STUFF THEY’RE GOING TO DO OUT THERE HAPPENING TONIGHT, A SACRAMENTO HOLIDAY SEASON TRADITION IS BACK WITH THE OPENING OF A NEW SEASON OF THE IMAGINARIUM. IT IS HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW AND A WHOLE LOT OF FUN FOR THE FAMILY. ERIN HEFT JOINS US LIVE FROM CAL EXPO WITH OUR FIRST LOOK AT THIS YEAR’S EXHIBIT. GOOD MORNING. ISN’T THIS INCREDIBLE? THE THEME THIS YEAR, UTOPIA. TAKE A LOOK THROUGH THIS CANOPY OF INCREDIBLE FLOWERS THIS MORNING. YEAH, IT REALLY FITS ITS NAME. IF WE STAND UP, YOU HAVE TO WALK THROUGH IT. IT IS GORGEOUS. OVER 50 MILLION LIGHTS. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA’S LARGEST HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW. WE MAKE OUR WAY. HELLO, EVERYONE. WE HAVE TO WALK THROUGH IT. IT’S QUITE MAGICAL. AND ON THE OTHER END OF THIS MAGIC IS DARLA. OKAY, SO TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS YEAR BECAUSE IT’S INCREDIBLE. IT’S MY FIRST TIME BEING HERE. I KNOW YOU SAID YOU ALWAYS SAW IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. WELL, WELCOME TO IMAGINARIUM. THIS YEAR, THE FOOTPRINT IS LARGER. WE’RE TALKING MORE THAN 15 MILLION LIGHTS. THIS IS THE 14TH YEAR OF IMAGINARIUM HERE AT CAL EXPO. AND A NEW ENTRANCE AS WELL. COME THROUGH ENTRANCE AT HERITAGE AND YOU’LL GET WELCOMED BY LIGHTS THERE. IT WAS SHOCKING WHEN WE PULLED UP THIS MORNING. OH MY GOODNESS, IT’S STUNNING. SO OKAY TO ME BECAUSE LAST YEAR WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A RAIN DELAY. AND THIS YEAR IT’S WE COULDN’T HAVE ASKED FOR A BETTER FORECAST. KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED. WE DID GET RAIN ON THURSDAY AND THEN LAST WEEK, SO THAT DELAYED A LITTLE BIT. BUT THEY’RE PUTTING TOGETHER THE FINISHING TOUCHES. YOU KNOW IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE LIGHTS WE ALSO HAVE A CIRCUS PERFORMANCE THREE TIMES A NIGHT. TEN GENERATIONS OF CIRCUS PERFORMERS. AND THEY HAVE A WATER SHOW THIS YEAR. SO I’M EXCITED TO SEE THAT. YEAH. AND IT STARTS THIS EVENING. CORRECT. IT STARTS THIS EVENING. AND YOU CAN STILL GET YOUR EARLY BIRD FAMILY PASS OR A FUN PASS. IT’S $36 THAT GETS YOU ADMISSION AND ALSO A RIDE WRISTBAND, UNLIMITED RIDES. SO WE DO HAVE CARNIVAL RIDES. WE HAVE FOOD. WE HAVE EVERYTHING HERE. TO MAKE YOUR HOLIDAY TRADITION. LOTS OF FUN, I LOVE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, DARLA. APPRECIATE ERIN SO BEAUTIFUL. SO FUN. YES. AND I MEAN, TAKE A LOOK. THIS IS JUST A TINY SNAPSHOT. WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO DO THE LIVE SHOT. IT’S ENDLESS. AND THIS WOULD BE SHOCKING FOR ANY LITTLE BABIES OUT THERE. SO REALLY, A FUN FAMILY TRADITION ALL SET UP IN ONE PLACE. AND IT STARTS THIS EVENING AND RUNS THROUGH PART OF JANUARY, SO YOU HAVE TONS OF TIME TO GET IN ON IT. BACK TO YOU GUYS. ALL RIGHT. I’M NOT SURE WE COULD HAVE FOUND A MORE PERFECT PERSON TO COVER THIS TODAY. YOU’RE RIGHT AT HOME. I LOVE THE ENTHUSIASM. THANK YOU. ERIN. BY THE WAY, THE IMAGINARIUM IS OPEN T
Imaginarium’s ‘Utopia’: Northern California’s largest holiday festival returns with 15 million lights
Organizers say Utopia aims to be a “perfect holiday escape.”
Updated: 10:09 AM PST Nov 21, 2025
Imaginarium’s Utopia, billed as Northern California’s largest holiday light festival, returns to Cal Expo from Nov. 21, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026, transforming the fairgrounds into a glowing wonderland powered by more than 15 million lights.This year’s edition debuts an expanded footprint and a new entrance at Cal Expo’s Main Gate at Exposition and Heritage, streamlining access for the season’s crowds. Visitors can stroll through illuminated tunnels, step into mirror rooms, glide across a covered ice rink, snap photos with Santa, and cap the night with carnival rides and festive food and drink along Food Court Row near the waterpark.Organizers say Utopia aims to be a “perfect holiday escape,” where families and couples can make new traditions in a setting designed for dazzling photos and spirited nights out. Imaginarium traces its roots to the team behind the first U.S. Chinese Lantern Festival at Great America in 2011. The concept evolved into Global Winter Wonderland, which opened at Cal Expo in 2014, and later into Imaginarium, which organizers say is the largest holiday light festival in the country. The brand now spans multiple locations across California and Arizona.Learn more about tickets here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Imaginarium’s Utopia, billed as Northern California’s largest holiday light festival, returns to Cal Expo from Nov. 21, 2025, through Jan. 4, 2026, transforming the fairgrounds into a glowing wonderland powered by more than 15 million lights.
This year’s edition debuts an expanded footprint and a new entrance at Cal Expo’s Main Gate at Exposition and Heritage, streamlining access for the season’s crowds.
Visitors can stroll through illuminated tunnels, step into mirror rooms, glide across a covered ice rink, snap photos with Santa, and cap the night with carnival rides and festive food and drink along Food Court Row near the waterpark.
Organizers say Utopia aims to be a “perfect holiday escape,” where families and couples can make new traditions in a setting designed for dazzling photos and spirited nights out.
Imaginarium traces its roots to the team behind the first U.S. Chinese Lantern Festival at Great America in 2011.
The concept evolved into Global Winter Wonderland, which opened at Cal Expo in 2014, and later into Imaginarium, which organizers say is the largest holiday light festival in the country.
The brand now spans multiple locations across California and Arizona.
Learn more about tickets here.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel