Big Hat Days 2022

84TH ANNUAL

(559) 299-7363

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BIG HATS, BIG FUN!

Big Hat Days is Celebrating 84 Years of Big Fun in Old Town Clovis

WE’RE BACK-AGAIN! – Big Hat Days is Celebrating 84 Years of Big Fun in Old Town Clovis.

The year of 1938 heralded the introduction of ballpoint pens, the first use of Teflon, and the first issues of the Superman comics.

It was also the premier year of Clovis BIG Hat Days, a celebration to honor hardworking Clovis cowboys and farmers. Their hats served to block the dirt and sun from their faces, and the towns-

people were invited to don their favorite hats to salute them.

84 years later, BIG Hat Days – A Clovis Chamber of Commerce event –is now the Central Valley’s biggest free street festival celebration, covering 15 blocks of shopping, food, and entertainment for the entire family.

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, for making BIG Hat Days your ultimate destination for

family fun, yummy food, and quality one-of-a-kind shopping.

Big Hat Days was cancelled in 2020 and came back with a renewed strength in 2021. After the one-year absence, the community turned out in the thousands to welcome Big Hat Days back to Old Town Clovis in 2021.

We are thankful to the City of Clovis for helping make Big Hat Days a true celebration of our community. This year we invite

you to join the festivities in Old Town Clovis on Pollasky Avenue on Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday April 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking is free in the surrounding lots and at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds. Handicap parking is available in the Water Tower parking lot north of the rodeo grounds.

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BIG HAT DAYS CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping Browse the abundance of highquality merchandise, arts and crafts, unique treasures, home goods, fine photography, one of a kind artisan pieces, children’s clothing and toys and of course, BIG hats. Check out the commercial business exhibits that offer goods and services from local companies in our community.

Food for Every Appetite Keep your energy up with traditional festival munchies that include kettle corn, cinnamon rolls, shaved ice, and roasted corn, served by food vendors along Pollasky Ave. For more substantial cuisine, visit the Centennial Plaza Food Court for rib-sticking barbecue, tri tip, Mexican food, Asian Fusion, deep fried goodness, and corn dogs. This year, there are nearly 50 food vendors spread throughout the entire BIG Hat Days event!

Carnival Rides and Kids Zone We are thrilled to bring back two full streets of carnival rides and games. There will be gravity defying rides for adults and many fun and thrilling rides for children.

Included in the excitement will be bounce houses, games of chance, giant slides, pony rides, face painters, balloon animals and entertainment for the whole family.

Michelob Ultra Beer Garden Follow the sounds of country music to Bullard and Woodworth

to the Michelob Ultra Live Entertainment stage where country music will be played all day, Saturday and Sunday. Check out the free music in the beer garden and enjoy a cool beer and dance to your favorite country hits. (Beer Garden is for 21 years and over only).

The Clovis Chamber of Commerce is very proud to host BIG Hat Days. This has become a gen-

erational, free, family event that draws attendees from all over the San Joaquin Valley to Clovis each year. Visit the Clovis Chamber’s Big Hat Days Facebook Page for up-to-date information. Follow the hashtag of “BIGHAT22” for the latest and greatest info on vendors, bands, and happenings.

Pack up the kids, grab your favorite BIG hat and come out to BIG Hat Days in Old Town Clovis

Real

April 2 & 3, 2022. We are very proud of our Cowboy heritage and are eager to celebrate the best of Clovis safely with our community.

If you are a faithful BIG Hat Days attendee, welcome backagain! If you are traveling to Clovis and visiting BIG Hat Days for the first time, welcome to Clovis, we are happy ya’ll came to visit.

We hope that you enjoy your BIG Hat Days.

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SPONSOR Spotlight The Clovis Chamber of Commerce is honored to host BIG Hat Days each year. We wish to thank our partners and sponsors for making this year’s BIG Hat Days better than ever. We are very excited to announce our new presenting sponsor of Big Hat Days Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino.

Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino has been a fantastic community supporter of local events for many years, and we are very proud to have Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino join the Clovis Chamber as the presenting sponsor of BIG Hat Days.

“It’s our honor to be the new presenting sponsor for Big Hat Days, a Clovis tradition that has brought so much joy to the community over the past 84 years,” said Deann Kamalani, director of marketing at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino. “Upholding local heritage and culture has longbeen a priority for Chukchansi Gold, which makes it even more fitting for us to be a part of this great celebration as it returns to the city.”

