Fall and Winter highlights

Throughout the Season

Farmers Market
Local growers sell their produce and wares year-round at the Chico Certified Farmers’ Market, on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot at Second and Wall streets. 893-FARM.

Silver Dollar Swap Meet
All year-round every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 892-9205.

Winter Migratory Waterfowl Tour
Each year, from October to March, more than 150 species of birds, including bald eagles, mallards, mourning doves, red-tailed hawks and California gulls, migrate to Butte County. By following a self-guided tour provided by local chambers of commerce and wildlife groups, visitors can cover 100 miles of nature-filled preserves. There are also guided 11/2-hour walks on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. leaving from the Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. 846-5176.

Bidwell Park and Beyond
Chico artists are joined by those from all over the world in this science illustration exhibit linking Bidwell Park to parks and green space elsewhere. At the Chico Creek Nature Center through May 2007. 891-4671.

November

Bluebeard
Through Nov. 19 at the Blue Room Theatre. Khanazar Von Bluebeard is a mad scientist whose dream is to create a third gender—“a new and gentle genital.” Ridiculously funny. 895-3749.

Director’s Cut
Through Nov. 26 at the Chico Art Center. This is the center’s annual Board of Directors exhibition. Hours: Wed.-Sun., 12-4 p.m. 895-8726.

Opening exhibit
Through Nov. 26. The Crux Artist Collective celebrates its first exhibit in its new space with black-and-white photography by Kyle Delmar. Shows Nov. 3-26. 530-566-0176.

The Last Night of Ballyhoo
Through Dec. 2 at Theatre on the Ridge in Paradise. This Tony Award-winning holiday play follows a group of Southern Jewish elite and a social event called the “Ballyhoo.” 877-5670.

The Magic Flute
Nov. 15-16, 7:30 p.m., at Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall on the Chico State campus. Opera students present one of the most famous operas of all time. 898-6333.

Fourth annual Holiday Craft Faire
Nov. 17, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Nov. 18, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Held by the Fraternal Order of Eagles #218 Aerie & Auxiliary at at the Eagles Hall at 20th and Mulberry Street. There will be more than 20 booths of one-of-kind handcrafted items, antiques and collectables.

The Sound of Music
Nov. 17-Dec. 16 at the Chico Theater Company. A high-spirited woman becomes the governess of a widowed naval captain with a big crop of kids. She soon wins them over. You can bet there’s going to be lots of good music in this one. 894-3282.

Farm City Celebration—Harvest Dinner & Dance
Nov. 18, 6:30 p.m. Held at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds Commercial Building, this benefit dinner includes cocktails, a tri-tip dinner and dancing. 891-6474.

Psychic & Healing Arts Fair
Nov. 18, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Chico Masonic Family Center. The fair will include free lectures and information on astrology, acupuncture, herbs, feng shui and more. 370-7434.

Christmas Preview
Nov. 19, 4-8 p.m. Downtown merchants bring out holiday cheer to kick off the season. Experience the season’s sights, sound, and smells, plus a visit from Santa. 345-6500.

Lucinda Williams Duo
Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m., at Laxson Auditorium. Three-time Grammy winner Lucinda Williams is joined by longtime band member and guitarist Doug Pettibone for this country blues concert.

December

Letter to Santa
Dec. 1-8, 1- 4 p.m. at CARD. Kids under 8 years old can write to Santa, then mail it or bring it to the CARD office. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and receive a reply from the North Pole. 895-4711.

Christmas Tree Lighting
Dec. 1, 6-8 p.m. This Chico tradition will return to the Downtown Park Plaza this year. 345-6500.

Erotic Art Show
Dec. 1 at the Crux Artist Collective. Presented by the Chico State Women’s Center, this exhibit celebrates positive eroticism. 566-0176.

Chico Dance Theatre’s 11th annual showcase: Americana!
Dec. 1-2, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 2-3, 2 p.m. at Harlen Adams Theatre. Chico Dance Theatre’s 11th annual showcase is a student-and-faculty-choreographed performance of dance and music that celebrates the rich heritage of the United States.

