The warmer seasons bring out the fun

Throughout the Season

Farmers’ Market
Local growers put on weekly produce sales on Saturdays year-round from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the parking lot at Second and Wall streets. 893-FARM.

Thursday Night Market
This popular street market is sponsored by the Downtown Chico Business Association and includes free entertainment along with the produce and other goods for sale. It runs from 6 to 9 p.m. through late October.

Concerts in the Park
Chico’s Downtown Park Plaza fills with music some summer evenings. On Fridays, the host is the DCBA (345-6500), with everything from oldies to jazz to world music. And on Saturday nights starting May 11 and running through October with the exception of July, the Music Revolution (894-8621) returns with a focus on “dance-friendly music.”

Chico Rooks Soccer
The local pro soccer organization hosts home games at Chico State University’s Soccer Stadium on some Saturdays and Sundays through August. 343-7665.

Silver Dollar Speedway
Races are held most Friday nights, and summer events include the Golden State Challenge Series. 891-6535.

Chico Museum
Through mid-September, an exhibit titled: “Discovering your past…Graveyards in geneology.” Featuring monthly speakers on cemetery and geneology topics. For info call 891-4336.

Chico Community Observatory
Chico Community Observatory is open to the public Thursday through Sunday from sunset until three hours after sunset. The observatory is located in Upper Bidwell Park near the Horseshoe Lake parking lot. www.chicoobservatory.com

April

Spring Jamboree
April 19. The CARD Spring Jamboree invites children 3rd grade and younger to celebrate Easter and meet the CARD bunny at the annual event at Caper Acres in Bidwell Park. Pre-schoolers, 5-year-olds and under meet at 9:45 a.m.; Kindergarten-1st graders meet at 10:45 a.m.; 2nd –3rd graders meet at 11:45 a.m.

Red Bluff Round-Up
April 18-20. One of the biggest rodeo events in the nation is held 40 minutes north of Chico at the Tehama County Fairgrounds. The Red Bluff Round-Up Parade is April 19 at 10 a.m. in downtown Red Bluff.

Sonic Fusion—Electronic Music & Dance
April 19. Chico State University’s Music Department presents an evening of original digital compositions fusing sound, musical performance, dance and video at 7:30 p.m. in the Harlen Adams Theatre. Tickets available at the University Box Office, 898-6333.

Founders Week
April 20-27. This celebration at Chico State is an alumni association-sponsored week of historical fun. 898-4143. www.csuchico.edu/ pa/foundersweek.

Great Romantic Music—Opera Highlights
April 23 & 24 at 7:30 p.m. Opera students explore the exaltation of passion and imagination and the liberation of the soul with a program of great romantic music. 898-6333.

Gold Nugget Days
April 24-27, in Paradise, brings a parade, talent shows, entertainment and more (like the crowning of the Gold Nugget Queen) to Paradise, all in honor of the Gold Rush on the Ridge. 872-8722.

49th Annual Home Tour
April 26, 11a.m.-3:30 p.m. The Phoenix, providing hope for children, presents this event in which four homes will toured and a luncheon held at the CARD center. For tickets call Linda Kirk at 343-2927.

10th Biennual Wildflower Show and Plant Sale
April 27, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Presented by California Native Plant Society, held at the CARD center (545 Vallombrosa Avenue). This event features more than 200 species of native and commonly seen plants displayed by habitat. Nature walks and activities for children are planned. 893-2886.

League of Women Voters Wine Tasting
April 27, 4-7 p.m. More than 50 wineries will be pouring at this event which includes a famous buffet of appetizers. Held at the Lakeside Pavilion. For information call 342-4663.

Wildflower Century Bike Race
April 27, is an annual trek through scenic Butte County, with awards given. National publications have named it one of the top 10 rides. 343-8356. www.chicovelo.com.

Music of the Bach Family Early Music Series Concert
April 27, 2 p.m. The Chico Early Music Ensemble features soprano Daun Hayes singing selections from the famous Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook. Tickets available at the University Box Office, 898-6333.

May

Juan De Marcos & the Afro-Cuban All-Stars
May 1, 7 and 9 p.m. The red-hot sounds and glittering nightlife of Cuba’s “golden age” come to life with the music of this 14-piece “dream team” featuring four generations of Cuba’s finest musicians. Tickets available at the University Box Office, 898-6333.

20th Annual St. John’s Garden Tour
May 3, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. View four lovely gardens and enjoy a delicious lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal church. Plant boutique opens at 10:30 for ticket holders. 894-1971.

Endangered Species Faire
May 3 from 10-4, in Bidwell Park’s Cedar Grove. This is the 24th year of the interactive, educational event hosted by the Butte Environmental Council. This year’s theme is “The Magic of Water.” 891-6424.

Celebration of People Parade
May 3, 10 a.m.-noon. A downtown procession and competition of floats celebrating Chico’s array of backgrounds, beliefs and people. 891-1383.

Sphere of Music— Chico State Band
May 3, 7:30 p.m., featured guest artist Heidi Pintner, professor of flute and music theory at Western Kentucky University, performs the highly celebrated Concertino for Flute by Keith Gates. Tickets available at the University Box Office, 898-6333.

Chico Artisans’ Faire
May 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Downtown Park Plaza. More than 50 craft vendors sell their wares amid live music and a parade. 345-9652.

Into the Woods— Spring Musical
May 7-11, 7:30 p.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m. An ambivalent Cinderella? A blood-thirsty Little Red Riding Hood? A Prince Charming with a roving eye? They’re all among the cockeyed characters in James Lapine’s and Stephen Sondheim’s fractured fairy tale. Tickets available at the University Box Office, 898-6333.

Feather Fiesta Days
May 2-11. It’s a series of events—from a parade to a chili cook-off-remembering Gold Rush times. For more info call Oroville Chamber of Commerce at 538-2542 or Freda Flint at 534-7690.

What’s New? Jazz Express/Chicovana
May 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harlen Adams Theatre. Jazz Express features the music of some of the area’s best young arrangers and composers, including student composers. 898-6333.

Top Flight
May 15-31. Comedy from the author of Wranglers, Bryon Buruss at the Blue Room Theatre. 895-3749.

The Passionate North State Symphony
May 18 at 2 p.m. The North State Symphony, under the baton of maestro Kyle Wiley Pickett, concludes its 2002-2003 season with The Passionate at Laxson Auditorium. Tickets available at the University Box Office, 898-6333.

Red Suspenders Day Celebration
May 17, takes place for the 41st year in Gridley’s Downtown Park with a pancake breakfast, entertainment, crafts, bed races, pony rides and a petting zoo as part of this year’s theme of “Muster Up Some Fun.” 846-3142.

Silver Dollar Fair
May 21-26. Chico’s annual community fair at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds features exhibits, livestock, the rodeo, a carnival midway, auto races and concert talent. 895-4666.

Annie Jr.
May 29 at 7:30 p.m. One of the most beloved musicals of all time comes to life on the stage of Laxson Auditorium as children from the Blue Room Youth Theatre Experience perform Annie Jr. Tickets available at the University Box Office, 898-6333.

June

Micro Brew Fest 2003
June 7, from 2-6 p.m. The 8th annual Micro Brew Fest, with plenty of tasting opportunities, will be held at Manzanita Place (the Chico Elks Lodge). Tickets available at the Chico Brewhouse, Home Brew Shop, Diamond W Western Wear, Sierra Nevada Brewery and the Chico Chamber of Commerce. For more info call 342-3768.

Tenth Annual New Works Festival
June 12-21 at the Blue Room Theatre. Original one-acts by local authors. 895-3749.

Vintage Aeroplane and Classic Car Show
June 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. North Valley Pilots Association showcases vintage aircrafts and classic cars on the parklike lawn of Chico’s Ranchaero Airport. For more info call 345-0779.

Bloomsday
June 16, at the Blue Room Theatre, is Chico’s annual celebration of James Joyce’s Ulysses. 895-3749.

Cruisin’ Paradise
June 20-21. It’s back to the 1950s for this weekend of rock ’n’ roll, car show and barbecue held throughout the town. Contact the Paradise Chamber for more info 877-9356.

Native American Pow Wow
June 21. Chico Pow Wow 2003 will be held at the Silver Dollar Fair Grounds. Members of different tribes will attend, with dancing, drumming and crafts. 566-1373.

Food & Wine Pairing
June 22. The ARC of Butte County presents California wineries and food of local top restaurants’ chefs at this food and wine pairing held at the Park Tower Pavilion. For tickets and details contact Sally Mendez at 891-5865 ext. 202.

Chico Rancho Days Parade of Lights
June 27 at 8:30 p.m. Downtown lights parade. For details on participation contact Bev Crosby 342-6290.

July

Fourth of July celebration
The 38th annual celebration at One-Mile Recreation Area in Bidwell Park. 343-6055.

Fireworks over Lake Oroville
July 4. The name says it all. 538-2542.

A Slice of Chico
July 12, is where sidewalk-sale shopping meets free watermelon courtesy of downtown merchants. 345-6500.

August

Bidwell Bark
Aug. 2. This event is a 5k walk/jog for pet owners and their dog. 342-1380. www.PetCPR.com.

Butte County Fair
Aug. 20-24, at the Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley, brings a good-time country fair with a rodeo, booths, carnival, entertainment, destruction derby, Butte County Queen pageant, livestock and agriculture-themed events. 846-3626.

Twain Miners Fair and Old West Celebration
Aug. 30-31, in the Feather River Canyon on Highway 70 at Twain, Calif. This trip back to the Gold Rush era includes music, crafts, mining activities and more. History displays range from the gunslingers to the Native Americans. 283-2130.

September

A Taste of Chico
Sept. 7, is the annual opportunity to sample the fare-food, microbrews and wines-offered by a variety of Chico’s restaurants and businesses. 345-6500.

Durham Harvest Festival
Mid-September. Local produce is the focal point of this event at Durham Community Park, which also includes a car show, steam engines and crafts.

Pastels on the Plaza
Sept. 13-14, brightens up the Downtown City Plaza for charity, courtesy of the Parent Education Network. 893-0391.

Salmon Festival
Sept. 27, at the Feather River Fish Hatchery and Nature Center. A multicultural event. 533-2473.

Days of Living History
Sept. 20-21, at the Gold Nugget Museum in Paradise, is a family festival with exhibits, demonstrations and hands-on activities by which to experience the ways of life on the Ridge from 1850 to 1950. 872-8722.

Chico online:

www.chicochamber.com www.downtownchico.net www.chicorooks.com www.senatortheatre.com www.orovillechamber.net www.newsreview.com www.csuchico.edu www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com