Be part of an Alice in Wonderland adventure that has grown into the Mad Hatter Holiday Festival. On Saturday, December 7, find your way to Vallejo’s Mad Hatter parade and tree-lighting ceremony, where you can watch the Burning Man fire-shooting art mobiles, whimsical art cars, marching bands and the California Maritime Cadets in full blues dancing on the streets.
The Mad Hatter will join other notable Alice in Wonderland characters in Vallejo on December 7.
Published: December, 2013
Be part of an Alice in Wonderland adventure that has grown into the Mad Hatter Holiday Festival. On Saturday, December 7, find your way to Vallejo’s Mad Hatter parade and tree-lighting ceremony, where you can watch the Burning Man fire-shooting art mobiles, whimsical art cars, marching bands and the California Maritime Cadets in full blues dancing on the streets. And you’ll see the Mad Hatter and his Tea Party followers: the March Hare, Lion King, and Cheshire Cat—an experience that will bring childhood memories back and create new ones for children.
Free festival activities begin at 2 p.m. in Unity Plaza behind City Hall and the JFK Library in the Historic Downtown District with dancing Mexican horses, international food and craft vendors, the Sunglow Hoop Troupe, rides, a petting zoo, face-painting and other children’s activities.
The Mad Hatter Parade down Georgia Street starts at 4:30 p.m. and ends at the festival, with the tree lighting ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. and the Lighted Boat Parade at 6:30 p.m.
The day is full of interesting, creative and unique activities. Some will enchant, others will be magical or surreal. There will be an Alice’s Palace on Georgia Street, street carolers, musicians and dazzling entertainment. You’ll be glad that you stepped into the rabbit hole and entered wonderland in Vallejo.
This year’s parade grand marshals are Mark Munoz, the "Filipino Wrecking Machine" and one of the contenders for the world’s middleweight title, and Olivia Jasmine, former VOENA singer and American Idol finalist.
Watch Santa arrive on the firing Trojan horse, meet the Ladybug and visit her home, look through the oversized Steampunk Kaleidoscope, meet the Gypsy Time Travelers in their European Castle, ride in the Mad Hatter’s Giant Sofa, or visit any of the Victorian recreations that come out of Alice’s Wonderland. Continue with Alice’s holiday adventure at Greater Vallejo Recreation District’s Wonderland Park tree lighting at 7 p.m. on Glen Street. Or make your way back to Alice’s Palace as the Grand Ballroom opens at 7:30 p.m. for the Mad Hatter Costumed Ball, where you can dance with all of Wonderland’s characters and Father Time to foot-stopping bluegrass music with Fiddlaround and the Raymond Victor Band.
Tickets for the Mad Hatter Costume Ball are $20, which includes food and drink, and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/496329. For more information, call (925) 451-7682 or visit the Facebook page at MadHatterholidayVallejo.