You can find the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino booth located at the corner of Pollasky and Bullard Avenue as you enter the Food Court. Donaghy Sales and Michelob ULTRA are happy to be our exclusive BIG Hat Days and ClovisFest beer sponsor. Donaghy Sales fantastic staff and our ener-

getic BIG Hat Days volunteers will make sure to have a cold beverage ready for all music lovers at our Michelob Ultra beer garden and live entertainment stage located at Bullard and Woodworth next to the Clovis Elks Lodge (21 and over please).

Every year we have additional local businesses that like to be a part of Big Hat Days. This year we welcome returning sponsor, European Wax Center-Clovis who will have a booth on the corner of 5th and Pollasky and our new BIG Hat Days sponsor, Chicken Shack who will also have a booth on the corner of 5th and Pollasky.

Noble Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of the ClovisFest Hot Air Balloon Fun Fly and will have a booth on 5th Street. Come by and say hello and say “thank you” to this year’s sponsors of our event.

The Clovis Chamber has a long partnership with Pepsi who provides bottled soda, tea, and water beverage booths throughout the festival. A portion of the proceeds will go to the local nonprofit groups who operate the Pepsi booths. Please stop by their booths and grab an ice-cold Pepsi beverage.

The Fresno/Clovis Convention & Visitors Bureau has been an invaluable partner of the Clovis Chamber with their dedication to offer support and resources as

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they market our majestic Fresno County to the entire country. We thank the staff at the FCCVB for marketing events like BIG Hat Days to all of Fresno County and California.

Like the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, The Clovis Rodeo Association has been a benchmark in the Clovis community for over 100 years by hosting the worldfamous Clovis Rodeo the last weekend in April each year. We thank them for their partnership throughout the years with the use of their beautiful Rodeo grounds for our events.

Hosting an event, the size of BIG Hat Days takes the cooperation of the entire City of Clovis.

Our sincere gratitude is extended to the 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 such a fantastic community.

As we take over the streets of Old Town we rely on the support and generosity of our fellow business community with the use of their parking lots and property.

Thank you to Central Valley Community Bank, Educational Employees Credit Union and Cigars LTD. for your cooperation and support in addition to all the business of Old Town Clovis.

Letting our community know

about BIG Hat Days is no small task. We rely on our media partners to spread the word. Thank you to KMPH Fox 26 and CW 59, along with iHeartMedia, Loops Marketing and the Clovis Roundup for keeping our community up to date on Clovis Chamber events.

Valuable friends of the Clovis Chamber, Alert-O-Lite, American Ambulance and Guardian Accounting are a tremendous help with making our event run smoothly by donating their time and services to the Clovis Chamber – Thank you.

Volunteers make it happen and this year we expect over 75 volunteers to help set up, operate, and clean up the BIG Hat Days event.

These dedicated civic minded volunteers make up the backbone of your community. These are high school students, Clovis Chamber board members, Clovis Chamber ambassadors, military, business owners, church groups and community leaders that come together to help make BIG Hats Days a successful event.

On behalf of the Clovis Chamber Board of Directors and the dedicated Clovis Chamber of Commerce staff we want to THANK YOU and wish you all a very happy BIG Hat Days!

Greg Newman President & CEO Clovis Chamber of Commerce

ARPIL 2 & 3, 2022

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BIG HAT DAYS 2022

APRIL 2 & 3, 2022

VENDOR Spotlight All Aboard Train Rentals Jim & Jayna Eager are the owners of All Aboard Train Rentals since 2009. We have been making kids happy at so many events! From birthday parties, company parties, church events, school carnivals, fundraiser’s, parade’s, anywhere you want to have fun!

BIG Hat Days in Clovis is our favorite event!

We love to see our repeat customers every year & their new additions to their families, to ride the train! Parents & children can ride the train! We are on the corner of Pollasky & 5th.

Thank you Clovis Chamber of Commerce for making this event happen each year!

OLDE TYME KETTLE KORN

Kettle Corn has a long history at events, festivals, fairs throughout the U.S. The process involves popping popcorn kernels at high temperatures while adding sugar and salt to give it a slightly sweet and slightly salt flavor and has become a very popular snack.

Brian C. Vang and Jeanie C. Xiong are local residents in the Fresno/Clovis area. They have been running their kettle corn business “Olde Tyme Kettle Korn” World’s Best Popcorn for the past 12 years at different fairs, festivals, and events throughout California.

They have been attending one of their favorite festivals, Big Hat Days and ClovisFest in the Old Town Clovis run by the Clovis Chamber of Commerce for over a decade.

Be sure to stop by and grab a savory taste of their delicious kettle korn and say hi.

