Announcing the 2025 Candy Cane Lane Parade Grand Marshal: Jim Barnes
Downtown Visalia is thrilled to celebrate the 79th Annual Candy Cane Lane Parade, a cherished tradition that brings our community together each holiday season. With this year’s theme, “A Classic Christmas,” we invite everyone to enjoy the timeless magic, warmth, and nostalgia that make this season so special. Today, we are honored to officially announce our 2025 Grand Marshal: Jim Barnes.
Jim is a lifelong Californian who made Visalia his home in 1966. He graduated from Mt. Whitney High School, College of the Sequoias, and Fresno Pacific University before serving three years in the U.S. Army as a Pershing Missile Crewman in West Germany. Jim and his wife, Nadine—who recently celebrated their 53rd anniversary—have built a beautiful family with two married daughters, five grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. He is also a two-time Olympic Torch Bearer and an accomplished triathlete.
For 33 years, Jim taught elementary students in Visalia and continues to make an impact in the classroom—now in his 14th year of substitute teaching. Beyond education, Jim serves as a professional lifeguard for Christian camps and at triathlons across the U.S. and Canada. His heart for service extends deep into the community: he volunteers with the Visalia Police Activities League (PAL), coaches elementary track and Miracle League Baseball, serves on the Mission Board at Gateway Church, repairs bikes for the Visalia Rescue Mission, participates in outreach with Students International, and even hosts a special “Bike Day” for local kids—repairing their bikes, helping them stay safe for school, and teaching them how to care for their own equipment.
Jim is deeply honored to represent Visalia’s many dedicated volunteers as this year’s Candy Cane Lane Parade Grand Marshal. He wishes you and your family a joyful and blessed Christmas season, and he invites you to join him downtown on Saturday, January 3rd for the 10th Annual Visalia PAL Resolution 5K and 1.5-Mile Walk, benefiting scholarships for local youth to attend PAL Honor Camp this June.
Join us this holiday season in Downtown Visalia for the 79th Annual Candy Cane Lane Parade on Monday, December 1st at 6:30 PM, as we celebrate A Classic Christmas and honor an extraordinary community member, Jim Barnes. ✨