Big Hat Days 2023

A BIG HAT WAY OF LIFE

Big Hat Days is Celebrating 85 Years of Big Fun in Old Town Clovis

Clovis has a rich history of hardworking farmers, cowboys and loggers that shaped the city into what it is today. In 1938, a celebration was held to honor Clovis’ cowboys and farmers. Their signature hats served to block the dust and sun from their faces as they worked, so the local townspeople donned their favorite hats as a tribute –and now 85 years later we still celebrate that tradition!

Big Hat Days, a Clovis Chamber of Commerce event, is now the Central Valley’s largest free street festival covering 15 blocks of Old Town Clovis with shopping, food and entertainment for the entire family.

The annual Big Hat Days celebration would not be possible without the unwavering support of our community. It takes hundreds of volunteers, partnerships with our sponsors, and the City of Clovis to make this annual event successful, fun and safe. We would like to extend a special thank you to our presenting sponsor, Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino for making Big Hat Days your ultimate destination for family fun, great food, and unique one-of-a-kind shopping!

We invite you, your friends and family to join the festivities in Old Town Clovis on Pollasky Avenue on Saturday, April 1, from 9am to 6pm, and Sunday, April 2, from 9am to 5pm. You can find free parking in the surrounding lots as well as the Clovis Rodeo Grounds. Handicap parking will be available in the Water Tower parking lot north of the Rodeo Grounds. You can expect to do a lot

of shopping, eat great food, entertain the kids with the Kids Zone and carnival rides, and drink an ice cold beer at the Michelob ULTRA Beer Garden.

Shopping, Shopping and More Shopping - Big Hat Days has something to offer everyone; you can find one of a kind handmade artisan pieces, home goods, unique treasures, fine photography, arts and crafts, clothing, children’s toys and of course, BIG hats. Do not forget to check out the commercial business exhibits offering goods and services from companies in our community.

Foodie Destination – You can find traditional festival munchies like kettle corn, cinnamon rolls, corn dogs and tri-tip along Pollasky Avenue. Check out some of the best street cuisine the Central Valley has to offer– mouthwatering BBQ, hot Kentucky chicken and crunchy wonton tacos!

Kids Zone and Carnival Rides –Stop by the Kids Zone and let the kiddos burn off their energy! This year, we will have two full streets of carnival rides and interactive games to entertain the entire family. From gravity defying rides for bigger kids and adults to fun activities for the younger members of your family, including bounce houses, games of chance, face painters, balloon animals, a petting zoo and pony rides.

Michelob Ultra Beer Garden–Head to the beer garden on Bullard and Woodworth to enjoy a cold beer and dance to your favorite country hits! Local bands will play live country music all day Saturday and Sunday at the

Michelob Ultra Live Entertainment Stage. (Beer Garden is 21 and over only.)

The Clovis Chamber of Commerce is very proud to continue the tradition of hosting Big Hat Days, which draws thousands of attendees from all over the San Joaquin Valley to the City of Clovis each year. To stay in the loop, visit the Clovis Chamber’s Big Hat Days Facebook page for up to date information on vendors, bands and happenings and follow the hashtag of “#BIGHAT23”.

Pack up the family, grab your favorite Big Hat, and come out to Big Hat Days in Old Town Clovis April 1 & 2, 2023. We are very proud of our hardworking cowboy heritage and are eager to celebrate the best Clovis has to offer with our community! If you are a returning attendee, welcome back! If you have not had the chance to make it out, we would love to welcome you to Clovis and show you what Big Hat Days is all about! We hope that you enjoy your Big Hat Days.

BIG HAT DAYS Attractions

Big Hat Days is bringing back the big fun with this year’s lineup of fun, and family friendly attractions! We are thrilled to be bringing back a full assortment of carnival rides and games. Get your Disneyland fix with a mini version of the iconic Teacups Ride, featuring six cups that spin independently on a spinning plate. Venture over to The Bounty ride for a swashbuckling adventure on a pirate ship that swings side to side. If you are looking for a bit more thrill, get in line for The Wrecking Ball, where you will swing back and forth and spin all at the same time. For a more relaxing adventure, you can take a seat and swing through the rainforest on The Swing. Test

out your superhero skills in the Justice League Obstacle Course with several crawl throughs and pop ups. Look for these attractions and many more along 4th street between Clovis Avenue & Woodworth and along Pollasky Avenue between 8th and 9th streets.