Nutcracker: Chico Community Ballet
Dec. 7-9, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 9-10 2 p.m. Presented by Chico Performances at Laxson Auditorium, the Chico Community Ballet brings Tchaikovsky’s classic Christmas tale to life. 898-6333.

Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol
Dec. 7-23 at the Blue Room Theatre. Ebenezer Scrooge’s mean old business partner is condemned to a hellish eternity unless he can open Scrooge’s heart and, hopefully, discover his own. 895-3749.

Annual Christmas Faire
Dec. 1-3 at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds. Crafts are highlighted. 345-9652.

The Blind Boys of Alabama: Go Tell It on the Mountain
Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m., at Laxson Auditorium. The Blind Boys of Alabama will perform their Christmas show, “Go Tell It On the Mountain.” 898-6333.

Bidwell Mansion Christmas Open House
Dec. 10, 1-4 p.m. Enjoy refreshments and music in Chico’s most famous home. Reservations necessary. 895-6144.

Evening Christmas Tours of Bidwell Mansion
Dec. 14-15, 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. A chance to see “John” and “Annie” in period dress. 895-6144.

January

Grease
Jan. 5-Feb. 3 at the Chico Theater Company. Revisit this classic musical onstage. 894-3282.

Uncle Vanya (Uncle Jack)
Jan 11-22 at the Blue Room Theatre. This Chico performance is a stripped-down, fresh take on the 1899 play by Anton Chekhov. 895-3749.

Peking Acrobats
Jan 17, 7:30 p.m. Returning for the seventh year, these elite gymnasts, cyclists, jugglers and tumblers seem to defy gravity and perform incomprehensible contortions with grace and athleticism. 898-6333.

8th annual Snow Goose Festival
Jan. 26-28. Bird watch in one of the most diverse wildlife corridors of the Sacramento Valley. Most events take place or begin at the Chico Masonic Family Center. 891-5559 x313 or www.snowgoosefestival.org.

The Chieftains
Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m. at Laxson Auditorium at Chico State. Irish music legends and six-time Grammy winners The Chieftains bring their creative Celtic music to Chico. 898-6333.

February

Valley Contractors Exchange Crab Feed
Feb. 2, 6 p.m., at the Chico Masonic Center. The 10th annual event includes all-you-can-eat crab, music and dancing. 343-1981.

International Guitar Festival
Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m., at the Paradise Performing Arts Center. And Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m., at Laxson Auditorium. The 10th annual International Guitar Festival highlights the acoustic guitar with performances by musicians of all different styles.

Los Lobos
Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m., at Laxson Auditorium. Get your blood pumping with Latin rock—acoustic-style. If you feel like making an evening of it, there is a Valentine’s Day Mexican dinner at Bell Memorial Union preceding the show. 898-6333.

Fantasticks
Feb. 23-March 17 at the Chico Theater Company. The longest-running musical in the world is a thoughtful, moving tale of two lovers who struggle to find the true meaning of love. 894-3282.

California Nut Festival—Almond Blossom Tour
Feb. 24, 9 a.m. This bus tour will showcase Chico’s almond industry during the most beautiful time of year. 345-3352 or 892-1525.

March

Basketball
March 1 in Acker Gym at Chico State. Cheer on the Wildcats when they take on Humboldt State in one of the last games of the regular season. The women play at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men at 7:30.

Angels in America part one: Millennium Approaches
March 8-25 at the Blue Room Theatre. This play portrays contemporary America and challenges concepts of where this country is headed with a blend of reality and fantasy. 895-3749.

Anton in Show Business
March 7-11 at Wismer Theatre on the Chico State campus. This “backstage” comedy by Jane Martin steps behind the curtain in Texas to touch on issues of cross-gender casting, offstage romance and the local newspaper critic.

Antique Bottle & Collectables Show
March 9-10 at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds. Great place for antique-lovers. 518-7369.

Lily Tomlin
March 22, 7:30 p.m., at Laxson Auditorium. Legendary comedienne and Emmy, Tony and Grammy winner Lily Tomlin is known for her unusual and hilarious personas.

Anoushka Shankar
March 30, 7:30 p.m., at Laxson Auditorium. Anoushka Shankar is following in her father, Ravi Shankar’s, footsteps. She fuses traditional sitar playing with vocals to evoke the spirit of India.