The Strolling Lights Festival within The Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District has become an annual tradition for both families, groups or individuals to join together to decorate a holiday tree in honor of a worthy cause, or to get visitors in the holiday spirit when we light up The District in Glen Arbor.
The 2025 Strolling Lights Festival, the fifth consecutive, will go towards the Empire Area Food Pantry which serves all of Leelanau County. This once a week Food Pantry, which is hosted at Glen Lake Community Reformed Church on Tuesdays year-round, serves an enormous need in our community to help support those who are struggling to put food on their tables. The Food Pantry offers up canned and dry food as well as meat and produce. They currently see up to 25 families a week.
With the funds that are raised from this festive tradition, Crystal River Outfitters Recreational District has a goal to help increase the amount of protein on hand which many times runs out. The funds will also be helping boost the amount of flour and sugar available which are currently in short supply as well. By making a donation by way of sponsoring a tree or just a monetary donation towards The Giving Tree, we will then be able to help the Food Pantry with serving the local community.
