Across the valley, organizers are preparing to bring communities together for events, from parades and light shows to winter wonders.
RELATED: DIY Christmas Lights Tour: Where To See The Holiday Lights In Fresno & Clovis
Gather your family and friends and visit these events this holiday season:
Wednesday December 1
SANGER TREE LIGHTING
6:30 p.m., downtown Sanger
Along with lighting, the event will feature Christmas carols, Christmas messages, the Light Up Our Sanger Houses contest and the arrival of Santa Claus. Refreshments will also be served.
Click here for more information.
OPENING OF THE LITTLE OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE OF NOL DE FRESNO
6 p.m., avenue Van Ness and Shields
Fresno’s Christmas Tree Lane has a tradition that dates back 99 years. Each year in December, North Van Ness Boulevard in Fig Garden becomes a one-way street lined with hundreds of trees and homes all decked out for the holidays. Visitors can walk the 2 mile stretch from Shields to Shaw until Christmas Day. There will be no walking evenings this year.
Click here for more information.
Thursday and Friday 2-3 December
NOL DE REEDLEY IN THE PARK
5-8 p.m., Pioneer Park, Reedley
The Reedley Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event, which will include train and pony rides, a 6.15 p.m. tree-lighting ceremony, photos with Santa Claus and an electric farm equipment parade on Friday.
Click here and scroll down for more information.
Thursday 2 December
NOL DE MADERA PARADE OF LIGHTS
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Madera city center
The Madera Downtown Association and Madera Evening Lions Club are hosting the 28th Annual Christmas Candlelight Parade, during which illuminated vehicles will travel along Yosemite Avenue between A and E Streets.
Click here for more information.
TULARE CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARADE
6 p.m., downtown Tulare
This year’s theme is Prancer’s slumber party. Everyone is welcome to come in their pajamas and watch the floats on K and M streets and Tulare Avenue. You can also enter your own float!
CORCORAN CHRISTMAS PARADE
6.30 p.m., downtown Corcoran
The Corcoran Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade will include a parade, tree lighting, food, craft and information stalls, and a visit with Santa Claus in the gazebo.
Friday 3 December
BIG FRESNO HOLIDAY LIGHTS FAIR – OPENING
5 p.m. – 9 p.m., Fresno Exhibition Center
Fresno Fairgrounds will once again transform into a magical winter wonderland for the return of the Holiday Fantasy of Lights show from the Great Fresno Fair! Participants will drive through the fairgrounds and enjoy over 450 displays of Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music, tasting treats from local food trucks and more. New this year, there will be two special walking evenings.
Click here for more information.
CHRISTMAS PARADE AND WINTER PARTY FROM THE CARUTHERS ROOM
3 p.m. – 9 p.m., Caruthers Fairgrounds
The event will have craft and food vendors as well as a Christmas parade.
Click here for more information.
THE 4TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING OF TESORO VIEJO
5 – 7:30 p.m., Downtown Tesoro Viejo, 4150 Town Center Blvd, Madera, CA 93636
The event will feature the lighting of a 35-foot tree by firefighters from Madera County Fire Station No. 7. The festivities following the lighting ceremony will include rides aboard the Polar Express, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and even snow. Guests are invited to stroll downtown to listen to the chants of the Fresno State quartet, while taking in the lights and festive decor of the downtown area. Entrance to the Tesoro Viejo Christmas Tree Lighting Event is free and all are welcome to attend.
Click here for more information.
NOL ATWATER SHOW
7 p.m., Winton Way and Grove Avenue, Atwater
The Atwater Chamber of Commerce is the host of this event. This year’s theme is “Vacation on Ice”.
Click here for more information.
LOS BANOS CHRISTMAS PARADE
6 p.m., downtown Los Banos
The Los Banos Chamber of Commerce said the downtown Christmas parade will continue rain or shine. The theme for this year is “Rocking around a strong Christmas in the community”. The judges will award prizes to the winners of 10 different categories.
Click here for more information.
ZOOLIGHTS – OPENING
5-8 p.m., Fresno Chaffee Zoo
For this annual community tradition, the entire zoo is transformed into a magical winter wonderland, fully decorated and dotted with miles of Christmas lights! Enjoy shows, festive treats and drinks for adults and children, free holographic glasses with every ticket purchased (while supplies last), and free photos with Santa Claus.
Click here for more information.
Saturday 4 December
STREET OF THE RUE DE NOL MERCED
5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Main Street, downtown Merced
This is the second year that the town of Merced has held a ‘Reverse Christmas Parade’, where floats, vehicles and performers line up and visitors drive past.
Click here for more information.