As you walk down the streets of Old Town, you will find face painting, made to order balloon animals, and a magical photo booth where you can take a photo with your favorite Disney princess or superhero! Big Hat Days will also feature a petting zoo filled with exotic, pet-able animals and pony rides for the youngsters. Get ready for big excitement at the 85th Annual Big Hat Days!

SPONSOR Spotlight

For 85 years, residents from Clovis and the surrounding communities have celebrated Big Hat Days. It is an honor for the Clovis Chamber of Commerce to continue hosting this two-day event each year. We would like to thank our partners and sponsors for making this year’s Big Hat Days bigger and better than ever! We are happy to announce that Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino will be returning as the Presenting Sponsor of Big Hat Days. With a reputation of being a fantastic supporter of local communities, we are thrilled to continue the partnership with Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino. “It’s our honor to return as the presenting sponsor for Big Hat Days, a Clovis tradition that has brought so much joy to the community over the past 85 years,” said Deann Kamalani, Director of Marketing at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino.

“Upholding local heritage and culture has long-been a priority for Chukchansi Gold, which makes it even more fitting for us to be a part of this great celebration.” Be sure to stop by the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino booth located at the corner of Pollasky and Bullard Avenue to say hello and thank you!

The Beer Garden and live entertainment stage are one of the most popular features of Big Hat Days. We are happy to have

Donaghy Sales and Michelob ULTRA as our exclusive beer sponsor. Donaghy Sales staff and our Big Hat Days volunteers will be there to greet you with a cold drink as you enjoy the live country music and dancing! Visit the Michelob ULTRA Beer Garden at Bullard and Woodworth next to the Clovis Elks Lodge. You must be 21 years of age or older to enter.

“We are grateful for our Big Hat Days sponsors. New this year are Club Pilates and Stretch Lab. We encourage you to visit their booths located on the corners of 5th and Pollasky.”

In addition to our event sponsors, the Clovis Chamber of Commerce is grateful to have the invaluable support of our premier partners throughout the year, the Fresno/Clovis Convention and Visitors Bureau, Caglia Environmental, and Noble Credit Union. We want to send a Big Hat Days thank you to these community minded organizations.

Big Hat Days would not be the success that it is without our media partners spreading the word and announcing our main events. Thank you to our media partners; KMPH Fox 26, CW 59, and iHeartMedia, as well as Loops Marketing and the Clovis Roundup for keeping the community up to date on Clovis Chamber events.

Pepsi has been a long-time

PROUD PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE CLOVIS CHAMBER BIG HAT DAYS

partner of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce and provides bottled water, tea, and soda booths throughout the festival. A portion of the proceeds from the sales benefit the non-profit organizations that operate the booths. Stop by and grab an icecold Pepsi beverage.

The Clovis Rodeo Association has been a time-honored part of the Clovis community for 109 years by hosting the worldfamous Clovis Rodeo the last weekend in April. The Rodeo Association has been a great partner to the Clovis Chamber of Commerce throughout the years – generously providing use of the Rodeo Grounds for our events.

Each year, as the Clovis Chamber takes over the streets of Old Town Clovis, we thank our local business community for allowing the use of their property and parking lots. A big thank you to Central Valley Community Bank, Educational Employees Credit Union, Cigars LTD., and all of the businesses in Old Town Clovis for their support and cooperation.

The Clovis Chamber of Commerce relies on its valuable friends who donate their time and services to ensure our events run smoothly. Thank you to Alert-OLite, American Ambulance and Guardian Accounting for the generous donation of your time

and talent.

Hosting Big Hat Days is no small feat – and our amazing volunteers make it happen! This year we expect to have about 100 volunteers to help set up, operate, and clean up. Our volunteers are students from Clovis Unified School District, Clovis Chamber of Commerce Board Members and Ambassadors, service members, business owners, church groups and community leaders who take time out of their busy lives to come together and make Big Hat Days a fun and successful event.

