The Mad Hatter Holiday Festival returns on Saturday, December 6, 2025, bringing thousands of people to Vallejo's historic downtown district for a unique holiday experience that transforms the city into a fantasy world. This event stands out as unlike any other festival or parade in the United States, featuring creative lighted and fire-shooting Wonderland recreations that captivate both children and adults.
The festival's significance lies in its ability to create a magical atmosphere that revives nostalgic memories of American small-town traditions while incorporating contemporary artistic elements. The parade features larger-than-life Wonderland characters, including the Mad Hatter and his tea party guests, who lead the procession alongside award-winning Burning Man mutant vehicles of serpents, dragons, and rhinos that shoot fire. These unique elements demonstrate how traditional holiday celebrations can evolve to include modern artistic expressions.
Additional parade participants include a classic restored 48 and 8 Train from the early 1900s, Storm Troopers led by Darth Vader from the Golden Gate Garrison 501 Legion, Aladdin's Lamp, Maritime Cadets in their Blues, dancing groups of children ballerinas, and a dancing Grinch with his followers. The event also showcases cultural dancing groups, hip-hop performers, and lighted floats that inspire and fascinate attendees, creating a diverse cultural experience that reflects the community's varied backgrounds.
The festival features two announcing stages: one created for Burning Man as a Starway to Heaven that stands fifteen feet high above the parade route, and a second stage hosting a Hatter's Queen Court that crowns young princesses and Queens before the parade begins. The festival grounds are surrounded by holiday gift and food vendors, live musical performances, and a photo opportunity between two giant flaming feathers. All the Hatter's Characters line the festival grounds to interact with the public, while a bell-ringing lighted holiday train provides rides for children around the festival grounds and by the dazzling glow of the holiday tree.
The event culminates with the lighting of a sparkling Christmas Tree featuring over three thousand lights after a countdown by the Mayor and Grand Marshals Freddie Stone of Sly & The Family Stone and Community Grand Marshal Amanda Williams. The tree lighting takes place on a massive constructive Victorian Ship with a 30-foot colorful blimp on its top, hosting the staging for the performing program. This 50-foot tree represents one of California's largest holiday trees, making the event regionally significant.
Hyperion Community Partners LLC produces two major holiday events in partnership with the City of Vallejo, including The Mad Hatter Holiday Festival, Parade & Tree Lighting on the first Saturday of December every year, and The Mad Hatter's July 4th Waterfront Celebration. Additional information about the event can be found at HatterVallejo.com and event coverage is available through this YouTube video produced by WhatSF, a weekly television program that aired in San Francisco with a growing viewership of over 100,000.
