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Chico Events in November: What’s on and a Sample Day

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November is when the Pacific Flyway fills up around Chico: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counts about 1.8 million waterfowl at the Sacramento refuges in an average November. Salmon are still spawning at the Oroville hatchery in the first half of the month, the Chico Ice Rink opens downtown, and Downtown Chico starts the holidays with Christmas Preview. Chico Ice Rink: Starts in 5 days.

Original artwork of snow geese lifting off a flooded rice field at sunset, a birder watching from a levee road

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On Our Calendar This November

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.

34 events are on our calendar for Chico and nearby towns in November 2026. 6 are listed as free by the organizer; 11 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.

November 2026

November Around Chico

  • Thanksgiving week.The Gobble Games are at the Chico Ice Rink on November 20, and the rink is closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. See Thanksgiving in Chico.
  • Salmon at the hatchery.CDFW says salmon spawning can be watched Monday to Friday from mid-September to mid-November at the Feather River Fish Hatchery, open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The underwater windows show fish from about mid-September through June.
  • Waterfowl at the refuges.The Sacramento refuge says waterfowl peak in late November to early December; its auto tour needs a $6 day pass. At Gray Lodge, everyone stays inside their vehicle on the 3-mile auto-loop from October through February.
  • Hunting days.Gray Lodge allows waterfowl hunting on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the season, and foot and bike paths may be restricted from mid-October to mid-February. Weekdays other than Wednesday are the quieter choice.
  • Ice on the plaza.CARD’s outdoor Chico Ice Rink in City Plaza is on our calendar for the 2026-27 season from November 12, 2026 to January 17, 2027: most weekdays 3 to 9 p.m., weekends from noon, closed Thanksgiving Day.
  • Bidwell Park gates close earlier.From October to March most Bidwell Park gates close at 7 p.m., and the Main Upper Park Gate at 9 p.m.
  • Fall color up high.The Forest Service points to aspen, willow and alder around Lake Almanor in Lassen National Forest; see our fall color guide.

A Sample Day: A November Friday of Salmon, Geese and Ice

Day at a glance: 5 h 10 min at stops plus 111 min on the road, starting 9:00 a.m. and finishing about 4:01 p.m..

  1. 9:00 a.m. Feather River Fish Hatchery (Essential) 60 min here (our estimate). Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; spawning is watchable Monday to Friday until mid-November, so go early in the month.
  2. 10:48 a.m. Gray Lodge Wildlife Area (Essential) 120 min here (our estimate). Open sunrise to sunset. Drive the 3-mile auto-loop from Parking Lot #14 and stay in the car. Visitors 16 and older need a CDFW Lands Pass ($5.97 a day in 2026) or their own hunting or fishing license.About 48 min and 27.0 miles by road from the last stop.
  3. 1:50 p.m. Chico History Museum (Optional) 70 min here (our estimate). Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; suggested admission $5 for adults.About 62 min and 40.2 miles by road from the last stop.
  4. 3:01 p.m. Chico Ice Rink, City Plaza (Optional) 60 min here (our estimate). Weekdays from 3 p.m., once the rink season has started.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 November

65 / 40°FChico normal high / low
61 / 45°FParadise normal high / low
2.41 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 can I see salmon at the Oroville hatchery in November?

Salmon spawning can be watched Monday to Friday until mid-November, CDFW says, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. After that the underwater windows still show fish.

When do the geese peak near Chico?

The Sacramento refuge says waterfowl peak in late November to early December, and USFWS counts about 1.8 million waterfowl in an average November.

When does the Chico Ice Rink open?

It is on our calendar from November 12, 2026 to January 17, 2027, in City Plaza, run by CARD.

More Months and Events

All Chico EventsThis WeekendEvents by MonthNovemberDecemberJanuaryItineraries

Sources

  1. CDFW, Feather River Fish Hatchery (spawning and viewing seasons, hours). 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. CARD, Chico Ice Rink (season and hours). Read October 29, 2026.
  7. Chico History Museum (hours and suggested admission). Read October 29, 2026.
  8. City of Chico, Trail, Gate and Facility Status and Hours (gate hours October to March). Read October 29, 2026.
  9. USDA Forest Service, Lassen National Forest (fall color pointer). 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 November.” It’s Chico, checked October 29, 2026. https://itschico.com/events/november/

On The Map

5 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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