Parade of Lights, A History

This year marks the 29th Anniversary of the Chico Parade of Lights! The Parade’s history actually dates back to 1918 when high school seniors were invited to view the Chico Normal School campus. Special displays were built to depict the heritage of the campus within the community. Over the years more activities were added. Members of the faculty and townspeople would dress up in Western attire and join the students in celebrating our past. These activities would culminate in a Pioneer Days parade through downtown Chico.

In 1988, the Pioneer Days parade was cancelled. In 1989, Beverly Crosby and Sue Johnston were asked by the then Mayor of Chico to continue the parade tradition. Thus began the Chico Parade of Lights 29 years ago.

The 2018 29th annual Chico Parade of Lights theme “Exploration: from Deep Sea to Deep Space…and everything in between!” highlights the excitement and adventure of exploration and discovery!

Entries can highlight sea exploration with scuba diving or submarines, or space exploration with astronauts or rocket ships. But don’t feel constrained to just the outer limits! Exploration can also include scaling mountains, spelunking into caves, hiking mysterious forests, sailing to unknown islands, discovering new lands, or even scientific exploration of cells under a microscope or animal habitats!

And of course, as many lights as possible!

This year, as we have done in the past and will strive to do in the future, we endeavor to keep the best of Chico’s heritage in place and continue to etch our mark in the history of Chico by celebrating “Exploration: from Deep Sea to Deep Space (and everything in between!)”