Downtown Chico

Come sweat it out with us on the dance floor. 💃🕺

We’re kicking off this month’s Wedding & Events Expo at the Thursday Night Market with free wedding dance classes led by local dancer and choreographer Ray Hayes Dance.

And no, you do not need to be planning a wedding to join.

Bring a partner, a friend, a family member, your wedding party, or just yourself. No experience needed. No partner required for any class. Two left feet are absolutely welcome.

Free Wedding Dance Classes
Thursdays, August 6, 13 + 20
Main + 3rd Street, near Woodstock’s Pizza

Class times:
6:30 pm - Intro to Wedding Dance
7:15 pm - Wedding Party Dance, flash mob style
8:00 pm - Intro to Dips & Tricks

Each class is about 30 minutes and open to the public.

We know it’s hot, but honestly? That just makes it more of a community bonding experience. Come hydrate, laugh, move, learn something new, and make a Thursday night memory downtown.

Thank you to Ray Hayes Dance for bringing this free series to the market, in collaboration with the DCBA and sponsored in part by the Museum of Northern California Art (monca)

See you tonight! 👣

✨ We Are Downtown Chico ✨

Some dreams begin with a single step. 🩰💛

This week, we're featuring Ballet Chico, a vibrant performing arts organization helping dancers of all ages discover confidence, creativity, and a love for movement right here in Downtown Chico.

Founder Melanie Useldinger has dedicated her life to ballet. After years of professional training, teaching, choreographing, and producing full-length ballets, she brought that experience home with a vision of creating something bigger than a dance studio—a place where people could grow, belong, and discover what they're capable of.

Today, Ballet Chico welcomes everyone from tiny beginners taking their very first class to experienced dancers continuing their artistic journey. Inside their beautiful, light-filled downtown studio, students learn far more than technique. They build discipline, confidence, friendships, and a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts.

What we love most is that Ballet Chico reflects so much of what makes Downtown Chico special. It's a place where creativity is celebrated, community comes together, and people of every age are encouraged to grow into the very best version of themselves!

Because sometimes the greatest performances don't happen on stage.

They happen in the quiet moments when someone discovers they can do something they never thought possible. ✨

📍 330 Broadway St, Chico, CA
🌐 balletchico.com

✨ We Are Downtown Chico ✨

Some people have a gift for seeing beauty where others might walk right past it. 💛

This week, we're featuring Poppy And Fig, a thoughtfully curated resale boutique located inside the Garden Walk Mall in Downtown Chico.

For owner Jenny, that gift started long before Poppy & Fig. Growing up in Southern California, some of her favorite memories were spent treasure hunting at garage sales with her grandfather, discovering that every piece has a story and that the best finds are often the ones someone else overlooked.

That passion grew into years of reselling, first online, then through a mobile boutique, and today into a welcoming storefront where every piece is carefully hand-selected, cleaned, and thoughtfully curated. From Anthropologie and Madewell to Free People and timeless vintage finds, Poppy & Fig proves that great style isn't about chasing trends—it's about finding pieces that feel like you.

What we love most is that Jenny has created more than a boutique. She's created a space where fashion feels personal, creativity is celebrated, and giving beautiful things a second life is simply part of the experience.

It feels right at home in Downtown Chico—a place where individuality is celebrated, small businesses lift one another up, and every storefront has a story to tell.

Because sometimes the best things aren't brand new.

They're simply waiting for the right person to discover them! ✨

📍 Garden Walk Mall, Downtown Chico

✨ We Are Downtown Chico ✨

Some places become part of a town's story long before we realize it. 🥐💛

This week, we're featuring Upper Crust Bakery and Cafe, a downtown Chico tradition that has been filling Main Street with the smell of fresh bread, pastries, and coffee for decades.

For the past eight years, owners Jeff and Shelby Plummer have had the privilege of carrying that tradition forward—continuing the recipes, the welcoming atmosphere, and the simple joy of serving fresh, handcrafted baked goods to the community they love.

But ask them what keeps them going, and it isn't just what's coming out of the oven.

It's the people!

The familiar faces who stop in every morning. The regulars whose orders are already known. The conversations shared over coffee. The quiet moments that slowly become part of someone's routine.

That's what makes places like Upper Crust so special. They're more than a bakery—they're part of the rhythm of downtown. The birthday cakes, the breakfast pastries before work, the loaf of bread picked up on the way home... woven into the everyday moments that make Chico feel like home.

Some traditions are worth carrying on.

And thanks to Jeff, Shelby, & their team—this one is still rising! 💛

📍 130 Main St, Chico, CA
🌐 uppercrustchico.com

Today’s the day! 🍉

Slice of Chico is happening today in Downtown Chico, and we’re ready for a sweet summer day with our community.

Come enjoy complimentary ice-cold watermelon while supplies last, shop local, grab a bite downtown, explore sidewalk sales, check out activities and entertainment, and spend the day supporting your favorite downtown businesses.

Thank you to everyone helping keep this long-loved Chico tradition going, from our local businesses and volunteers to every community member who shows up to celebrate downtown.

🍉 Slice of Chico
Today in Downtown Chico

Come early, stay hydrated, support local, and enjoy the day!

🏘️ It takes a village to bring the events our community loves to life. ❤️

From welcoming visitors 😊 and assisting vendors 🛍️ to helping at information and raffle booths 🎟️, volunteers are the reason Downtown Chico events run smoothly. Their time and dedication create the experiences that bring our community together.

🙌 As we prepare for upcoming events, we're looking for volunteers to join our team. Whether you can give a few hours or a full shift, your support makes a meaningful difference.

✨ If you've ever enjoyed a Downtown Chico event, this is a great opportunity to give back and help make the next one a success.

📅 Sign up to volunteer today: https://loom.ly/gtP-FGM

💙 Thank you for helping keep Downtown Chico vibrant, welcoming, and thriving!

Two days until Slice of Chico! 🍉

Make plans to spend your Saturday in Downtown Chico for one of our sweetest summer traditions.

Join us for complimentary ice-cold watermelon while supplies last, local shopping, downtown dining, sidewalk sales, activities, entertainment, and all-ages summer fun.

Bring your friends, bring the family, and come ready to explore downtown.

🍉 Slice of Chico
Saturday, July 11
Downtown Chico

Check DowntownChico.com for event updates and details before you go.

✨ We Are Downtown Chico ✨

Some places aren't just part of a neighborhood—they help people feel like they belong. 💛

This week, we're featuring Bidwell Presbyterian Church, a longtime part of Downtown Chico where community, compassion, and connection have been at the heart of its mission for generations.

Located on West 1st Street, Bidwell is more than a place people gather on Sundays. It's a place where friendships are formed, families are supported, students find community, and neighbors come together to serve one another. Their hope is simple: that no one has to walk through life alone.

Whether someone is exploring faith for the first time or has called Bidwell home for years, the church is rooted in creating an authentic, welcoming space where people feel seen, encouraged, and cared for.

What we love most is how deeply connected Bidwell is to downtown itself. From serving alongside local organizations to welcoming students, families, and neighbors from every walk of life, they see being downtown as an opportunity to invest in the people who make Chico what it is!

Because that's what makes a community stronger—not just the places we gather, but the people who open their doors and invite us in.

📍 208 W 1st St, Chico, CA
🌐 bidwellpres.org