The Chico area has 6 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza in Chico on November 12 to Stansbury Home Victorian Christmas in Chico, which runs through December 6. 3 of them are free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in California, part of our guide for every state.
The short version
- 6 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Chico for 2026, in Chico
- First: Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza, Chico, November 12. Runs latest: Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza, Chico, through January 17
- Free: Chico Christmas Preview, Chico Community Tree Lighting Ceremony and Chico Parade of Lights
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
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Christmas events for kids in Chico
6 confirmed events for kids in Chico, soonest first.
Holiday event
Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza
- When: Thursday, November 12, 2026 to Sunday, January 17, 2027 (daily, see host for hours)
- Where: Chico City Plaza, Chico
- Cost: $15 per skater, half-price rentals on Cheap-SKATE Mondays
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
The Chico Ice Rink opens in the City Plaza in mid November and stays through mid January, so it works for a holiday outing any week of the season. Skating is $15 for all ages.
Explore Butte County lists half-priced skate rentals on Cheap-SKATE Nights, which fall on Mondays: November 30, December 14, January 4 and January 11. Hours are not listed in the guide, so check the Chico Area Recreation and Park District page before you go.
Parent tip: Check hours and ticket details with the host before you drive downtown.
- Host
- Chico Area Recreation and Park District (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Chico City Plaza, Main St and W 4th St, Chico, CA 95928
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Santa visitFree
Chico Christmas Preview
- When: Sunday, November 22, 2026, 4 to 8 pm
- Where: Downtown Chico shops, Chico
- Cost: Free
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
The Christmas Preview is Chico's kickoff to the holiday season. Downtown stores open their doors in the evening, and families stroll the blocks around Main and Third Street to see the decorations and holiday merchandise.
According to the 2026 guide from Explore Butte County, there are strolling carolers, ballet dancers performing in shop windows, and a visit from Santa for family photos. Past editions have also had free cookies and warm drinks at some shops, and the preview has been a Chico tradition since 1978.
Parent tip: Dress warm for an evening outdoors, and expect crowds on the sidewalks near Santa.
- Host
- Downtown Chico Business Association (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Downtown Chico shops, Main St and W 3rd St, Chico, CA 95928
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Tree lightingFree
Chico Community Tree Lighting Ceremony
- When: Friday, December 4, 2026, 6 to 8 pm
- Where: Chico City Plaza, Chico
- Cost: Free
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
The Chico Community Christmas Tree Lighting is a long-running downtown tradition, held at the City Plaza. The evening starts at 6 pm with live music and performers, and Santa makes an appearance for the children in the crowd.
The tree stands in the heart of downtown, so families can combine the ceremony with a walk past the lit-up storefronts. Explore Butte County lists the 2026 ceremony for Friday, December 4, from 6 to 8 pm. The ice rink in the same plaza opens a few weeks earlier, so skaters are often part of the scene.
Parent tip: Arrive early to find a spot near the stage, and bring layers for the evening.
- Host
- Explore Butte County (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Chico City Plaza, Main St and W 4th St, Chico, CA 95928
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Holiday crafts
Stansbury Home Victorian Christmas
- When: Fri December 4, Sat December 5 and Sun December 6, 2026
- Where: Stansbury Home, Chico
- Cost: $3 for children under 12, $6 for adults
- Ages: Children under 12 pay $3
Details, tips and host
The Stansbury Home is a historic house museum in Chico, and each December it hosts a Victorian Christmas. Visitors tour the rooms at their own pace and hear live carolers.
The Explore Butte County guide lists 2026 dates of December 4 to 6, with hot cider and cookies for guests. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Check the times on the host's page before you go, since the guide does not list them.
Parent tip: Stay close to little ones around the antiques, and check the visiting hours before you go.
- Host
- Stansbury Home Preservation Association (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Stansbury Home, 307 W 5th St, Chico, CA 95928
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Breakfast with Santa
Brunch with Santa
- When: Sat December 5 and Sun December 6, 2026
- Where: CARD Center, Chico
- Cost: $15 per child (ages 2 to 17), $20 per adult
- Ages: Ages 2 to 17 pay the child price
Details, tips and host
CARD's Brunch with Santa is one of Chico's best-loved Santa events, and in 2026 it runs on both Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6 at the CARD Center on Vallombrosa Avenue.
