersonator will provide razzle-dazzle entertainment and photo ops. Proceeds benefit local projects.
Ahead of Veterans Day, the club has invited people to dedicate American flags in honor of heroes — either community heroes, such as first responders, teachers, and military service members, or personal heroes, such as mentors and family members. The 7-foot flags, each accompanied by a personalized medallion, will be installed at a park for a week starting the day of the ceremony at which the honorees will be announced. Proceeds benefit local projects.
This fair has been an annual tradition in Franklin since the 1970s, but this year marks the first time the club has organized the event. The dozens of vendors who set up booths at a high school include knitters, jewelers, glassmakers, and painters, many of whom have been selling their handmade wares at the fair for decades. A raffle offers the opportunity to win items contributed by the vendors, while a bake sale provides treats to snack on while shopping. Proceeds benefit local projects and nonprofits.
For more than two decades, the club has decorated Village Park with thousands of lights during the holiday season. Between the Sunday before Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, people can drive through the park to see the illuminated displays every night from 5 to 9 p.m. While the event is free, the club collects donations from visitors and raises additional funds through sponsorships. The proceeds benefit local and international projects and nonprofits.
The 36th annual community fundraiser solicits donations and gifts from the community during the holidays to raise funds used all year by five area food pantries that serve food-insecure households. Last year, the drive raised $65,250, a 28% increase over the previous year. Since its inception in 1991, it has raised $1.14 million and, working with local school districts, collected 54,912 groceries for the pantries (Hartland, Pewaukee, North Lake, Kettle Moraine, and St. Vincent de Paul in Hartland).
With 3,000-plus participants last year, this Thanksgiving morning 5K is the largest in the state, according to the club. The course starts on Peirce Island, then winds through downtown Portsmouth. Top overall finishers win a free entry to next year’s race. Given the holiday, only water, coffee, and bananas are served at the finish line. “We have learned that nobody wants to eat our food when they are headed out to eat a Thanksgiving feast,” explains the club’s website. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits.
Now in its 21st year, this monthlong attraction at Palm Coast’s Central Park features more than 50 holiday light displays around a lake, along with a Santa’s Village area that includes elf houses, a mini-train ride, and a fire pit for roasting marshmallows. The celebration kicks off on 28 November with the city’s official tree lighting ceremony and a food festival. Proceeds benefit local projects and nonprofits.
Each year nearly 130,000 visitors enjoy this holiday tradition, now in its 32nd year, while driving, walking, or taking a carriage ride through Riverside Park. Santa and a few reindeer will be in the park every night through 23 December (when Mr. Claus has to return to the North Pole to get to work!) A live nativity, carriage rides, and hayrides will be available on select nights. Free s'mores are offered nightly. Proceeds benefit local non-profits and food banks.
Every year during the holiday season, the city of Fountain Inn offers ticketed rides in decorated horse-drawn carriages through its downtown and nearby neighborhoods. As the tickets routinely sell out, the club sets up tables at the check-in area to sell hot chocolate and treats to people waiting in line. A portion of the proceeds goes toward the Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART Fund).
For nearly two decades, the club has organized this festive race in which runners swarm the streets in red Santa suits. The costumes, complete with a cap and white beard, are provided to all participants who sign up for a 5K run or 1-mile walk. There is also a 2-block “reindeer dash” for children ages 10 and under, who get a set of antlers and a red nose to wear. Since it began, the event has raised more than half a million dollars in support of local and international projects and nonprofits.
This impactful community event empowers 500 children of all abilities to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle, build confidence and resilience, and discover the thrill of personal achievement through a supportive, fun, and safe swim-bike-run course. The Juniors (ages 6-9) swim 75 yards, bike one mile, and run a half mile, while the Seniors (ages 10-13) complete double these distances.
This beloved community tradition brings a burst of small‑town magic to the holiday season, filling Main Street with festive floats, marching bands, twinkling lights, and families bundled up to watch it all roll by. Powered by the spirit of service, more than 100 Rotary and community volunteers work behind the scenes to make the celebration shine and to raise money for local nonprofits.
Now in its 27th year, this free event attracts more than 40,000 spectators annually to downtown McKinney, a fast-growing suburb north of Dallas. The parade features more than 100 illuminated floats representing community organizations and businesses, as well as decorated vehicles, high school bands, and other marching groups. This year’s theme is Passport to the Holidays, in celebration of diverse holiday traditions from around the world.
In the thick of the holiday shopping season, nearly 120 crafters and artisans will sell their wares at this annual craft fair held at a high school. Items for sale include candles, jewelry, pottery, quilts, birdhouses, baked goods, and more. After making their way through the fair, shoppers can grab a snack at a food truck parked outside. Proceeds benefit local and international projects.
Participants in this event can opt for a 10K, 5K, or 1-mile fun run/walk, all starting at Lakeside Park. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers in the competitive races and to the runners wearing the best holiday costumes. The proceeds help fund a club project to build an accessible raised-bed garden at a veterans home where residents can grow their own flowers and vegetables.
Chartered 28 December 1926, the club is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a Roaring ’20s-themed New Year’s Eve party that is open to the public. Guests at the Artisan Alley Garage can expect a lively atmosphere with entertainment, dancing, and a costume contest. Historical displays will highlight the club’s many milestones and pay tribute to the generations of Rotarians who have shaped their community through service. Proceeds from the event will benefit local and international projects and nonprofits.