Widmer World Cancels Rest Of Season Due To Rain

PLEASANTON, CA — The owner of Widmer World, the beloved single-family home in Pleasanton that transforms into a dazzling winter wonderland each December, has canceled the remainder of its season due to rain. The season was supposed to last until Dec. 31.

According to founder Robert Widmer, this is the first time in Widmer World’s 22-year history that it has needed to close early.

“With the current weather forecast and the amount of moisture in our display now I feel this is necessary,” Widmer wrote in a statement posted to the company’s website and social media accounts. “Most of our electronics and lighting can take the rain but our GFI components cannot. We cannot take the chance of going dark with guests in our display.”

Widmer wrote that his decision was also influenced by the liability of wet walkways, and the fact that his family would need to stand in the rain to greet guests as they normally do.

“We lost considerable days due to wet weather but we in California can use every drop we can get,” Widmer wrote. “We had a great season for the days we were open and thank our many guests that came by to see us.”

Widmer World opened at the start of December, as it has for 22 years. Widmer and his family transform the single-story home, located on an acre of land in Chelsea Court, into a dazzling mini-village complete with a nativity scene, Santa Claus and his village, reindeer, snowmen, and thousands and thousands of lights. The display was free and open to the public each night from 6 to 9.

But that magic is suddenly a web of liabilities once an atmospheric river rolls in. Pleasanton, along with most of Northern California, has received about two inches of rain this week, with wind gusts as high as 46 mph. The city remains under a flood watch that is set to expire Saturday at 10 p.m. The city will also be under a wind advisory Saturday from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m., which could bring gusts of up to 50 mph. The rain is expected to let up Sunday, but then continue on and off for at least another week.