'Enchanted forest and magical pathways': Pixie Woods postpones Saturday's 70-year opening day

Angelaydet Rocha, The Stockton Record
Updated ·3 min read

Pixie Woods has postponed its 70-year opening day scheduled for Saturday, May 4.

The city of Stockton took to Facebook to announce the postponement of the celebration "due to unexpected weather conditions," on Wednesday night.

The children's amusement park, located at 3121 Monte Diablo in Stockton, will be rescheduling its milestone celebration which included face painting, birthday cake, and a petting zoo.

A new date has not been set yet. The park has three possible dates but is checking with vendors first, Mary Pennini, Pixie Woods board member president told The Record on Thursday.

Celebrating 70 years in the community

Pennini has been a board member since 2009 and has served as board president for the last five years, she said.

"Pixie Woods opened up in 1954, so this is a great day for us," she told The Record. "We're really proud that the park is still running ... There are not too many organizations around that have lasted that long. Thank God for the community to continue to do this."

The upcoming opening day and birthday celebration will have everything from carnival games to a magic show and themed characters, the city's website states. Pennini said Star Wars characters Darth Vader, Princess Leia and Rey will also be roaming around the park during the event.

Beto Garcia, left rear, Daisy Muñoz of Oakdale, and their children Bellis Garcia, 7, left, and Benjamin Garcia, 1, sit in the stage coach on opening day at Pixie Woods.
Beto Garcia, left rear, Daisy Muñoz of Oakdale, and their children Bellis Garcia, 7, left, and Benjamin Garcia, 1, sit in the stage coach on opening day at Pixie Woods.

There will also be a fishing pole game, a photo booth, and raffle drawings with $70 gift cards to businesses in Stockton, Pennini said.

"It's a wonderful opportunity for children in Stockton and the area... and it's affordable," she said. "Not many activities in the area are affordable anymore but Pixie Woods is still affordable."

This season the park will open only during weekends in May.

"We still have our carousel, the beautiful carousel and our train and the Pixie paddle (wheel) boat that goes around the lagoon," Pennini said. "We have the volcano that boots off smoke and everything and it's very, very fun and very attractive."

2024 Season schedule and hours:

  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends only in May

  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday in June

  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday in July

  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends only in August

  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends only in September

  • 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends only in October

  • The park closes in November through April.

Josephine Castro, 8, pets a potbellied pig during the Pixie Woods children's amusement park's opening day and 69th birthday celebration in Stockton on Saturday, May 6, 2023, though the threat of rain kept the crowds small. In addition to the usual rides and attractions an animal petting zoo, face painting and birthday cake were also available on the first day of the season. Pixie Woods will be open Saturdays and Sundays only from May 6 through May 28; Thursdays through Sundays from June 1 through June 30; Saturdays and Sundays only from August 5 through October 28.

"We're very grateful and thankful for the city for all they do for us and we work well with them hand in hand in trying to improve the park and make it better and better for the children every year," Pennini said.

Park memberships start at $44 for a half-season membership for August through October. A full-season membership is $70 and its from May to October. Park ride tickets are $9 for unlimited rides, $5 for a 3-ride package, or $2 for a single-ride ticket. Rides are 1 ticket each, the the city's website states.

Pennini said they are always looking for board members volunteers. Those interested in becoming park members can print out the membership application and return it to the park.

Call Pixie Woods at (209) 937-8119. For more information about Pixie Woods Children's Park visit stocktonca.gov.

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Pixie Woods Stockton