CHICO, Calif. — The Downtown Chico Ice Rink will reopen for skating and holiday festivities on Friday, November 14th, bringing with it more space — and more holiday cheer — to the heart of the city.

Now in its sixth year, the winter tradition is getting a major upgrade. The rink will be 40% larger than in past years, expanding by more than 2,500 square feet to accommodate growing crowds.

The City of Chico and the Chico Area Recreation and Park District (CARD) partnered to make the expansion possible after last year’s demand outpaced capacity. More than 16,000 tickets were sold in 2024, leaving many would-be skaters unable to get on the ice.

“You know, we found that the need was so great that we had to turn people away last year, and we want to make sure we’re not turning anybody away t

See Full Page