Sacramento's Imaginarium holiday light festival at Cal Expo officially opens after delay
Cal Expo's annual holiday lights festival is officially open for the season after days of delays.
Organizers originally planned for opening night to be Friday, Nov. 21, but an electrical issue scuttled those plans.
The spokesperson for Cal Expo said Saturday evening that damaged electrical panels have to be replaced before the event can open. Organizers were hopeful it would open by Thanksgiving.
On Wednesday, Cal Expo and Imaginarium organizers announced that the go-ahead had been given to open the festival.
"We want to make sure the opening is grand, seamless, and worthy of the magical holiday tradition our guests look forward to each year", said Lulu Huang, Imaginarium Founder and Creator. "Your patience and support mean the world as we bring this bigger, brighter vision to life."
Any guest who purchased a ticket for opening weekend will be able to use it for a future date and will also receive an extra complimentary ticket.
Tracy Murphy and her granddaughter Rebecca had tickets for last Saturday, and they were just about to make the two-hour drive from their home in Sonora when they found out that night was also canceled.
"Then I had to wait in line because my thing didn't work," Murphy said. "We couldn't get the wristband because it's a different date."
Imaginarium, the company behind the festival, has named this season's festival "Utopia: A Perfect World of Light, Joy, and Imagination – Bigger Than Ever."
Along with the more than 15 million lights, Cal Expo will also have a covered ice rink, mirror rooms, photo opportunities with Santa, and carnival rides. Food Court Row will also serve festive treats and drinks.
Organizers say the festival is Northern California's largest holiday light show.
The festival dates back to 2014, when it was originally called Global Winter Wonderland.
When "Utopia" opens for the season, it is expected to run until Jan. 4, 2026. Gates are scheduled to open at 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays once the festival is underway.