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Chico Events and Things to Do in December

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December in Chico is lights and ice: the Community Tree Lighting in Downtown Chico, the City Plaza ice rink, Nutcrackers and holiday films at the theaters, and steelhead spawning at the Oroville hatchery from mid-December. Chico Ice Rink: Starts in 5 days.

Original artwork of skaters on an outdoor downtown ice rink under holiday lights, a classic red pickup with a fir tree nearby

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On Our Calendar This December

Every date below was read on the organizer’s own page. The list updates itself as events are added, and a date drops off once it has passed.

38 events are on our calendar for Chico and nearby towns in December 2026. 2 are listed as free by the organizer; 17 are marked Not confirmed because we could not confirm them on the organizer’s page yet. This list rebuilds itself every day at midnight, Pacific time.

December 2026

December Around Chico

  • Downtown holidays.The Community Tree Lighting, Christmas Preview and Small Business Saturday have their own page: Downtown Chico Holiday Events.
  • Ice rink.The Chico Ice Rink in City Plaza runs most weekdays 3 to 9 p.m. and weekends from noon, through January 17, 2027 on our calendar.
  • Steelhead at the hatchery.CDFW says steelhead spawning can be watched at the Feather River Fish Hatchery from mid-December through mid-February. The hatchery is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Birds.Waterfowl peak at the Sacramento refuge in late November to early December, the refuge says. Gray Lodge runs guided walks Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. from October through January, unless it rains; hunting is always closed there on Christmas Day.
  • Short days.Most Bidwell Park gates close at 7 p.m. from October to March.

A Sample Day: A December Saturday in Chico

Day at a glance: 5 h 25 min at stops plus 8 min on the road, starting 9:00 a.m. and finishing about 2:33 p.m..

  1. 9:00 a.m. Chico Certified Farmers’ Market (Essential) 60 min here (our estimate). Saturdays 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2nd and Wall, all year, rain or shine; cash, EBT and WIC.
  2. 10:02 a.m. One-Mile Recreation Area and Sycamore Pool (Optional) 55 min here (our estimate). A walk along Big Chico Creek in Lower Bidwell Park; the North One-Mile lot opens 7:30 a.m. Lifeguards are on duty at Sycamore Pool only Memorial Day to Labor Day.Next door: about 2 min and 0.8 miles, an easy walk or a short hop.
  3. 11:00 a.m. Gateway Science Museum (Essential) 75 min here (our estimate). Thursday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; adults $10, ages 3 to 17 $5.About 3 min and 0.8 miles by road from the last stop.
  4. 12:17 p.m. Chico History Museum (Optional) 60 min here (our estimate). Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; suggested admission $5 for adults.Next door: about 2 min and 0.4 miles, an easy walk or a short hop.
  5. 1:18 p.m. Chico Ice Rink, City Plaza (Essential) 75 min here (our estimate). Weekends from noon.Next door: about 1 min and 0.4 miles, an easy walk or a short hop.

Arrival times and time at each stop are our own planning estimates. Road times come from OpenStreetMap routing (OSRM) with no live traffic, closures or weather. We checked each arrival against the hours printed on the place pages linked above.

What to Expect in December

57 / 36°FChico normal high / low
54 / 40°FParadise normal high / low
5.04 inChico normal rain
0.0Average days at 90°F or hotter

NOAA 1991-2020 normals, read November 3, 2026; normals are averages, not a forecast. Smoke, air quality and creek cautions: Chico weather by month (official AirNow and City of Chico wording; not medical advice).

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Chico tree lighting?

See our Downtown Chico Holiday Events page; the Downtown Chico Business Association posts the date.

Is the Chico Ice Rink open in December?

Yes. It is on our calendar from November 12, 2026 to January 17, 2027: most weekdays 3 to 9 p.m. and weekends from noon.

Can I see fish at the Oroville hatchery in December?

Yes. The underwater windows show fish from mid-September through June, and steelhead spawning can be watched from mid-December, CDFW says.

More Months and Events

All Chico EventsThis WeekendEvents by MonthNovemberDecemberJanuaryItineraries

Sources

  1. Chico Certified Farmers’ Market (Saturday market). Read October 29, 2026.
  2. Gateway Science Museum, Visit (hours and admission). Read October 29, 2026.
  3. Chico History Museum (hours and suggested admission). Read October 29, 2026.
  4. CARD, Chico Ice Rink (season and hours). Read October 29, 2026.
  5. CDFW, Feather River Fish Hatchery (spawning and viewing seasons, hours). Read October 29, 2026.
  6. USFWS, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (hours, waterfowl peak, visitor center). Read October 29, 2026.
  7. CDFW, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (hours, auto-loop rule, guided walks). Read October 29, 2026.
  8. City of Chico, Trail, Gate and Facility Status and Hours (gate hours October to March). Read October 29, 2026.

Event rows link their own organizer pages. Place hours come from the sources on each linked place page.

Cite this page: “Chico Events and Things to Do in December.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/events/december/

On The Map

7 places named on this page are pinned. Tap a pin for the page and directions. Dashed pins were placed from the street address and are approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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Printed from itschico.com on . Hours, prices and dates can change, so check with the venue before you go.