Vallejo, California, will once again transform its historic downtown into a whimsical wonderland for the Mad Hatter Holiday Festival, Parade & Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The event, produced by Hyperion Community Partners LLC, is billed as California's most celebrated holiday happening and is expected to draw thousands to the city's historic core.
The festival's centerpiece, the lighting of a 50-foot holiday tree, will take place from the deck of a Victorian Air Ship, one of Wonderland's main attractions. Vallejo's Mayor will be joined by Grand Marshal C J Anderson, football coach at Benicia High School and former running back for the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl 50-winning team. The Hatter's holiday songstress Tia Carroll, a blues, soul and R&B singer described as a premier vocalist of San Francisco's music circuit, will also perform.
The Community Grand Marshal is the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra, recognized for bringing holiday performances and classical music to the masses for decades. The orchestra's involvement underscores the event's blend of local culture and holiday tradition.
Festivities begin at 2:00 PM with Wonderland Festival activities and the Queen's Court, including the crowning of Kings, Queens and Princesses. The Mad Hatter Holiday Parade starts at 4:30 PM, followed by the Tree Lighting Program at 6:00 PM and the Lighted Yacht Club Boat Parade at 6:30 PM.
Attendees can expect a range of interactive and visual attractions. Obtainium Works will showcase its popular creations. A lighted inflatable Unicorn Park and interactive children's wonderland activities will entertain younger visitors, while two 15-foot Flaming Feathers, created by the award-winning Burning Man recipients the Flaming Lotus Girls, will encircle a photo-op area. The group will also activate SOMA, a giant interactive sculpture originally displayed at Burning Man in 2009. Craft and food vendors, continual live performances, interactive Tea Party activities, roaming R2D2 robots, and the 501st Legion's Imperial regiment of Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers will contribute to the whimsical atmosphere.
The festival is produced by Hyperion Community Partners LLC, a Vallejo-based company that has collaborated with the city on events highlighting its community creative spirit. Its other productions include the Mad Hatter's July 4th Waterfront Celebration, which has attracted thousands of attendees and garnered multiple accolades, and the Grand Victorian Homes Tour, which highlights the architecture of the Heritage District. More information is available at HatterVallejo.com.
The event matters for Vallejo's economy and cultural identity. By drawing visitors to the historic downtown, it supports local businesses and showcases the city's creative partnerships. The combination of a major holiday parade, national sports figure, and community orchestra offers a boost to civic pride and regional tourism, reinforcing Vallejo's position as a destination for family-friendly holiday celebrations.
