Four day plans for the Chico area, each one timed: road minutes and miles between stops from OpenStreetMap routing, a start time, an estimated arrival at every stop, and a map. Hours come from the operators; our own estimates are labelled.
Checked October 29, 2026
- 4itineraries
- 4of our 7 areas visited
- 0paid stops
- Everystop on a map
- A Day in ChicoA Saturday: farmers market, creek, museums, campus, Upper Park, dinner at Sierra Nevada.
- A Lake Oroville WeekendHatchery, dam overlook, Loafer Creek and two marinas over two days.
- Feather River to Lake Almanor DriveOne long loop up the Highway 70 canyon to the lake and Chester.
- Paradise and the RidgeAn afternoon on the ridge: Depot Museum, parks and Paradise Lake.
More background in our topic guides and Plan a Visit.
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 Itineraries”, itschico.com/itineraries/ (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.