Halloween is not canceled

If Butte County wants to keep moving forward through the less restrictive tiers of the state’s re-opening plan, and not backslide into another spike in coronavirus cases, then tradition is going to have to take a year off this holiday season. Health officials are recommending avoiding indoor public gatherings and to continue practicing social distancing, which includes foregoing trick-or treating, an inherently not-distant and high-risk activity during a pandemic.

Of all the holidays, Halloween is probably the most flexible, and if scary movies and dress-up at home aren’t enough for you and yours, Chico has adapted and stretched the boundaries to come up with some creative and safe alternatives for fun this week. Visit the CN&R calendar for all local offerings, and check out these highlights:

Treat Street
Oct. 30, 3-5 p.m.
Yes, the Downtown Chico Business Association’s daytime trick-or-treating tradition is still happening, but it looks a little bit different. Instead of kids parading downtown sidewalks from business to business, parents will be driving them around the City Plaza for a Halloween parade and treat-bag drive-thru. Follow the cones from the Main Street side of the plaza to pick treats for the kids and decorate your car to win prizes (visit the DCBA site to sign up for the contest).

Chikoko Virtual Costume Contest
Chico’s fashion/arts/performance collective is putting out a creative challenge to everyone who likes to dress up—for the season or just for the freak of it. Chikoko will give out schwag, special trophies and cash money to the three winners. Some of the guidelines include: open to all ages, costumes must be handmade, and no nudity. Visit the Chikoko site for the rest and for info on how to submit. Deadline: Nov. 1.

Astronaut Ice Cream Halloween Eve Show
Oct. 30, 8 p.m.
Chico’s electro-disco duo Astronaut Ice Cream has worked very hard to make corona-lockdown as fun as possible. They’ve put on livestream concerts, released a new album—and new music videos for every song on it(!)—and hosted a virtual listening party. For Halloween eve, they’ve invited a bunch of local performers to join a party on the Astronaut Ice Cream YouTube channel, including gothy-surf mood-makers WRVNG (with guest Ken the Revelator on Theremin) and gothy goth Mercury’s Butterfly. Other guests include Moshiriously, Steven and his cousin Steven, and Betty and Delisa making Halloween crafts.

Two Halloween livestreams:
Oct. 31
Two live virtual concerts in one night:
-7:30 p.m.: Local power-pop/hyper-rock crew Furlough Fridays kicks off the night with appropriate party energy via Facebook Live event.
-9 p.m.: It’s a party broadcast from Birdcage Theatre in Oroville, with ska crew Ants in My Eyes Johnson performing a benefit for the theater.