SACRAMENTO, California — A powerful windstorm expected to sweep through Northern California is causing disruptions to popular holiday events in Sacramento. While some organizers have decided to cancel their celebrations, others remain hopeful the festivities will continue as planned despite the stormy conditions.
One of the most notable cancellations is the Sacramento Santa Parade. Event organizers posted on social media that the forecasted weather made it unsafe to hold the event this year.
Meanwhile, organizers of the Imaginarium Sacramento at Cal Expo, featuring 5 million LED lights, are determined to keep their lights on for visitors.
Despite the challenges posed by the wind, the event will remain open this weekend. Operations Manager Gina Freschi explained that the event’s anchoring system helps keep the displays secure during strong winds, which is why they are confident the lights will shine on Saturday.
"We have some anchoring systems that keep our displays anchored down," Freschi said. "The winds do get a little nasty with us, but we’re ready for it."
Freschi also expressed her excitement about seeing people enjoy the holiday spectacle. "I just love seeing everybody’s faces and watching them have fun," she added.
Some attendees, like Timothy Smith, were undeterred by the gusty winds and were eager to experience the holiday cheer at Imaginarium on Friday night. "I came dressed for bear," Smith said, noting that his family enjoyed the event even though the weather was cold.
In contrast, other events are taking precautions due to the storm. Fairytale Town’s Winter Wonderland, which is scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday, is still hoping to move forward. Executive Director Kevin Smith-Fagan said they are monitoring the weather closely but are prepared to accommodate attendees who may not want to brave the winds on Saturday.
"If people are ticketed for Saturday and for some reason it does not work out, they are welcome on Sunday and those tickets will be honored," Smith-Fagan said. "You cannot lose coming to Winter Wonderland at Fairytale Town."
As the storm continues, some local events, such as the Midtown Sacramento Farmers Market and other farmers market already announced closures for the day.
While the weather is forcing some holiday events to shut down, others are pushing through, offering a warm and festive atmosphere for those who venture out to enjoy the season.
For those planning to attend, event organizers recommend dressing warmly, as the cold temperatures are expected to continue throughout the weekend.
"Keep warm, and we have some space heaters that you can warm up with," Freschi said.
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