Our partnership with the City of Clovis is what allows the Clovis Chamber of Commerce to continue hosting Big Hat Days. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Explorers, Clovis Police Department, Clovis Fire Department, Clovis Utilities, the City of Clovis Administration, the Clovis City Council and all other departments that help to make Clovis a great place to live and do business.

On behalf of the Clovis Chamber Board of Directors and the dedicated Clovis Chamber of Commerce staff, we want to THANK YOU and hope that you all have a wonderful time at the 85th Big Hat Days!

Greg Newman, President and CEO Clovis Chamber of Commerce

VENDOR Spotlight The Jerky Hut

The Jerky Hut is a gourmet jerky company that has been around since 1997. The Jerky Hut is a family-owned business that has been attending Big Hat Days for over 15 years. We have over 50 flavors of beef jerky including award winners, Whiskey BBQ and Prime Rib along with our main staples like teriyaki, black pepper and old hickory. Using farm raised cattle and only the freshest of ingredients, this mouthwatering beef jerky will leave you craving more. Come by and see us at the booth on Pollasky in front of the EECU credit union or online at JerkyHutJerky.com

LisaZ PieceZ

Lisa Rhoan of LisaZ PieceZ has been selling at street fairs and music festivals for over 20 years.  She offers fun and unique items, including jewelry, women’s boho clothing, crazy novelty sunglasses, tapestries, and crystals. She loves providing a fun and interactive booth, making people smile as they view tapestries come to life through 3D glasses or trying on a funky pair of goggles or sunglasses. During the downtime of the pandemic, she rediscovered her love for making beaded and wire wrapped gemstone jewelry.  She and her partner Sean, cut and polish most of the gemstones used in her necklace pieces. Visit Lisa on Pollaksy between 3rd and 4th during Big Hat Days.

Wonton Crunchies

Local food vendors, Cher Vang and Gao Yia Yang have been in business since 2014. In 2014 our husband and wife owned Wonton Crunchies began participating in events and festivals throughout California. For the past 8 years they have been serving their unique and delicious chicken wonton taco creations for thousands of customers at Big Hat Days and ClovisFest. The seasoned grilled chicken with shredded cabbages, carrots, and cilantro stuffed inside flaky crunchy wonton taco shells paired with teriyaki and a mild spicy sauce gives these tacos a taste that infuses multi-ethnic food flavors. They also serve a variety of fruit flavored infused ice teas that will quench your thirst. There is nothing like Wonton Crunchies at any festivals. Visit them in the Bullard Food Court during Big Hat Days.

Kim’s Birthday Party Petting Zoo

Central Valley’s premier mobile petting zoo and pony ride company will have miniature horses, miniature donkeys, miniature cows, miniature pigs, sheep, goats, bunnies, chickens and ducks on display, and for only $10 a person you can brush, pet and take pictures with the animals of Kim’s Birthday Party Petting Zoo. Pony rides will be available for children under 65 pounds for an additional $12. Venmo, cash and all major credit cards accepted.  Visit us on the corner of 7th and Pollasky during Big Hat Days and at kimspettingzoo.com

Big

Hat Days: Meet the vendors who encompass the spirit of this annual Clovis event

April is a special time in Clovis, California–it’s Rodeo month and the festivities kick off with the beloved Big Hat Days festival. The annual event celebrates Clovis’ rich history and culture, which is rooted by an entrepreneurial spirit.

The event, which has been held since 1938, is a two-day affair that brings together people from all walks of life to enjoy music, food, and fun activities right in Old Town Clovis.

Dozens of businesses and food vendors line the streets sharing their labor of love with the community. The vendors that return each year are what make Big Hat Days so special.

Kim Sanders and her husband

began A Taste of Paradise 17 years ago. Inspired by their trip to Hawaii, they opened the specialty shave ice stand with their first big event being Big Hat Days.

“It was a leap of faith for my husband and I to leave our ‘normal’ jobs and take our new business on the road,” Sanders said. “It was an instant hit and we have never looked back.”

