Top Events and Activities in May in Butte County

May is Nation­al Bike Month, and what bet­ter way to cel­e­brate it than tak­ing a bike ride in Butte Coun­ty? The region has sev­er­al bike-friend­ly trails and scenic routes that offer a unique way to explore the area. The Guardian Trail in Chico, Bid­well Canyon Trail in Oroville, and Mid­way Bike Path through Durham are just a few pop­u­lar routes that offer stun­ning views of the sur­round­ing land­scapes. So, rent a bike or bring your own, and hit the trails to expe­ri­ence the nat­ur­al beau­ty of Butte Coun­ty up close. Don’t for­get to pack a pic­nic lunch and some sun­screen to make the most of your bik­ing adventure.

Expe­ri­ence the vibrant cel­e­bra­tion of Native Amer­i­can cul­ture at the 3^rd annu­al Butte Col­lege Big Time on May 1, 2025, from 9am-5pm.

Enjoy feath­er dancers, craft and jew­el­ry ven­dors, food, an elders gift give­away, and spe­cial per­for­mances by Lil Mike & Fun­ny Bone. The event is free and family-friendly!

Kick off the week­end with a free con­cert dur­ing Oroville’s Spring Con­certs in the Park start­ing May 2, 2025 at the scenic River­bend Park. The fam­i­ly friend­ly event is per­fect for enjoy­ing local live music by tal­ent­ed bands. Every Fri­day in May, shop local ven­dors and dine at local food trucks from 5:30pm-8pm, with live music from 6pm-8pm.

As Oroville’s pre­mier home­town cel­e­bra­tion, Feath­er Fies­ta Days has been a local favorite for gen­er­a­tions. The annu­al dou­ble-week­end cel­e­bra­tion fea­tures a parade, clas­sic car show, local ven­dors, live music, and more across the city. Head to Down­town Oroville May 2 – 10, 2025 for a vari­ety of activ­i­ties, with the BIG day of events on Sat­ur­day, May 10.

Call­ing all choco­late lovers! The Par­adise Choco­late Fest returns May 10, 2025 with a day ​‘choc’-ful fun and deli­cious activ­i­ties, includ­ing a free choco­late pie eat­ing con­test, an ice cream eat­ing con­test, and of course, choco­late tast­ings. Indulge in your favorite sweets while enjoy­ing live music, kids activ­i­ties, and oth­er (savory) food vendors.

Always the third Sat­ur­day in May, Red Sus­penders Day is a clas­sic Gri­d­ley event that hon­ors local fire­fight­ers and police. Since 1961, this fam­i­ly friend­ly event has fea­tured a parade run­ning through his­toric Down­town Gri­d­ley as well as local ven­dors, a clas­sic car show, firemen’s games, and more.

Kick off your sum­mer in Butte Coun­ty at the Sil­ver Dol­lar Fair! A beloved Chico tra­di­tion since 1950, the Sil­ver Dol­lar Fair is a true com­mu­ni­ty cel­e­bra­tion and the unof­fi­cial start to the sea­son, open­ing its door every Memo­r­i­al Day weekend.

Get ready to cel­e­brate with clas­sic fair fun May 22 – 26, 2025, with thrilling rides, live­stock exhibits, live music, deli­cious fair food, and more. It’s the per­fect way to embrace the ener­gy of sum­mer in North­ern California.

Cel­e­brate Nation­al Road Trip Day the Fri­day before Memo­r­i­al Day with a road trip to (or through) Butte Coun­ty! The region is home to some of Cal­i­for­ni­a’s most scenic dri­ves, includ­ing the Feath­er Riv­er Scenic Byway, the Sky­way through Par­adise Ridge, and High­way 32, which all offer breath­tak­ing views of the moun­tains, val­leys, and rivers. If you’re look­ing for a more guid­ed expe­ri­ence, check out our list of road trip itin­er­aries! So pack your bags, fuel up your car, and hit the road!

Butte Coun­ty in May is an excel­lent time to explore the region and par­tic­i­pate in some of the excit­ing events and activ­i­ties. Whether you’re a music lover, a choco­late enthu­si­ast, or an adven­ture seek­er, Butte Coun­ty has some­thing for everyone.