Ten guides to the Chico area, each built from the agency, park or organizer pages that set the rules: hours, fees, seasons and what we could not confirm. Pick a topic below, or plan a whole day with our itineraries.
Checked October 29, 2026
- 10topic guides
- 4tested itineraries
- Dateda check date on every page
- 0paid listings
- Bidwell ParkTrails, swimming spots, gate hours, dog and bike rules for the 3,670-acre city park.
- Lake OrovilleLaunch ramps, day-use fees, marinas, floating camps, fish and the hatchery.
- Feather RiverThe 130-mile scenic byway on Highway 70, canyon campgrounds and the wildlife area.
- Lake AlmanorThe 28,000-acre mountain lake: campgrounds, the shoreline trail and current Forest orders.
- Birding & Snow GeeseThe Snow Goose Festival, Gray Lodge and the Sacramento refuge auto tour.
- Chico StateVisitor parking, tours, the Gateway museum, Laxson box office and game days.
- Breweries (21+)Sierra Nevada tours and taproom, plus other breweries with their own posted hours.
- Farm CountryWalnuts, rice and almonds by the numbers, farmers markets and the University Farm.
- Swimming & FloatsWhere the city allows swimming, the posted rules, and agency water safety words.
- Almond Bloom & Fall ColorWhen the orchards bloom, where the Forest Service points for autumn color.
Plan The Trip
- Plan a VisitGetting here, where to stay, seasons and NOAA weather by month.
- ItinerariesFour timed day plans with road time between every stop.
- Quick AnswersShort sourced answers: flights, fees, bloom dates, dogs and more.
- Living in ChicoCensus and BLS numbers for residents and newcomers.
How These Guides Are Made
Every fact is read on the page of the agency, operator or organizer that sets it, and every guide lists those pages with the date we checked. Where two official pages disagree, we show both. Where we could not confirm something, the page says so with a Not confirmed label. Our editorial standards explain the rest.
Coming Up in Chico
October 2026
Treat Street
2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Downtown Chico
Price: See event page
Families trick-or-treat at downtown businesses, with live music, a 4:00 PM costume contest and street closures. Free downtown parking 2:00 to 6:00 PM.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Treat Street (opens in a new tab)October Movies in The Park: Hocus Pocus 2
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
DeGarmo Park, Chico
Price: Free
Halloween movie night with a costume parade at 6:15 PM, food trucks and free popcorn; the film starts at dusk. Bring blankets and lawn chairs.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for October Movies in the Park: Hocus Pocus 2 (opens in a new tab)STOP MAKING SENSE: A Film by Jonathan Demme and Talking Heads
7:30 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $36 - $56
Chico Performances screening of the Talking Heads concert film.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for STOP MAKING SENSE: A Film by Jonathan Demme and Talking Heads (opens in a new tab)Haunted Buildings of Chico (Lecture)
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Chico History Museum
Price: $9 members / $10 non-members
Lecture on residents' reported paranormal experiences in historic downtown buildings. Listed as full, with a waitlist.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Haunted Buildings of Chico (lecture) (opens in a new tab)
November 2026
Chico Day of The Dead Festival
11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Silver Dollar Fairgrounds Pavilion, Chico
Price: Free
Fourth annual Dia de Muertos festival with a walking parade, Catrina pageant, folklorico and music, lowrider car show, vendors and food trucks. Free admission and parking.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Chico Day of the Dead Festival (opens in a new tab)Visual Explorations: Five Artists - Five Perspectives (Exhibit)
Runs Nov 3 to Dec 3, 2026
Time not listed: see the event page
Chico Art Center
Price: See event page
Five local artists show watercolor, oil, pastel and acrylic work drawn from everyday life.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Visual Explorations: Five Artists - Five Perspectives (exhibit) (opens in a new tab)California's Last Grizzly Bear (Lecture)
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Chico History Museum
Price: $9 members / $10 non-members
Local speakers share firsthand accounts of encountering grizzly bears in Butte County long after they were declared extinct.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for California's Last Grizzly Bear (lecture) (opens in a new tab)Chico Ice Rink Season
Runs Nov 12 to Jan 17, 2027
Time not listed: see the event page
City Plaza, Chico
Price: See event page
Outdoor ice rink in City Plaza run by CARD and the City of Chico. Most weekdays 3:00 to 9:00 PM, weekends from noon; closed Thanksgiving Day.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Chico Ice Rink season (opens in a new tab)Visual Explorations Opening Reception
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Chico Art Center
Price: See event page
Opening reception for the Visual Explorations exhibit.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Visual Explorations opening reception (opens in a new tab)Backyard Circus Lecture and Book Signing
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Chico History Museum
Price: $9 members / $10 non-members
Terry Allread describes growing up around circus performers and his family's Backyard Circus, then signs copies of his book.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Backyard Circus lecture and book signing (opens in a new tab)Bored Teachers: Is It Friday Yet?! Comedy Tour
7:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $37 - $57
Touring comedy show for teachers and school staff, presented by Chico Performances.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Bored Teachers: Is It Friday Yet?! Comedy Tour (opens in a new tab)The Gobble Games
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Chico Ice Rink
Price: Skating $15 ($12 online)
Thanksgiving-themed rink games, fall crafts and prizes, ending with the Turkey Bowl at 7:30 PM. Event admission is free; skating is extra.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for The Gobble Games (opens in a new tab)Christmas Preview
4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Downtown Chico
