While the popular Silver Dollar Fair may be its biggest annual celebration, Chico’s legendary Silver Dollar Fairgrounds stays busy all year long. From car races and bridal showcases to glittering gem exhibitions and local vendor fairs, the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds has evolved into one of the North State’s most dynamic event spaces. See why there’s always a reason to visit, no matter the season.
Year-Round Fun at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds
Kick Off the Summer at the Silver Dollar Fair
Always Memorial Day weekend, the Silver Dollar Fair offers live concerts, iconic and inventive rides, local art shows, pig races, and much more! For five days, visitors from all over the North State flock to the fairgrounds for classic fair food and their favorite rides for all ages. Favorite events and attractions include: the junior livestock show and auction, a bustling carnival—complete with a Ferris wheel overlooking the carnival—and the grand finale fireworks show to close out the fair on Memorial Day.
So whether you want to discover art from local students, stuff your face with fried treats, or catch an event on the grandstand, make sure to bring your friends and the whole family for a long weekend of excitement at the Silver Dollar Fair!
Rev Your Engines at the Silver Dollar Speedway
Since 1962, the Silver Dollar Speedway has been known for its annual events and thriving community of auto enthusiasts. The high-banked, quarter-mile oval clay racetrack hosts sprint races and modified events, making for thrilling experiences with the whole family (and up to 7,000 motorsport fans that can pack the stands).
From March to September, meet up with friends at the Speedway for Friday and Saturday night races—make sure to bring a pair of earplugs and get ready to feel the adrenaline! In the fall, the multi-day Gold Cup Race of Champions and Fall National races conclude the racing season. Visiting more for the vibes than the races? Enjoy off-track events during the competitions like live music, a coffee-fueled vintage car show, and dance parties.
Explore Beautiful Possibilities at the Chico Bridal Show
The Chico Bridal Show is the largest of its kind in the North State. Always held at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, brides-to-be come to discover the latest trends, sample cakes from local bakeries, book caterers, and otherwise explore a wide array of exhibitors offering everything needed to plan the wedding of their dreams. With live music throughout the day and door prizes given away every half hour, the Chico Bridal Show is not just the spot for inspiration and advice from the pros, but a fun event for the whole bridal party.
Come Back for Exciting Events All Year
Other popular events hosted at the fairgrounds in the past include: Woofstock, a Woodstock themed vendor fair and live music event benefiting the local Humane Society; Wildfest, a bicycle vendor fair and food truck event hosted in preparation of the annual Chico Velo Wildflower Bike Ride; and the Bizarre Bazaar, a winter holiday craft and artisan fair hosted by the local artists collective, Chikoko.
The Silver Dollar Fairgrounds has fun events for folks of every interest, so check their website for the latest schedule and join the community in making memories at this local landmark all year long.
A Brief History of the Silver Dollar Fair
How the Fair Began in Chico
General John Bidwell led efforts to establish the first fair in Chico as a member of the Butte County Agricultural Association, with hopes to promote the area as an agricultural resource rather than a mining community. Exhibitions were hosted on what is now First Street, between Main and Broadway, near where Collier Hardware is located today. Horse races were held every afternoon of the fair festivities, and attendees lauded the event as “better than the State Fair.”
The event was moved to the nearby town of Marysville in 1873 after the Butte County Agricultural Association started experiencing financial hardships, but by 1877, the fair had returned to Chico’s Silver Dollar Fairgrounds, where it was able to grow into the multi-day celebration enjoyed today.
History of the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds
The name “Silver Dollar” is an homage to the North State’s gold mining history dating back to the 19th century. Nowadays, the venue is a goldmine for entertainment, agricultural showcases, and community.
The large space, covering about 50 acres, is home to livestock barns, exhibition halls, outdoor greenspace, and a racetrack grandstand.