Pretty Fancy Pretty Fancy has been in business for over 30 years and coming to Big Hat Days for over 17 years.

Linda designs, sews, fabricates and dyes beautiful Victorian Women’s clothing and great BIG hats, like you would see in My Fair Lady. Linda has won many awards for her hats including the Kentucky Derby hat contest (twice) and her hats have won awards at the Del Mar opening day hat contest 10 times.

Linda’s Victorian influenced creations are designed for today’s lady with lots of lace and fringes. Linda is sometimes known as the “Lace Lady”. In the past, Tony and Linda would travel to over 20 shows each year but have scaled it down to only 3 shows in 2022 and Big Hat Days made the short list. “Big Hat Days is really fun and festive, and crowds are big” said Banzuelo. “We love coming to Clovis because the people are great and we have made many friends in the community over the years and that we get to see each April”, he added.

Pretty Fancy has beautiful, colorful clothing and Big beautiful hats. Many Big Hat Days attendees will visit the Pretty Fancy booth each year to purchase their Big Hat Days hat. “We have done shows all over California Arizona ,and Nevada and Big Hat Days is one of our favorite events each year” said Banzuelo.

TEXAS TWISTER - TASTE OF PARADISE You may have seen us or bought our products when you have visited Big Hat Days or ClovisFest.

We are Kim and Scott Sanders, the owners of A Taste of Paradise Hawaiian Shave Ice and Texas Twister Drink. If you recall us, we have been located at the intersection of Bullard and Pollasky Streets since 2006.

We love these events because they are in our hometown and Big Hat Days was our very first event.

We used to do up to 35 events per year but now average around 15 events each year. Stop by this April 2-3rd and say hi! We’re excited to serve you!

expires April 30, 2022 No cash value, cannot be combined within other To be eligible for the discount, you must register for month.

ARPIL 2 & 3, 2022

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BIG HAT DAYS Attractions

Big Hat Days will be filled with family friendly attractions for kids of all ages.

Back this year will be a full assortment of carnival rides and games. Included will be a Teacups Ride which is a mini version of the teacup ride that you may see at Disneyland. The six cups spin on a platter that also turns in a circle.

This ride is for both children and adults. Also, we will have the icon-

ic Giant Eli Bridge Ferris Wheel that can be seen from all over Old Town Clovis.

The Paratrooper ride is a fast and fun, high-flying spinning wheel for those adventurous riders. The Giant Fun Slide is back again this year that features a 100-foot-long fiberglass slide that is a family favorite.

The Loop O Plane is a thrill ride for those daring enough to take

on their wild side. New this year is the awesome Millennium Falcon Obstacle Course which is a inflatable obstacle course that kids can bounce around inside with R2D2 and C3PO. Look for these attraction and many more along 4th street between Clovis Avenue & Woodworth and along Pollasky Avenue between 8th and 9th streets.

In addition, Big Hat Days will feature a petting zoo with exotic

pet-able animals and pony rides for the youngsters. On the streets of Old Town, you will also find face painting next to EECU, balloon animals made to order on the corner of 4th and Pollasky and the magical photo booth where you can take a photo with your favorite Disney princess on Pollasky and 7th St. Get ready for the excitement at BIG Hat Days.

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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 84-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 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 community loves 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 fulltime 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 the community, 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.”

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THE CLOVIS RODEO Always Held the Last Weekend in April It is one of Fresno County’s Most Popular Events

It is often said, The American Cowboy Tradition called “rodeo” got its start when “one ranch said they had a horse that couldn’t be rode, and another ranch said they had a cowboy that couldn’t be thrown.” For a dedicated group of volunteers, preserving the cattle ranching legacy of the region, the sport of professional rodeo, and the Clovis Way of Life is why this 5-day event has become one of the top 10 rodeos in the nation.

The annual Clovis Rodeo is

always celebrated the last (full) weekend in April. The 108th Clovis Rodeo will take place April 20-24, 2022. 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 make-up this annual

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weeklong event. It is a week (and more) of full throttle action that includes both timed and roughstock rodeo events.

In the roughstock rodeo events that include 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 such as 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 that it is Clovis’ rich and meaningful history that sets the community apart. Rodeo volunteers believe that 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.

Always held the last weekend in April 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 rodeo. 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 $13 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 boots and join us for the Clovis Rodeo. Didn’t bring your boots, don’t worry, you can purchase any of the items you might need from the local merchants throughout the community who help make this annual event possible. Visit clovisrodeo.com for event details, additional information, and a calendar of rodeo activities in Clovis, California.

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BIG HAT DAYS 2022

APRIL 2 & 3, 2022