Well, Chico, that’s a wrap. In celebration of our favorite city’s 150th birthday, we’ve enjoyed 150 activities over 150 days, May 1st-September 30th. From community favorites like Thursday Night Market to Chico’s biggest birthday party at Meriam Park, it’s been five months full of honoring our history and celebrating our home city.
Let’s take a quick look back at some of the more memorable moments from this year:
150 activities over 150 days
We sent out the call to adventure, and you answered! Choose Chico created 150 days of activities specific to our hometown heritage. Chico locals rose to the 150 challenges and participated in our extra-special events around town. They rediscovered old favorites and found new places to love. And we loved seeing your photos of them on social media!
Some of the highlights included:
- The Thursday Night Market
- Slice of Chico
- Concerts, art walks, and events galore
- Friday Night Concerts
- Shakespeare in the Park
- Nights at the Observatory
- Visits to Chico History Museum
The Cal Water Tower got dressed up in a new 150th Birthday wrap
Chico’s iconic water tower on 6th Street joined the festivities by sporting a [Size] banner, the first of its kind in the city and the perfect way to celebrate.
Watch the wrapping process here!
Sierra Nevada brewed a Signature Hoppy 150 Birthday Beer
Celebrating a Hoppy 150 Years, this limited-release beer is only available in Chico at the Sierra Nevada Gift Store and select retailers in town. Toast to our best city’s 150th birthday with the “Rooted in Community” beer, offering drinkable notes of pine, citrus, malt, and caramel. There are so many wonderful things about living in Chico, and a special brew just for us is at the top of the list!
…and the biggest birthday party Chico has ever seen!
Bold and beautifully retro Celebrating 150 invitations went out in the mail, summoning locals to the final hurrah for Chico’s landmark fete. On September 24th, Meriam Park graciously hosted Chico’s 150th Birthday Party! The celebration ran from 2-6pm and offered an amazing array of things to do, see, and taste.
Goodies like caramel, lemonade, and sweet blueberry pie from local vendors got the party started. Lucky attendees enjoyed a food truck feast, with everything from pizza to craft-smoked bbq. Cheery yellow umbrellas beckoned participants to the beer garden, where they got to sip amazing brews in the shade. And it wouldn’t be a Chico party without Sierra Nevada, of course! They shared their special edition Hoppy 150 Birthday Beer which was created just for the occasion. Farmer’s also served up fresh brews.
And the festivities included more than good eats and drinks. Some of our talented local artisans had tents showcasing their wares at the Craft Market. There were also appearances from the pillars of our community, including a visit from the Enloe Medical Center Flight Care helicopter, Chico Fire, and Be Ready Butte. Even the Chico Police brought out their special vintage black and white Dodge police car.
The fun didn’t stop there! Live music provided the soundtrack for activities tours of the Enloe medivac helicopter, cornhole, and face painting. Chad Bushnell entertained with live music from 4-6 p.m. and got the crowd dancing! But the best part might have been seeing old friends and new ones sharing stories and food recommendations, all coming together to celebrate this beautiful and historical place we call home.
Big thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who participated
We dreamed it, and you did it. Thanks to the generous assistance from sponsors, Celebrating 150 came to life. Amazing volunteers were the unseen heroes behind the events. And locals joined in to make it the perfect community-wide experience honoring Chico’s past and celebrating the present. It was the perfect reminder of why we all love this city!
What’s next?
The party isn’t over! We’ve still got three more months of 2022, and Choose Chico has so much more in store for you. Keep an eye on our social media, blog, and more.