Arts spectacular

This past weekend didn’t bring all doom and gloom—anyone walking by City Plaza on Saturday (Sept. 27) got quite an eyeful of bright and beautiful things.

Chico Palio, the kickoff for Artoberfest, attracted hundreds of spectators and dozens of participants. The main attraction, of course, was the horse race (pictured), but there were some other notable events that day, too—among them, the Mayor’s Awards for Achievement in the Arts. The recipients this year were Katie Perry, Ken Grossman and Heather Lyon.

Perry, who runs Devil Kat Rock Productions, was recognized for her music-promoting efforts, including bringing big-name acts to Chico. Grossman got props for the Sierra Nevada Big Room, which attracts world-class performers. Lyon was honored for turning her downtown venue, Lyon Books and Learning Center, into a mecca for authors and poets.