FRESNO COUNTY – With Halloween in the rear view mirror, and some forgetting that Thanksgiving is still yet to come, many across the county are preparing for a holiday season filled with community fun.
Reedley
Hillcrest Tree Farm will be kicking off the winter season with the annual Pajama Christmas Nights, running from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 then Dec. 6-23 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. The farm’s iconic steam engines will also be running on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving guests a fun tour of the winter-themed locale.
Tickets are available for purchase online at www.hillcrestreedley.com/tickets for $40 per person age 2 and up.
The Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce and Reedley Lions Club will be continuing the festive fun with the Christmas in the Park and Electrical Farm Equipment Parade on Dec. 5. From 5-9 p.m. Pioneer Park will be filled with vendors, crafts and a kids zone, with the Christmas Tree lighting taking place at 6 p.m. and the parade at 7 p.m.
Those with a taste for the arts can visit the McClarty Center on Dec. 6, from 1:00-2:50 p.m., for the Reedley Community Winter Concert. The concert will feature both the Reedley Community Choir and Community Orchestra.
Those who like to keep things jazzy can also enjoy the Reedley College Community Band and Jazz Concert, taking place in the McClarty Center on Dec. 12 from 7-9 p.m.
Sanger
The nation’s Christmas tree city will be living it to its name on Dec. 3 with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 3 at Brehler Square. Taking place from 5:30-8 p.m., the community is invited to light up a sapling of the General Grant Tree, the nation’s Christmas tree.
The holiday cheer continues with the 77th Annual Toyland Parade on Dec 6. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Downtown Sanger will be home to a vendor fair, with the parade going from East Academy Avenue to the corner of 10th and P streets.
The 2025 Trek to the Tree will take place on Dec. 14, allowing attendees to visit the General Grant Tree for themselves. The Sanger Chamber of Commerce will also be hosting the Light up the Night Contest on Dec. 17th. Inquiries about both of these events can be sent to the chamber via email at sangerchamber@gmail.com.
Kingsburg
The city of Kingsburg will bring in the holiday season with Julgransfest on Nov. 28. The annual tradition will see a Christmas tree lighting, the singing of Christmas carols and Swedish folk dancing down Draper Street from 5-7 p.m.
The following week will see the Santa Lucia celebration on Dec. 6. Throughout the day, vendors will be setting up shop on the sidewalks of Swedish Village, and a gingerbread house contest will be held at city hall. At 5:30 p.m., the titular Santa Lucia will lead the “Festival of Lights” parade down Draper Street with her crown of candles to light the way.
Orange Cove, Selma and Dinuba
The cities of Orange Cove, Selma and Dinuba will each be holding their own winter parades.
The community of Orange Cove can get into the holiday spirit at the Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony at J.O. Eaton Memorial Park on Dec. 4, from 5-8 p.m. Guests can expect the parade to begin at 6 p.m., with the tree lighting following immediately after. The park will also be filled with vendors, with music provided by DJ ToeKnee.
Selma will be enjoying some Christmas fun with the Christmas parade and street faire on Dec. 6, from 5:30-8 p.m. Lincoln Park will be filled with vendors, crafts and even Santa himself. The event will also see a gift drawing for children.
Dinuba will kick off the Winter Wonderland Express parade and tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 6. From 5:30-7:30 p.m., Rose Ann Vuich Park will be filled with lights, performances and holiday spirit.
From parades, to Christmas tree lightings and even train rides, the people of Fresno County will have no shortage of activities to close out the year.