It’s tonight! Yummers! The annual fund-raiser at the Victorian at 5th and Salem. 6pm to 9pm. Special guests include the California Militia from 1885, and “Doc Mark” Rutledge, a nationally known medical re-enactor. Ice cream, tours and more. Tickets are $5 adults, $3 children in advance and $1 more at the door. Available at Zucchini and Vine, Brambley Cottage, Cal Java, Grace Jr., Art. Etc. and Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream.
Archive for the ‘Chico history’ Category
Stansbury Home Ice Cream Social Aug. 21
Friday, August 21st, 2009Chico Air Museum
Saturday, March 21st, 2009
Chico Air Museum
A little drizzle didn’t stop us from heading out to the Chico Air Museum today. Located at the Chico Municipal Airport at 170 Convair Court, the Chico Air Museum is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A dedicated group of volunteers started the nonprofit museum in 2005 and since then it has grown to include many historic planes (some being restored on-site), plus several rooms full of expertly compiled and displayed local and national aviation memorabilia. The volunteers are especially helpful, offering stories of local lore. (The airport was a U.S. Air Force air field during World War II).
The volunteers hauled out a cute kiddie plane for Alec to ride around in. (Alec, who’s 4, looked a little nervous pedaling around and I couldn’t figure out why until he made it clear that he expected the wheeled plane to actually lift off into the air!) We checked out all the planes and then climbed into one that had been shot down by U.S. forces during WWII. You can sit in the cockpit and steer and everything. Way cool.
Even if your kid isn’t a plane fanatic, plan a visit to the Chico Air Museum. It’s free, but they always accept tax-deductible donations.
More Circus Fun at the Chico Museum
Sunday, March 15th, 2009
Circus tightrope
Chico Circus Town at Chico Museum
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
The incredible exhibit Chico Circus Town, which has been on display at the Chico Museum since mid-October, is being shown in six parts through June 21. This week, the “Side Shows, Freaks Shows and Wonders of the Midway” began.
We visited last weekend and were quite impressed. A lot of effort went into these feature exhibits, which are drawn from the collection of Grace and Arvel Allread. There’s a baboon cage (no baboon, though) and scenes set up with a bear and another with an elephant. The vintage posters are great, and the freak show part isn’t too freaky to scare little kids. Alec’s favorite part was pretending to walk the high wire—an authentic tightrope placed along the floor. Visitors can also learn what makes a good “circus town” and see how the circus tent was raised.
This part of the exhibit closes Feb. 15. The next installments are: “Screamers, Bandsmen & Circus Fanfare March” running Feb. 21-March 29; “Wild, Wild West Shows” running Apr. 4-May 10; “Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My!” running May 16-June 21.
Victorian Christmas at Stansbury Home
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008The historic Stansbury Home is hosting a Victorian Christmas event Friday, Dec. 5 from 6-9 p.m. and again on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7, between 1 and 5 p.m. There wil be entertainment, refreshments, a raffle and carriage rides. The nonprofit Stansbury Home Preservation Association maintains the 125-year-old home in downtown Chico at 5th and Salem streets. Tickets are $6 for adults and $2 for children at the door, or save $1 by buying tickets beforehand at: Brambley Cottage, Cal Java, Grace Jr. or Zucchini & Vine.
Bidwell Mansion Harvest Fest Nov. 2
Thursday, October 30th, 2008There’s some good, old-fashioned (literally) family fun coming up. Go back in time Nov. 2 with the 4th Annual Harvest Festival at Bidwell Mansion State Historical Park. It takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Low-cost activities include: gold panning, rag doll making, “pie walks,” weaving and local vendors. For free are: 1800s games and crafts, butter churning, live animals (pet them; not keep them), rope making, an art station and more. The mansion is at 525 Esplanade. Call 895-6144 for more information.
Stansbury Home Ice Cream Social
Monday, August 18th, 2008
It’s almost here: the delicious annual fundraiser for the historic Stansbury Home. Held at the home at 307 Salem St., the event is Friday, Aug. 22 from 6-9 p.m. and features ice cream donated by Ben & Jerry’s (and served by Chico Rotary volunteers) as well as an Orient & Flume art glass raffle and other fun. $5 adults; $3 kids ($1 less if purchased ahead of time at Grace Jr., Zucchini and Vine, Brambley Cottage, Ben & Jerry’s or Cal Java). 895-3848. Here’s a picture of Alec enjoying his scoop in 2006.