Tickets are $15 for children ages 2 to 17 and $20 for adults, bought online through the CARD events page. On Sunday, December 6 at 1:30 pm there is a Calm and Cozy seating with a quieter room, smaller crowds and softer lighting, made for children who find busy events overwhelming. The host's page gives only that one time, so check the ticket page for the other seating times.
Parent tip: Buy tickets early, since the brunch has sold out in past years. Choose the Calm and Cozy seating if your child is sensitive to noise.
- Host
- Chico Area Recreation and Park District (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- CARD Center, 545 Vallombrosa Ave, Chico, CA 95926
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Holiday paradeFree
Chico Parade of Lights
- When: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 6 pm
- Where: Downtown Chico parade route, Chico
- Cost: Free
- Ages: All ages
Details, tips and host
The Chico Parade of Lights rolls through downtown on Saturday evening, December 5, at 6 pm. Floats are covered in holiday lights, marching bands play, and local groups and performers take part in the procession.
The parade is free to watch. The 2026 listing notes it is hosted in part with the Bright Futures for Kids Foundation. Past parades have drawn dozens of floats and thousands of spectators downtown.
Parent tip: Bring chairs or blankets and warm layers, and arrive early for a spot along the curb.
- Host
- Explore Butte County (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Downtown Chico parade route, Main St, Chico, CA 95928
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Chico? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
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Every event above was confirmed on the host’s own page, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our California Christmas train rides page.
Chico Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 6 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Chico
- Season
- November 12, 2026 to January 17, 2027
- Free events
- 3
- Kinds of events
- holiday event, Santa visit, tree lighting and holiday crafts
- Last checked
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Chico Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza in Chico on November 12; the last runs to December 6. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Chico Ice Rink in the PlazaChico · Nov 12 to Jan 17
- Chico Christmas PreviewChico · Nov 22
- Chico Community Tree Lighting CeremonyChico · Dec 4
- Stansbury Home Victorian ChristmasChico · Dec 4 to Dec 6
- Chico Parade of LightsChico · Dec 5
- Brunch with SantaChico · Dec 5 to Dec 6
Looking further afield? Our California Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, Riverside, Long Beach, Oakland, Anaheim, Irvine, Stockton, Modesto, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Santa Rosa, Palm Springs, Fontana, Simi Valley, Victorville, Indio, Santa Clarita, Escondido, Temecula, Visalia, Thousand Oaks, San Clemente, Santa Cruz, Madera, Gilroy, Hanford, Delano, Oceanside, Salinas, Murrieta, Santa Maria, Vacaville, Hesperia, Redding, Hemet, Merced, Yuba City, Porterville and Watsonville. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November: unlock the list and we'll email you as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Chico
Chico kicks off Christmas with an evening stroll. Since 1978, downtown shops have stayed open late on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, with carolers, dancers in shop windows and Santa posing for photos.
The Christmas Preview and the plaza tree
Chico's Christmas season starts with the Christmas Preview, which dates back to 1978. Downtown stores stay open into the evening, many hand out cookies and warm drinks, and local dance and theater groups perform in decorated shop windows. Santa poses for photos on the sidewalk. The Community Christmas Tree Lighting at City Plaza was in its 44th year in 2022, with live music and a tree glowing with 2,000 LED lights. The Chico Parade of Lights, which grew out of the old Pioneer Parade, reached its 30th year in 2019.
Christmas last year in Chico
In 2025 the season began on Sunday, November 23, with a Christmas Preview at the Chico Ice Rink, a holiday evening of skating, treats, beverages and photo displays from 4 to 8 pm. In early December the Chico Area Recreation and Park District expanded its Brunch with Santa to two days, Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, with seatings from 8 am to 1 pm. Tickets were $15 for children and $20 for adults. A quieter Calm and Cozy seating ran from 1:30 to 2:45 pm for kids who need a calmer room.
Fun facts about Christmas in Chico
Chico's tree lighting has taken place in City Plaza for decades, and in 2017 the tree was a 90-foot redwood with over 2,000 LED lights. At the 2019 Parade of Lights, a pirate ship float was so tall that its mast hit trees along the route and had its top torn off, so it was shortened. The parade also had nearly 80 floats that year, along with a sailboat, a school bus and bicycles covered in lights. At the 2022 Christmas Preview, kids even spotted a Stormtrooper in holiday gear.
Trains and Christmas near Chico
Chico's best-known holiday traditions are on the sidewalks, but rail fans have good day trips. In Nevada City, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum is free and shows an 1875 Baldwin locomotive from the line that served the county until 1942. The Colfax Heritage Museum fills a restored Southern Pacific depot with local history and is often called the Colfax Railroad Museum. Farther away, the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola lets kids climb into dozens of locomotives, though it is closed in winter except for special events.
- Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum: A free museum with an 1875 Baldwin locomotive and a restoration shop to tour.
- Colfax Heritage Museum: A local history museum in a restored Southern Pacific depot, open Tuesday to Saturday mornings.
- Western Pacific Railroad Museum: A hands-on museum where kids can climb into dozens of locomotives, but it is closed in winter except for special events.
Traditions today
- Christmas Preview: Downtown stores stay open late on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, with carolers, dancers in shop windows and Santa photos. It began in 1978.
- Community Christmas Tree Lighting: Families gather at City Plaza for live music and the lighting of a tree with about 2,000 LED lights.
- Chico Parade of Lights: Floats covered in lights and marching bands roll through downtown, a tradition that reached its 30th year in 2019.
- Brunch with Santa: The Chico Area Recreation and Park District serves brunch with Santa, and in 2025 it grew to two days with a quiet Calm and Cozy seating.
- Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza: An outdoor rink opens downtown each holiday season, and in 2025 it hosted a Christmas Preview evening with treats and photo displays.
- A Very Chico Nutcracker: A holiday ballet at Laxson Auditorium, which ran from November 30 to December 3 in 2023.
A fact for kids
In Chico, a pirate ship float in the Parade of Lights was so tall that its mast hit the trees and lost its top, so it was made shorter.
Questions about Christmas in Chico
What is the oldest Christmas tradition in Chico?
The Chico Christmas Preview is one of the oldest, dating back to 1978. Downtown stores stay open late on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, with free treats at many shops, carolers, dance groups in shop windows and Santa posing for photos. The tree lighting at City Plaza has run for more than 40 years too.
When is the Chico Christmas Preview held?
It is held on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, from 4 to 8 pm, in downtown Chico. In 2022 it was on November 20, and in 2025 a Christmas Preview evening took place at the Chico Ice Rink on November 23. For this year's date, see our Chico Christmas events guide on this page.
What happens at the Chico Christmas Preview?
Downtown shops stay open late and invite people in to browse, and many give out cookies and warm drinks. Local theater and dance groups, such as North State Ballet, perform in decorated store windows, and Santa poses for photos on the sidewalk. A local radio station has also hosted holiday karaoke at Main and Third Street.
How long has Chico had a community tree lighting?
Chico's Community Christmas Tree Lighting was in its 44th year in 2022, so it has been going for more than four decades. Families gather at City Plaza downtown on a Friday evening for live music and the lighting of the tree. Our Chico Christmas events guide on this page has the date for this season.
Where is the big Christmas tree in Chico?
The community tree stands in City Plaza in downtown Chico. In 2017 it was a 90-foot redwood decorated with over 2,000 LED lights, and the lighting ceremony ran from 6 to 8 pm. For this season's date and details, see our Chico Christmas events guide on this page.
What is the Chico Parade of Lights?
It is a parade of floats covered in lights that rolls through downtown Chico, with marching bands, fire trucks and community groups. In 2019 it reached its 30th year and had nearly 80 floats. Nearly 100 volunteers, sponsors and board members helped put it on in 2019.
How did the Chico Parade of Lights begin?
It grew out of the older Pioneer Parade. When that parade ended, city leaders asked the community to carry its spirit forward, and the Parade of Lights was born. By 2019 it had reached its 30th year, with nearly 80 floats rolling through downtown Chico, so it has been a local tradition for decades now.
What was the funniest float in the Chico Parade of Lights?
In 2019 a tall pirate ship float had its mast hit the trees along the route, which tore off the top, so it was made shorter that year. Other entries included a school bus with students cheering inside, bikes covered in lights, a sailboat and a float with disco lights and music.
What is Brunch with Santa in Chico?
It is a holiday brunch with Santa run by the Chico Area Recreation and Park District at the CARD Center. In 2025 it grew from one day to two, on Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, with seatings from 8 am to 1 pm. Children's tickets were $15 and adult tickets were $20.
Is there a quiet Santa visit for kids who find crowds hard in Chico?
Yes. Chico's Brunch with Santa has offered a Calm and Cozy seating, which in 2025 ran from 1:30 to 2:45 pm. It is meant as a quieter room for kids who need a calmer setting. For this year's seating times, see our Chico Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids go ice skating at Christmas in Chico?
The Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza opens downtown each holiday season. In 2023 it ran from November 17 to January 14, with tickets starting at $14, and in 2025 it hosted a Christmas Preview evening with skating, treats and photo displays. See our Chico Christmas events guide on this page for this year's dates.
Is there a Nutcracker ballet in Chico?
Yes. In 2023 the show A Very Chico Nutcracker ran at Laxson Auditorium from November 30 to December 3, with tickets starting at $17. Chico's Christmas Preview also features ballet students dancing in shop windows, a tradition North State Ballet had kept for eight years by 2022.
How can I explain the Christmas Preview to a young child?
Tell them it is Chico's way of saying Christmas is coming. The shops stay open late, dancers perform in the windows like tiny stages, and Santa waves from the sidewalk. Kids often enjoy spotting the costumed characters, and in 2022 they even saw a Stormtrooper dressed for the holidays.
Does Santa come to Chico?
Yes, Santa visits in several places. He poses for photos on the sidewalk at the downtown Christmas Preview, appears at the community tree lighting, and joins families at Brunch with Santa. Local Macaroni KID guides have also listed Santa's arrival at the Chico Marketplace in past years. See our Chico Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
Does it snow in Chico at Christmas?
The sources we used do not mention snow in Chico. Instead they describe holiday traditions built around lights, decorated shop windows and evening gatherings. Families bundle up for the tree lighting and the Parade of Lights, and skating is available at the outdoor Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza, which opens each holiday season downtown.
What time do Chico's evening Christmas events start?
Chico's classic evening traditions start in the late afternoon or early evening. The Christmas Preview runs from 4 to 8 pm, and past tree lightings have been held from 6 to 8 pm or 6 to 7 pm on a Friday evening. Bring layers, since the evenings are cool.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Chico?
Chico has lights on its tree of about 2,000 LED lights in City Plaza and on the floats in the Parade of Lights, which had nearly 80 floats in 2019. The Christmas Preview also fills downtown with decorated shop windows. See our Chico Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
Where can kids see trains near Chico at Christmas?
The closest options in our museum list are in the Sierra foothills. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum in Nevada City is free and shows an 1875 Baldwin locomotive. The Colfax Heritage Museum sits in a restored Southern Pacific depot and is often called the Colfax Railroad Museum. Check hours before you drive.
Can kids climb on locomotives near Chico?
Yes, at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, where kids can climb into dozens of locomotives and join the Run-A-Locomotive program. It is a long drive from Chico, and the museum is closed in winter except for special events, so plan a visit for warmer months or check for holiday openings.
What is Victorian Christmas at the Stansbury Home?
It is a holiday open house at the Stansbury Home, a historic home in Chico, with house tours, live carolers, and hot cider and cookies. The 2026 guide from Explore Butte County lists it for December 4 to 6, with tickets at $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12.
Sources
- Chico community celebrates annual Christmas Preview, The Orion
- Chico celebrates 44th Community Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, KRCR
- A look at downtown Chico's holiday festivities, The Orion
- Chico's 30th annual Parade of Lights, The Orion
- CARD's beloved Brunch with Santa expands to two days of holiday magic, Chico Area Recreation and Park District
- Christmas Preview at the Ice Rink, Chico Area Recreation and Park District
- Chico to celebrate lighting of Christmas tree in downtown, The Orion
- Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Colfax Heritage Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Western Pacific Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Your guide to Santa sightings in Chico and more, Macaroni KID Chico
- Magical Holiday Events in Butte County, Explore Butte County
Chico Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Chico this year?
We confirmed 6 for the 2026 season, and 3 of them are free. Good places to start: Brunch with Santa (Dec 5 to Dec 6), Chico Community Tree Lighting Ceremony (Dec 4) and Chico Christmas Preview (Nov 22). Every event on this page has the times, the cost and a link to the host.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Chico?
Yes, 3 of the 6. Chico Parade of Lights (Dec 5) is a good one to plan around. Some free events still need a reservation, so check the listing before you go.
Where can kids meet Santa in Chico?
3 events here include a visit with Santa. Breakfasts with Santa usually sell out first, so book those as soon as you pick a date.
Is anything on for kids in Chico on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?
Yes. Chico Ice Rink in the Plaza runs through Jan 17.
Do we need tickets or reservations?
For 3 of the 6 events, yes: they sell tickets or ask you to sign up ahead. Meals with Santa and ticketed shows fill up first. Most library and park events are walk-in, and each listing says which is which.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Chico?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Chico Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 4, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.