On Campus
Spotlight Events is starting December off with a “Winter Wonderland” event on Thursday, Dec. 1 in the Resnick Student Union (RSU), Room 207 from 6-9 p.m. The event, which will not require registration, will include crafts, games and prizes for student participants while supplies last.
Fresno State’s retiring live mascot, Victor E. Bulldog III, will be available for holiday photos at the Kennel Marketplace at Campus Pointe on Friday, Dec. 9, from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. for $35 per group with a max of six people. Registration is open now to secure a time slot. Purchase of the “Santa Paws Photos” include a high quality digital and printed photo, a personalized message from Santa Paws prior to the event, a voucher for a small hot cocoa or brewed coffee from the Kennel Marketplace Starbucks and a coupon for 20% off your entire purchase at the Kennel Marketplace.
The Cross-Cultural and Gender Center (CCGC) is inviting the Fresno State community to “La Posada” on Monday, Dec. 12, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Memorial Gardens in front of the bookstore for tamales, pan dulce, loteria, giveaways and entertainment. Food will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Off Campus
Christmas Tree Lane has been a Fresno tradition for 100 years now, and while this year there will be no walk-only nights, visitors can still drive the 2-mile stretch to view decked out houses along North Van Ness Boulevard from Shields to Shaw avenues through Christmas Day. The lane will be open from Sunday through Thursday at 6-10 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday at 6-11 p.m. The event is free, but accepts donations, and features 140 houses decorated with over 2.5 million lights.
The Fresno Chaffee Zoo kicked off its new event, IllumiNature, in November with animal light displays, Christmas and Lunar New Year themes, holiday food and drinks and live entertainment. Dates for the experience are open through January 22, with live reindeer through Jan. 1, 2023 and photos with Santa through Dec. 23. Timed entry tickets for entry at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. are available at $20 for adults, $22 for nonmember adults and $18 for children ages 2 to 11.
Pioneer Park in Reedley, located half an hour southeast of campus, will feature Christmas in the Park events on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 5-8 p.m. and Friday, Dec. 2 from 4-9 p.m. with food booths, craft and retail vendors and train and pony rides. Thursday’s event also features the tree lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. and photos with Santa, while Friday’s event features the Electrical Farm Equipment Parade on G Street between Eighth and 14th streets at 7 p.m.
Old Town Clovis is celebrating the holidays with free horse-drawn carriage rides every Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through Dec. 18 from 1-4 p.m., except on Dec. 2, 9 and 16 when it operates from 5-8 p.m. Carriage pick up and drop off will be located on Pollasky between Fourth and Fifth streets.
The Kiwanis Club Annual Children’s Electric Christmas Parade will also be held in Old Town Clovis on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. A free shuttle will be available from the Sierra Vista Mall Community Park Shuttle from 5-8:30 p.m.
Downtown Fresno will also hold its 93rd Annual Fresno Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 1-4 p.m on Fulton Street. There will be a Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Mariposa Plaza following the parade.
Skye Dreams and Fresno Street Eats are partnering to present “Holi-Drones: A Christmas Lights Drone Show” with over 100 flying drones at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds on Dec. 6, 7 and 8 from 6-8:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at $15 for adults and $5 for children to see the drone light show every hour, as well as live music, food trucks, craft vendors and free pictures with Santa Claus. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on while watching the show.
The three-day Fresno Hmong Cultural New Year Celebration will be held at the Fresno Fairgrounds from Dec. 29 through Jan. 1, 2023, with times to be announced online at hmongcultural.org. Tickets will be available online.