Vallejo's Mad Hatter Holiday Festival Transforms Historic Downtown into Wonderland Experience

The Mad Hatter Holiday Festival returns on Saturday, December 6, 2025, attracting thousands of people to the historic downtown district of Vallejo with its creative lighted and fire-shooting Wonderland recreations that turn the city into a fantasy world for children and adults alike. The historic downtown of Vallejo comes alive for the holiday season with no other festival nor parade like it in the states. Larger-than-life Wonderland characters including the Mad Hatter and his marvelous tea party guests lead the parade and captivate the crowds alongside award-winning Burning Man mutant vehicles of serpents, dragons, and rhinos, all shooting fire.

The festival features the classic restored 48 and 8 Train from the early 1900s blowing its horn awakening the city to all its glory followed by 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 list continues with cultural dancing groups, hip-hop performers and lighted floats that inspire and fascinate the attendees. There are two announcing stages including one created for Burning Man as a Starway to Heaven that is an elevated chair fifteen feet high above the Mad Hatter Holiday Parade as they pass and the second stage hosts a Hatter's Queen Court that will also be crowning 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-op between two giant flaming feathers. All the Hatter's Characters line the festival grounds to interact with the public. There is a bell ringing lighted holiday train for children to ride around the festival grounds and by the dazzling glow of the holiday tree. The cheerful spirited atmosphere brings out the joyful excitement of a once held memory and vision of a wonderful American old town past-time with a great feeling of togetherness for all families and attendees.

The sparkling Christmas Tree of over three thousand lights go on after the countdown by the Mayor and Grand Marshals including Freddie Stone of Sly & The Family Stone, along with Community Grand Marshal Amanda Williams, a single mom who put her life on the line for another in a devastating situation. A massive constructive Victorian Ship with a 30-foot colorful blimp on its top will host the staging for the performing program that will end with the lighting of the 50-foot tree, one of California's largest holiday trees. 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 on July 4th that turns into a one-of-a-kind night market. More information about the festival can be found at HatterVallejo.com and a video showcasing the event is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN6MhLHYFrI.