Party like it’s 1905

april

BUILDING NATURE’S CLASSROOM FUND-RAISER—April 16. A packed day of events to raise funds for the new interpretive center to be built in Bidwell Park. Except for the evening dinner, all events start at the Chico Creek Nature Center (1968 E. 8th St.). 7-9am: Bird and Breakfast, bird-spotting hike and breakfast featuring quiche, muffins, fruit and Peet’s coffee ($15); 10-11am: History of the Forestry Station walk/talk with Chris Boza ($10); 11am-noon: Animal Discovery Hike through World of Trees ($5); 12:15-1pm: Meet the Animals for kids 5-11 ($5, up to 2 kids free with adult); 1-2pm: Falconry/raptor program with falconer Randy Landis ($10); 2-3pm: Creek Walk led by Scott Torricelli ($10). Throughout the day there will also be music, food and informational booths. 6-9pm, Chico Women’s Club (592 E. 3rd St.): Banquet catered by Guzzetti’s, with live jazz and auction. Info: 891-4671; naturecenter@chico.com

NATURE WALKS—(times vary). Every weekend explore a different natural feature of Bidwell Park. April 16, 10am: Wildflowers of Middle Park; April 23, 10am: Insects of Bidwell Park; April 24, 10am: Aquatic Investigations; April 24, 1pm: Explore the Yahi Trail; April 30, 8am-4pm: Exploring the South Rim Trail. For meeting spots and more info call 892-1666, or visit www.friendsofbidwellpark.org.

NATURAL HISTORY LECTURE SERIES—7:30pm. Weekly lectures. April 20: From the Showy to the Secretive: Bidwell Park’s Insects and the Plants They Need; April 27: The Creepy Side of Bidwell Park: Snake & Salamanders Meet Molecular Biology. Cost: $2/general; free/students. CARD Center, 545 Vallombrosa. 892-1666.

may

NATURAL HISTORY LECTURE SERIES—7:30pm. Weekly lectures. May 4: Invasive Plants: The Wrong Kind of Volunteers in Bidwell Park; May 11: Bidwell Park: Gateway to Bird Watching. Cost: $2/general; free/students. CARD Center, 545 Vallombrosa. 892-1666.

PIONEER DAYS PARADE—10am. May 7, under the theme of “100 Years of Bidwell Park and the Community That Loves It,” this year’s Pioneer Days Parade will feature a guest appearance from members of Annie’s Club. Downtown Chico.

ENDANGERED SPECIES FAIR—10am-4pm. May 7, Cedar Grove, Bidwell Park.

MECHOOPDA PRESENTATION—1-3pm. May 15, Mechoopda Indian tribe presentation. Chico Museum, 141 Salem St. 891-4336.

NATURE WALKS—(times vary). Every weekend explore a different natural feature of Bidwell Park. May 14, 8am: Birding in Bidwell Park; May 14, 10am: Wildflowers of Upper Park; May 14, 1pm: Archeology of Bidwell Park; May 21, 10am: Weeds of Lower Park; May 22, 9am: Lower Bidwell Park Walk. For meeting spots and more info call 892-1666, or visit www.friendsofbidwellpark.org.

HOOKED ON FISHING—7am-1pm. May 21, Annual Horseshoe Lake fishing event in Upper Park.

june

COMMUNITY CAMPOUT—June 11. Overnight family camp-out in Bidwell Park, with BBQ, campfire and other activities.

CENTENNIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT—8:30am. June 12, Centennial Golf Tournament and lunch. $65. Bidwell Park Golf Course.

PARK HISTORY WALKS—(times vary). Explore the history of Bidwell Park. June 15, 6-9pm: Who Built it? A History of Park Projects; June 18, 9am-1pm: The Bidwells of Early Chico. For meeting spots and more info call 892-1666, or visit www.friendsofbidwellpark.org.

july

DEED CEREMONY REENACTMENT—July 10. A reenactment of the Annie Bidwell deed signing cermony will be held at the mansion. Plus, ice cream social. Bidwell Mansion.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING IN SHERWOOD FOREST—July 19-23. Forty local and visting plein air painters will invade Bidwell Park, the site of Sherwood Forest in the 1938 movie, The Adventures of Robin Hood. Participants will be judged on the scenes they paint and receive prizes up $2,250. Paintings will be displayed in the park during July 23 community celebration. Info: Avenue 9 Gallery, 180 E. 9th St. 879-1821; avenue9gallery@sbcglobal.net.

COMMUNITY CELEBRATION—July 23. To commemorate the city of Chico’s official recording of the deed to Bidwell Park, a community picnic will be held at One-Mile Recreation Area in Lower Park. Residents 100 years of age and older will be recognized.

ongoing

CHICO MUSEUM—100 Years of Gratitude, a community exhibit on the past, present and future of Bidwell Park. Chico Museum, 141 Salem St. 891-4336.

CENTENNIAL PHOTO CONTEST—Participants have until Sept. 1 take photos of Bidwell Park and submit them to the Bidwell Park Centennial Committee. Winning photos will be used in a commemorative book and a calendar. For submission info contact BBCC at 895-5559, x307; bbcc@sbcglobal.net.