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Chico Events and Things to Do in January

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January is birding month around Chico. The geese and ducks are still on the refuges, Gray Lodge runs its last weekend guided walks of the season, and the Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway closes the month. The Chico Ice Rink runs into the middle of the month. Snow Goose Festival: Starts in 82 days.

Original artwork of a foggy, frosty January morning among valley oaks by a creek, a walker and dog on the path

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On Our Calendar This January

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.

9 events are on our calendar for Chico and nearby towns in January 2027. 0 are listed as free by the organizer. This list rebuilds itself every day at midnight, Pacific time.

January 2027

January Around Chico

  • Snow Goose Festival.The 27th festival runs January 28 to 31, 2027, based in Chico, with more than 55 field trips; the schedule is due in December. See our festival guide.
  • Refuges.The Sacramento refuge auto tour and trails are open from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset; the 6-mile auto tour needs a $6 day pass. Gray Lodge keeps its stay-in-your-car rule on the auto-loop through February, and its guided walks run Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. through January, unless it rains.
  • Steelhead.Steelhead spawning can be watched at the Feather River Fish Hatchery from mid-December through mid-February.
  • Ice rink’s last weeks.The Chico Ice Rink is on our calendar through January 17, 2027.
  • Almond bloom is next.The Almond Board says orchards bloom from mid-February to mid-March; see our bloom guide.

A Sample Day: A January Saturday on The Pacific Flyway

Day at a glance: 4 h 00 min at stops plus 207 min on the road, starting 8:30 a.m. and finishing about 3:57 p.m..

  1. 8:30 a.m. Downtown Chico (Essential) Start in Downtown Chico; head west on Highway 32 and south on 99W.
  2. 9:34 a.m. Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (Essential) 90 min here (our estimate). Drive the 6-mile auto tour ($6 day pass, sold online through Recreation.gov) and walk part of the 2-mile Wetland Walk. Bring water: the refuge has none to drink.About 64 min and 43.8 miles by road from the last stop.
  3. 12:25 p.m. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (Essential) 150 min here (our estimate). Aim for the 12:30 p.m. Saturday guided walk (about 90 minutes, not in rain), then the auto-loop. CDFW Lands Pass ($5.97 a day in 2026) for anyone 16 and older without a hunting or fishing license.About 81 min and 39.6 miles by road from the last stop.
  4. 3:57 p.m. Downtown Chico (Essential) Back in Chico before dark.About 62 min and 40.1 miles by road from the last stop.

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 January

56 / 36°FChico normal high / low
54 / 40°FParadise normal high / low
5.12 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

Is the Snow Goose Festival in January?

Yes. The 2027 festival runs January 28 to 31, based in Chico.

Where can I see snow geese near Chico in January?

The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge south of Willows and Gray Lodge Wildlife Area west of Gridley both have auto routes through the wetlands. Both need a day pass.

Are there guided bird walks in January?

Gray Lodge runs guided public walks Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m., October through January, unless it rains. They take about 90 minutes.

More Months and Events

All Chico EventsThis WeekendEvents by MonthNovemberDecemberJanuaryItineraries

Sources

  1. Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway (2027 dates). Read October 29, 2026.
  2. USFWS, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge (hours, waterfowl peak, visitor center). Read October 29, 2026.
  3. USFWS, Sacramento NWR Complex Auto Tours and Trails (auto tour fee and rules). Read October 29, 2026.
  4. CDFW, Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (hours, auto-loop rule, guided walks). Read October 29, 2026.
  5. CDFW, Lands Pass (2026 day pass price). Read October 29, 2026.
  6. CDFW, Feather River Fish Hatchery (spawning and viewing seasons, hours). Read October 29, 2026.
  7. CARD, Chico Ice Rink (season and hours). Read October 29, 2026.
  8. Almond Board of California (bloom season). 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 January.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/events/january/

On The Map

4 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.