Seventeen years later, you’ll find them out at Big Hat Days greeting all of their customers with a huge smile. They’ve also added Texas Twister drinks to their menu. They’re the only concession with the rights to sell the delicious beverages in California.

“I can’t ever imagine our business not being in the same spot at Big Hat Days. We love our city, customers and chamber staff,” Sanders said. “Our customers expect the best and we

work hard to give them the best.

Big Hat Days kicks off our season every year and gets us set up to continue through ClovisFest and end at the Big Fresno Fair.”

No day out at Big Hat Days is complete without letting the kids go for a ride on the All Aboard Train.

Jayna and Jim Eager began their train rental business in 2009.

“After attending a festival, our three-year-old grandson decided that Papa needed to have a train,” said Jayna. “We do so many events.”

Eager says Big Hat Days is one of the biggest events their company does each year.

“We continue to be a vendor because we love coming to Clovis. We get to meet new vendors and new people every year. We also see regulars that come and ride our train year after year,” she said.

The Sanders and Eagers are only two of Big Hat Days’ loyal vendors, all of whom make the event memorable for everyone who attends.

In addition to food, carnival games and activity vendors, there are also plenty of artisans selling handmade goods and souvenirs.

Clovis Big Hat Days is a wonderful celebration of community and culture. It’s a great place for people to come together to enjoy all that Clovis has to offer. It’s important to shine a light on the businesses and vendors that make it happen year after year.

Don’t miss other events happening in Clovis this year including the annual Clovis Rodeo at the end of April, the year-round farmers market in Old Town Clovis and ClovisFest happening this September.

AIR FORCE JUNIOR ROTC

Why we do it?

The mission of Air Force Junior ROTC is to “Develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community.”

Air Force Junior ROTC is not an USAF accessions program and cadets are never under any obligation to join the military. Air Force Junior ROTC is a Title 10 US Code mandated citizenship training program that is designed to educate and train high school cadets in citizenship, promote community service, instill personal responsibility, character, and selfdiscipline. The program achieves this through classroom education in air and space fundamentals and hands on learning opportunities in a number of fun and challenging extra-curricular activities.

The Air Force Junior ROTC program is grounded in the Air Force core values of “integrity

first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.”

Both the mission and our core values hinges on service to our community. In Clovis, no two events epitomize the “Clovis Way of Life” more than ClovisFest and Big Hat Days. We are honored to help make those events happen! Our kids love the feeling of getting up early in the morning and transforming downtown. When they start, the streets are dark and empty. When the finish and turn around, the whole town is transformed. It’s satisfying and they love interacting with the vendors and other members/ volunteers with the Chamber of Commerce. It’s good advertising for our program and great networking for our kids. It’s our pleasure to serve.

FIVE MORE REASONS TO LOVE Big Hat Days

Every year, thousands of local citizens join with out-of-town visitors to celebrate Big Hat Days in Old Town Clovis. This eightyfive-year-old tradition serves as an opportunity to get together with friends and family, have some fun, and usher in beautiful spring weather.

But, did you know there are many more reasons that Big Hat Days is an important annual event? Here are five reasons to love Big Hat Days:

1. Culture

Every place has its own personality. The characteristics, features and peculiarities are a result of both nurture and nature. Clovis was born from a marriage of railroad and lumber, two industries that came together in the early 1890s and gave birth to what would become the City of Clovis. In all ways, this new, rural community was a small town. And the values and traditions of these early settlers influenced more than a century of growth.

The Clovis Rodeo started in 1914 and became an annual tradition that takes place on the last weekend of April. In 1938, Big Hat

Days was started as a way to kick off the month of April, or as locals call it, “Rodeo Month.”

“It’s in our blood,” says long-tome councilmember and former mayor Jose Flores, “it’s a tradition and our culture.”

2. Supporting Local Businesses

Every year, Clovis is host to over 200 outdoor community events. City leaders know that the folks who call the Central Valley home love these events, and they also know that merchants love seeing new customers. Big Hat Days attracts approximately 140,000 people to Clovis every year. Merchants see every single one of those people as a potential customer.

