The Mad Hatter Holiday Festival, Parade & Tree Lighting is set to transform historic downtown Vallejo into a whimsical wonderland on Saturday, December 5, 2026. The event, produced by Hyperion Community Partners LLC, will feature a day-long celebration culminating in the lighting of a 50-foot holiday tree from the deck of a Victorian Air Ship, a signature attraction of the festival.
The tree lighting ceremony will be led by Vallejo's Mayor alongside the holiday's Grand Marshal, C J Anderson, football coach at Benicia High School and former running back for the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl 50 winning team. They will be joined by Tia Carroll, a blues, soul, and R&B singer described as a premier vocalist of San Francisco's music circuit, who will perform as the Hatter's holiday songstress. The Community Grand Marshal is the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra, recognized for bringing holiday performances and classical music to the masses for decades.
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 enjoy a lighted inflatable Unicorn Park, interactive children's wonderland activities, and two 15-foot Flaming Feathers that encircle an area for photo opportunities. These creations are by the Flaming Lotus Girls, award-winning Burning Man recipients, who will also activate SOMA, a beautiful and interactive giant sculpture originally displayed at Burning Man in 2009.
The festival will also feature Obtainium Works' popular creations, craft and food vendors, continual live performances, interactive Tea Party activities, and roaming R2D2 robots alongside the 501st Legion's Imperial regiment of Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers, along with all of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party guests, contributing to the whimsical and nonsensical atmosphere.
Hyperion Community Partners LLC, located in Vallejo, has produced a number of events in collaboration with the city to highlight its community creative spirit. The Mad Hatter Holiday Festival and the Mad Hatter's July 4th Waterfront Celebration have attracted thousands of attendees and garnered multiple accolades. The Grand Victorian Homes Tour, also produced in December by Hyperion Community Partners, highlights the impressive architecture of the Heritage District. For more information, visit HatterVallejo.com.
The announcement matters because it underscores Vallejo's ongoing efforts to leverage creative placemaking as an economic and cultural driver. By partnering with Hyperion Community Partners and incorporating renowned artists like the Flaming Lotus Girls, the city positions itself as a destination for unique holiday experiences that blend local heritage with avant-garde art. The involvement of figures like C J Anderson and the Vallejo Symphony Orchestra bridges sports, music, and community pride, potentially boosting tourism and local business during the holiday season. Moreover, the festival's growth and accolades suggest a model for other cities seeking to revitalize downtown areas through imaginative public events.