PORTERVILLE CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARADE
10 a.m., from Morton to Walnut Avenue, Porterville
This year’s theme is Miracle on Main Street. Spectators are encouraged to maintain social distance. The event will also be broadcast live.
Click here for more information.
SANTA LUCIA CELEBRATION
All day, downtown Kingsburg
The celebration will feature craft and food vendors, a gingerbread house contest, a chicken dinner for cancer volunteers and a festival of lights parade. Santa will also arrive and you can take photos with him in his cabin.
Click here for more information.
CHOWCHILLA CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
5:30 p.m., Veterans Memorial Park, Chowchilla
This event is hosted by the Chowchilla Lions Club and will feature music, Christmas tree lighting and Santa Claus!
Click here for more information.
CHILDREN’S ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS PARADE
6.30 p.m., Old town of Clovis
The parade features thousands of local children, adults, animals and floats, all covered in a blizzard of lights.
Click here for more information.
NOL ON MERCED STREET
4-6 p.m., downtown Fowler
The event will include free train rides, shopping, tree lighting, photos with Santa Claus. Special guest, CSU President Saul Jimenez-Sandoval, will have the honor of lighting the Christmas tree this year. Residents are invited to help decorate the tree with a personalized ornament.
Click here for more information.
NOL LEMOORE SHOW
6 p.m., rue D, downtown Lemoore
The Greater Kings County Chamber of Commerce and Lemoore Parks and Recreation will line D Street with tanks, cars, trucks and RVs, starting at Follett Street near the Lemoore Cinemas.
Click here for more information.
SANGER TOYS COUNTRY PARADE
11 a.m. – 5 p.m., downtown Sanger
The Nation’s 73rd Annual Christmas Tree City Toyland Parade will feature vendors of food, arts and crafts, children’s activities and more.
Click here for more information.
Friday December 10
VALLEY ANIMAL CENTER NOL IN THE PARK
5 – 9 p.m., Dr. James W. Thornton Dog Park, 3934 N Hayston Ave, Fresno
This 3-day event will feature vendors, a Christmas tree alley, a bake sale, and guided tours. It aims to raise funds for Valley Animal Center.
Click here for more information.
Saturday 11 December
JINGLE BELL RUN
9:00 a.m., Christmas Tree Lane, Van Ness Blvd., Fresno
At the 10th Jingle Bell Run for Toys for Tots, all registered participants will receive Christmas-themed sweatshirts and bells. The hope is to get every runner and walker to bring a new unwrapped toy and for this they will receive a Santa hat. Runners can choose between a 5K run, a 3K walk or a virtual Jingle Bell run.
Click here for more information.
CHRISTMAS PARADE IN DOWNTOWN FRESNO
1 p.m. Fulton Street, downtown Fresno
Enjoy the costumes, marching bands and floats at the 92nd Annual Christmas Parade. Once the parade is over, all participants will be welcomed to Mariposa Plaza for a tree lighting ceremony. Tree lighting will include food and craft vendors.
Click here for more information.
KERMAN’S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS PARADE
6 p.m., avenue Madera, Kerman
This year’s theme is “Christmas at the Movies”. Come to the parade and welcome Santa to Kerman and enjoy a fun evening of twinkling lights, choral singing and much more.
Click here for more information.
Wednesday 15 December
MERCED FATHER NOL’S WORKSHOP
4:45 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Applegate Park Zoo, Merced
This year’s theme is “Christmas at the Movies”. Come to the parade and welcome Santa to Kerman and enjoy a fun evening of twinkling lights, choral singing and much more.
Click here for more information.
Saturday, December 18
MOUNTAIN ARTISANS CHRISTMAS FAIR
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park, Oakhurst
This year, the Mountain Craftsman Christmas Fair at Fresno Flats will include a visit from Santa and his elves, readings of classic Christmas tales in their historic buildings, lunch served by Matsumoto Samurai Kitchen, and crafts. for kids.
Click here for more information.
Saturday-Sunday 18-19 December
WINTER WONDERLAND IN STORYLAND
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Storyland
Kids can play in real snow, snap photos with Santa and Curious George, and indulge in crafts, activities and more at this event hosted by Valley PBS, supported by First 5 California.
Click here for more information.
Wednesday 22 December
LIVING NATIVITY
Marks and Mount Whitney, Riverdale
Riverdale Assembly of God will continue the more than two-decade-old Christmas tradition of creating a living nativity scene. Visitors can walk through five acres of live animals and characters from the nativity story, from the streets of Bethlehem to the shepherds in the fields to the stable where you will find Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus.
Click here for more information.
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