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Winter Wonderland at Hanford Civic Park is returning with more lights, more activities, and more reasons for families to spend time together in the heart of downtown. Organizers have turned Civic Park and the surrounding streets into a full holiday district, combining the charm of traditional celebrations with several new features that are designed to keep children and adults entertained throughout the season.
One of the biggest additions this year is the expanded ride area. A full size Ferris wheel will rise above the ice rink and park, offering a sweeping view of the lights and decorations. Several smaller carnival style rides are being added for younger children so that families have more to do before or after their skate time. Nearby, a new viewing area called Dasher’s Deck will feature two fire pits and comfortable seating where visitors can warm up, sip a drink, and watch the skaters glide across the ice.
For those looking for a more private holiday experience, Winter Wonderland will debut two clear “polar domes” along the Douty side of the rink. Each dome is about twelve feet wide and designed to seat six to eight people. The domes are attractively lit and suited for small gatherings, birthday celebrations, or simply a cozy place for families to sit together, enjoy snacks, and take photos with the rink and lights in the background.
The event will also include a nativity scene in the park and an expanded vendor area with additional options for food, drinks, and holiday shopping. To make skating more affordable, ticket prices for ages four through seventeen have been set at ten dollars every day. Organizers hope this price structure will encourage more local families to visit multiple times during the season instead of just once.
Costumed characters will play a major part in the experience again this year. Visitors can meet Rudy the reindeer, Kilbert the snowman, Gingy the gingerbread man, and a pair of festive holiday characters named Holly and Jolly. A live Grinch will also appear throughout the event, especially in the newest attraction, Wonderville, which has been built in Courthouse Square as a dedicated photo and character zone. One side of Wonderville features Whoville with the Grinch, the center is reserved for Santa, and the other side hosts all of the costumed characters for pictures and greetings. Wonderville will officially open right after the city’s tree lighting ceremony.
Winter Wonderland opens at 2 p.m., with the tree lighting scheduled for 6 p.m. The front of the Civic will be illuminated with projection mapping that uses twin laser projectors to cover the entire building in changing holiday images and a large countdown sequence. Fog cannons will send mist up the columns, and new high powered snow machines will create flurries up to fifty feet into the air, producing a much heavier snowfall effect than in previous years. Every tree in the park now has updated lighting to complete the scene.
The celebration continues on November 28 with the annual Christmas parade at 6 p.m. This year’s Grand Marshal will be Tyree Reed, who will lead the procession through the heart of downtown Hanford. More than seventy entries are expected. The route will begin at 7th St and Harris, travel west on Harris, turn right on Redington, right on 8th St, then left on Douty St and end in front of Superior Dairy. Food trucks will line the closed streets, serving visitors while also acting as barriers to keep the route safe. Announcing duties will be shared, with Robert Bentley announcing from 7th St and Jim Castleman handling the judges stand at Civic Park.
In a major effort to reach more Spanish speaking families, the city is partnering with La Buena and Univision to create Plaza de Natividad in the parking lot at Redington St and 8th St. A La Buena personality will announce the parade in Spanish, and roughly ten food vendors will serve visitors in the plaza area, giving families an additional gathering place during the parade. If you want to hear the parade called in Spanish, plan to watch from the Plaza de Natividad area near Redington St and 8th St, where the Spanish speaking Univision and La Buena announcement team will be broadcasting live.
For Hanford Parks Director Brad Albert, the purpose behind all of this planning is very clear. “We just want families to come to historic Civic Park and enjoy the holidays with families and friends. I judge our success by smiles. If people are smiling, we are doing our job,” Albert said.
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Francisco Ramirez is the founder of Kings Network News and creator of Kings Network Business, a platform that blends business networking, community support, and social media to uplift local entrepreneurs.
As a former Mayor of Hanford, California, he launched the Winter Wonderland event and brings over 20 years of business consulting experience. He is also a motivational speaker, life coach, strategist, author, podcaster, and skilled web and graphic designer.
He created The Invisible Kid: Courage to Succeed, a seminar on self-esteem and anti-bullying that has inspired youth across the region. Through media and consulting, Francisco empowers others to lead, grow, and make an impact.
