Smiles were abound at last year’s Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce Winter Wonderland Festival and Parade of Lights. Photo courtesy of Christopher Pedigo

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The streets of downtown Gridley will be filled with magic next week, as the Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce presents the Winter Wonderland Festival & Parade of Lights.

Each year the holiday event grows in popularity, making it a community favorite. Virginia and Hazel streets are filled with crowds, the smell of hot chocolate and cinnamon-flavored goods, and of course, smiles!

Gridley’s holiday traditions will be subject to changes this year, with the towering cedar at the Orchard Hospital campus not starring as the city’s Christmas Tree this year. Instead, the tree lighting has been moved to downtown Gridley’s Daddow Park, to the tree situated at the north end.

Unfortunately, safety concerns surrounding the large tree at Orchard Hospital has retired it as the town’s Christmas tree. Worries included pedestrian safety crossing Spruce Street, the safety of CAL FIRE/Gridley Fire Department staffers who hang the lights, and Chamber of Commerce members have stated that a portion of the tree caught fire last year.

Princesses Anna and Anna, with friends Olaf and Lynne Spencer invite you to the 2024 Winter Wonderland Festival and Parade of Lights! Photo courtesy of the Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce

Gridley’s holiday festivities this season will be conveniently centralized in the downtown area.

Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce members and volunteers have decorated downtown with hundreds of lights and flairs, adding more twinkle to the event.

The Winter Wonderland Festival & Parade of Lights starts at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4. Food trucks, vendors and live music from the WSB Band will entertain guests until the tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m.  Carolers will perform up until the flip of the switch, with a special selectee lighting the tree for the 2024 holiday season.

Shortly thereafter at 6:30 p.m., a caravan of brightly-lit vehicles and participants will stroll merrily down the parade route, with Santa not far behind. Santa will also be available for selfies, along with princesses Elsas, Anna and their quirky sidekick Olaf.

Friends and neighbors from surrounding areas are invited to join the community and Chamber of Commerce in this magic event that will officially mark the start of Gridley’s holiday season.