6 August Activities in Butte County
Summer vacation time is running out, though the temperatures might say otherwise, and we’re down to our last official summer month in Butte County. August is that perfect, flexible time of year where you can either try to cram in every last bit of summer fun possible, or simply start catching up on your rest and relaxation before the school year resumes. Explore or decompress—there are no wrong answers here, and the Butte County area is full of opportunities to do both!
Hit the Water for a Full Moon Paddle
The Forebay Aquatic Center is offering two guided Full Moon Paddles at the Thermalito Forebay in August. Catch the sunset and watch the full moon rise over the Forebay on Tuesday, 8/1 from 8pm-11pm or Wed. 8/30 from 7:30pm-10:30pm.
Check Out Classic Cars in Downtown Oroville
Hit the streets for the Car & Bike Show and Stroll in Downtown Oroville on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. Vintage car and motorcycles line Myers Street in this free-for-all-ages event that also features live music and special offerings from select participating downtown businesses.
Have Fun at the Butte County Fair
What is summer without a trip to the county fair? Once again, Gridley hosts the Butte County Fair, a four-day, something-for-everyone event from August 24-27, 2023. Affordable entry is a license to fill up a day with activity, from piglet racing, animal exhibits and livestock judging to a range of rides ranging across a spectrum of thrills.
And, of course, no county fair would be complete without a few culinary pleasures: funnel cake, hot dogs, Sno-Cones, and soft pretzels are all ready to help nail that essential late-summer county fair vibe.
Enjoy a Free Movie in the Park
Grab a blanket or low-back chairs and get ready for Movies in the Park, a summer tradition hosted by the Chico Area Recreation and Park District (CARD). In August, enjoy Top Gun: Maverick (which features the Feather River Canyon and Feather Fall during the final dog-fight scene) at Wildwood Park on Sat., 8/26, 2023.
Visit the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve
The Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, under the direction and ownership of the Chico State Research Foundation, contains almost 4,000 acres of canyon and ridge habitats for native species of flora and fauna over 4 ½ miles of Big Chico Creek.
To visit the reserve is an exercise in wonderment: Because of the fragile nature of the ecosystems being protected here, few recreational activities outside of nature hikes are allowed. But you’ll certainly be grateful you brought a camera, whether it’s to capture the natural scenic beauty or to document a rare and special sighting of local wildlife.
It’s a bit of real wilderness right here in the area, and in some ways it’s foreboding: Here in this natural setting, you truly are a visitor, and it creates an immense sense of appreciation for the natural world around us.
Recreate in Butte Meadows
Heading up Highway 32 in the summertime to Butte Meadows can yield opportunities for fishing, hiking and camping without the heat that comes so naturally in the valley. Just outside of Forest Ranch up the Deer Creek Highway, the creek itself offers a multitude of shaded fishing and swimming spots. Overlooking the canyon, the ecological reserve and, closer to Chico, Upper Bidwell Park, the drive itself is a breathtaking one.
With a stop in Butte Meadows, it’s almost a rite of passage to visit the Bambi Inn. It’s pretty much always open, whether for overnight visitors, hungry passers-through, or locals looking for a place to tie one on.
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly way to spend a leisurely afternoon or if you’ve got exploration in mind, you’ve got plenty of creative options this month.