Price: See event page
Downtown tradition since 1978 that opens the holiday season, with merchant open houses, decorations, entertainment and Santa photos.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Christmas Preview (opens in a new tab)Small Business Saturday
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Downtown Chico
Price: See event page
Downtown Chico Business Association signature shopping day. Only the date and hours are posted.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Small Business Saturday (opens in a new tab)
December 2026
Community Tree Lighting Ceremony
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Downtown Chico
Price: See event page
Downtown Chico Business Association community tree lighting. Only the date and hours are posted.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Community Tree Lighting Ceremony (opens in a new tab)Hannibal Buress
7:30 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $32 - $54
Stand-up comedy night presented by Chico Performances.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Hannibal Buress (opens in a new tab)Brunch With Santa
Runs Dec 5 to Dec 6, 2026
Time not listed: see the event page
CARD Center, Chico
Price: See event page
Buffet brunch, photos with Santa and Santa's Village crafts and scavenger hunt in the rose garden. Tickets go on sale November 2.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Brunch with Santa (opens in a new tab)The Maidu: Myths, Magic, and Archaeology (Lecture)
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Chico History Museum
Price: $9 members / $10 non-members
Paul Bowman covers local prehistoric archaeology and Maidu myth and culture.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for The Maidu: Myths, Magic, and Archaeology (lecture) (opens in a new tab)Tower in The Trees: A History of Bidwell Mansion (Lecture and Book Signing)
4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Chico History Museum
Price: $9 members / $10 non-members
Nancy Leek presents the new biography of Bidwell Mansion and signs books. Separate from the Fall Lecture Series.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Tower in the Trees: A History of Bidwell Mansion (lecture and book signing) (opens in a new tab)Legacy Stage Presents a Christmas Carol
7:30 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $29 - $39
Touring stage production of the Dickens holiday story, opening night of four public shows.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Legacy Stage presents A Christmas Carol (opens in a new tab)Legacy Stage Presents a Christmas Carol
2:00 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $29 - $39
Saturday matinee; a second show runs at 7:30 PM the same day.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Legacy Stage presents A Christmas Carol (opens in a new tab)Legacy Stage Presents a Christmas Carol
2:00 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $29 - $39
Sunday matinee, final show of the run.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Legacy Stage presents A Christmas Carol (opens in a new tab)Small Works Annual Show (Exhibit)
Runs Dec 15 to Jan 8, 2027
Time not listed: see the event page
Chico Art Center
Price: See event page
Annual community show of 12x12 inch works by artists of all ages. Entry fee for artists is $20 ($10 students).
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Small Works annual show (exhibit) (opens in a new tab)Polar Express Night
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Chico Ice Rink
Price: Skating $15
Pajama-friendly night with ice skating, a screening of The Polar Express, crafts, free hot chocolate and a free trackless train ride.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Polar Express Night (opens in a new tab)Camila Fernandez Y Su Mariachi: Una Autentica Fiesta Mexicana
7:30 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $37 - $57
Mariachi concert presented by Chico Performances.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Camila Fernandez y su Mariachi: Una autentica fiesta mexicana (opens in a new tab)
January 2027
Small Works Reception
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Chico Art Center
Price: See event page
Closing reception for the Small Works show.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Small Works reception (opens in a new tab)27th Annual Snow Goose Festival of The Pacific Flyway
Runs Jan 28 to Jan 31, 2027
Time not listed: see the event page
Various venues, Chico area
Price: See event page
Four-day birding festival with 55-plus field trips, workshops, children's activities at Patrick Ranch Museum and displays. Full schedule expected December 2026.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for 27th Annual Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway (opens in a new tab)Birds! Art Exhibit (Snow Goose Festival)
Time not listed: see the event page
Museum of Northern California Art (monca), Chico
Price: See event page
Festival art exhibit at monca. Time not posted.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Birds! Art Exhibit (Snow Goose Festival) (opens in a new tab)Chico Community Ballet Presents The Land of Oz
6:30 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $24 - $34
Ballet production of The Land of Oz, first of four public performances.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Chico Community Ballet presents The Land of Oz (opens in a new tab)Snow Goose Festival Dinner Banquet and Keynote
Time not listed: see the event page
Bell Memorial Union, Chico State
Price: See event page
Festival dinner banquet with a keynote speaker. Time not posted.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Snow Goose Festival dinner banquet and keynote (opens in a new tab)Chico Community Ballet Presents The Land of Oz
1:00 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $24 - $34
Saturday matinee; a second show runs at 6:30 PM the same day.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Chico Community Ballet presents The Land of Oz (opens in a new tab)Chico Community Ballet Presents The Land of Oz
1:00 PM
Laxson Auditorium, Chico
Price: $24 - $34
Sunday matinee, final show of the run.
Checked Oct 29, 2026 · Source for Chico Community Ballet presents The Land of Oz (opens in a new tab)
Cite this page: It's Chico, “Chico Area Guides”, itschico.com/guides/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.