3. Local and Regional Economic Impact

The number of Big Hat Days attendees is larger than the full-time population of the City of Clovis, and each of those attendees spend an average amount of disposable cash. Of course, the folks who come from out of town and stay in our hotels spend a considerably higher amount than the local folks, and

they are all important to our local economy.

These tourist expenditures create an increased number of sales transactions in the community. Clearly, certain businesses receive the bulk of the tourist dollars. Hotels, restaurants, retail stores, the Big Hat Days vendors, gas stations and transportation companies are among the businesses where the visitor actually hands the money to the business operator. These transactions introduce “new money” into the community. This money starts circulating and will end up getting spent at least three more times before it leaves Clovis, and five times before it leaves the region. It’s a very healthy process for the Central Valley.

4. Opportunities for Entrepreneurs

The mission of the Clovis Chamber of Commerce is “to advocate and support a healthy business environment which improves the quality of life in Clovis.” And Chamber leaders don’t limit that support to existing, established businesses.

They provide programs and opportunities for small, start-up businesses too. Big Hat Days is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to sell their wares and build a base of loyal customers.

5. Non Profit Organizations

Big Hat Days is an opportunity for non-profit and communitybased organizations to share their mission and raise funds. To accomplish this, the Chamber of Commerce provides inexpensive booth space to all nonprofit organizations and provides opportunities for other local organizations to raise funds through task-based duties during the event. This includes setup, ongoing maintenance, and countless other jobs.

These five reasons are just some of the ways Big Hat Days is more than just a street fair. It supports the entire region in ways that most people will never know. The reason? Well, Clovis Chamber of Commerce CEO, Greg Newman answered that question best. “Because this event belongs to the entire community.”

THE 109th CLOVIS RODEO One of Fresno County’s Most Popular Events

If you are looking to experience a bit of western culture, join us for the 109th Clovis Rodeo to be held April 26-30, 2023. Always held the last weekend in April this popular Fresno County event is one of the largest rodeos in America. It is coordinated by a dedicated group of volunteers who work hard to preserve the cattle ranching legacy of the region, the sport of professional rodeo, and the Clovis Way of Life. Guests are encouraged to visit www.clovisrodeo.com for the latest news and calendar of events.

Professional Bull Riding, three great concerts with some of Country Music’s rising stars along with four days of Professional Rodeo Cowboy action and lots of great food and more entertainment makeup this weeklong event. It is full throttle action in a three-hour performance that includes both timed and roughstock rodeo events.

In the roughstock rodeo events (bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding) a contestant’s score is equally dependent upon his performance and the bull or bucking horse’s performance. To earn a qualified ride a cowboy must stay on for

8-seconds. In timed events (steer wrestling, team roping and barrel racing) cowboys and cowgirls at the other end of the arena compete against the clock for the best time.

The Rodeo Association understands it is Clovis’ rich and meaningful history that sets the community apart. Rodeo volunteers believe remembering your roots, and what it took to get here, helps them have a deeper appreciation for the days ahead. The rodeo, to this day, remains a time for friends, family and neighbors to come together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company.

The small festival that was started more than 100 years ago is now a professional sporting event that attracts champion cowboys and cowgirls from throughout the world to compete on some of the best livestock in the sport. It takes more than 50,000 fans, almost 800 cowboys and cowgirls and 350 elite stock animals along with 8,000 pounds of tri-tip and a year of planning to pull off the community event. The rodeo generates more than $15 million in economic impact for the City of Clovis and surrounding region.

Tickets can be purchased online

by visiting www.clovisrodeo.com. The rodeo grounds are located on Clovis Avenue between Bullard and Shaw in the heart of downtown Clovis. It is an easy walk from any of the many hotels in the community. Parking at the rodeo grounds is free of charge. We hope you’ll dust off your hat and get your boots to the Clovis

Rodeo. Didn’t bring your boots, don’t worry, you can purchase any of the items you might need from the many local merchants throughout the community who help make the event possible. Visit clovisrodeo.com for event details, additional information and a calendar of rodeo activities in Clovis, California.