Wesley House Family Services is preparing for the holiday season with the return of its annual Be Lighted Bike Ride and Holiday Village, scheduled for Friday, December 4, at the Coffee Butler Amphitheater in Key West.
Grace Epperly, director of development for Wesley House Family Services, joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about the organization.
Now in its sixth year, the Holiday Village has grown into a popular family-friendly event that raises money for Wesley House programs supporting children and families throughout the Florida Keys.
“We are so excited. This is our sixth year doing this event, and it has just grown exponentially,” Epperly said.
The Holiday Village will run from 5 to 9 p.m. and feature approximately 20 community booths offering free or low-cost activities for children, along with food trucks, amusement-style rides and complimentary photos with Santa on the grand stage from 5 to 7 p.m.
“For those that aren’t familiar, the Holiday Village is the family-friendly kickoff to the holiday season,” Epperly said. “We turn the Coffee Butler Amphitheater into a true holiday village.”
Admission is $20 and includes unlimited amusement rides, access to the Holiday Village and participation in the Be Lighted Bike Ride. Food and pony rides will cost extra, and children younger than 3 will be admitted free. A package of four tickets is available for $70.
The bike ride will depart the amphitheater at 8 p.m., traveling along Whitehead Street toward Ball Street.
Epperly encouraged residents to purchase tickets in advance to avoid waiting in line.
“If you want to skip the line, it’s a lot faster to just purchase it in advance, and then all you do is show the QR code, so it’s really easy,” she said.
Tickets and additional information are available at WesleyHouse.org/BeLighted2026. Community organizations interested in hosting a booth and volunteers who want to help with the event can also sign up through the website.
Epperly said, “You can see all of our sponsors on the web page, and we’re just so grateful because we cannot do this event without the support of our community.”
All proceeds from the event directly benefit Wesley House Family Services.
The organization provides services that promote the safety, well-being and development of children by educating, supporting and meeting the needs of families. Its programs include foster care, adoption services, case management and family support initiatives.
Wesley House is also encouraging community members to participate in its Adopt a Family program, which provides holiday gifts to children and families served by the organization.
Participants receive a family’s wish list, purchase and wrap the requested gifts, and deliver them to Wesley House. The program supports children in foster care, families working to remain together and other households receiving services.
Epperly encouraged interested residents to visit Wesley House’s website for information about the program at WesleyHouse.org/Christmas.
The organization is also preparing for its Share the Love Keys Wide online auction, scheduled for February 3-13, 2027.
Epperly said the auction has expanded over the years and now attracts bidders from across the country, offering businesses an opportunity to showcase their products while supporting Wesley House.
“This auction has just grown exponentially over the years,” she said. “Because it’s online, we now garner bidders from all over the country.”
The organization is seeking donations, including artwork and home decor items in excellent condition. Individuals who are downsizing art collections or have suitable items to contribute are encouraged to contact Wesley House.
“It’s a very easy way to support Wesley House in a small way that makes a big difference,” Epperly said.
The annual Share the Love celebration will take place February 13 at the organization’s grounds at 5 Homestead Avenue in Key Largo. The event will feature food, games and displays of auction items, along with sponsorship opportunities.
Epperly said Wesley House moved its traditional Valentine’s fundraiser from Key West to Key Largo several years ago to extend its reach and engage more residents in the Upper Keys.
“We just want to expand and share the love in the Upper Keys as well,” she said.
Information about sponsorships and the celebration is available at WesleyHouse.org/Share-the-Love.
In addition to its holiday fundraising efforts, Wesley House is seeking candy donations for upcoming community outreach events, including Halloween celebrations and trunk-or-treat activities.
Epperly encouraged residents to stop by the organization’s booth at local events to learn more about its programs and services.
“If you see the Wesley House booth, just please stop by, say hi, get some information about our programs, ask any questions that you have,” she said. “But if you do have candy, we will gladly accept it.”
Candy donations can be delivered to the Wesley House office on Truman Avenue, next to the tennis courts at Bayview Park in Key West. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Epperly also encouraged residents to visit the organization’s website and watch a video testimonial featuring the Descent family’s adoption, which took place in July and involved a sibling group of eight children.
The video, available on the Wesley House website’s About Us page under the video wall, highlights the organization’s work helping children find permanent families.
“Just if you want to feel good, just take five minutes out of your day and go and watch that video,” Epperly said. “We’re just so proud of this family. And, you know, this is what we do.”
For more information about Wesley House programs, fundraising events, volunteer opportunities and ways to donate, visit WesleyHouse.org.