Butte County Museum Weekend returns for its seventh season this weekend. It’s a showcase of the county's art, science and culture scene.
Admission to all 15 participating museums (see list below) is free Feb. 28-March 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lucia Mercado, community engagement specialist for host organization Explore Butte County, said the special event was created to foster and celebrate Butte County’s collection of museums and cultural establishments.
“Check out places that you might have never seen, go to some of your favorite places knowing that they're for free,” Mercado said. “And the cool part is that we are going to be having a passport.”
A free passport will be available at any participating location. Visitors can carry the passport to each location they visit, and every spot can provide a unique stamp, signature or sticker.
“No matter how long you've been living in Butte County, there's always something to explore, and being able to find these little spaces, these little moments of recognizing and realizing how beautiful our county is and how beautiful these establishments are is the most important part.”- Lucia Mercado, Explore Butte County community engagement specialist
Completing a minimum of five locations makes visitors eligible for a discount or free item at a participating Butte County eatery.
- Savor Ice Cream (Chico): Free mini scoop and cone
- Mas Amor Mexican (Chico): Free drink with a $10 purchase
- Celestino’s NY Pizza (Downtown Chico): $5 off any XL pizza OR buy two slices, get one slice free
- Shake Tea (Oroville): Buy one tea, get second 1⁄2 off
- Provisions (Oroville): Buy one burger, get the second burger 1⁄2 off
Mercado’s first museum experience in town was the Chico History Museum in downtown Chico. The decision to visit was initially inspired by Chico's resemblance to a setting from her favorite television show, “Gilmore Girls.”
“I just remember being so fascinated by all the artifacts that they were able to hold on to, and just how beautiful everything looked and how well kept it was,” Mercado said.
Mercado says Museum Weekend is designed to make local museums more accessible, noting that residents can get caught up in their daily routines and overlook these vital venues.
“No matter how long you've been living in Butte County, there's always something to explore, and being able to find these little spaces, these little moments of recognizing and realizing how beautiful our county is and how beautiful these establishments are is the most important part.”
Mercado says without visitors, museums and other cultural venues might have to close
“I think that what we need our community to recognize is that if we're not supporting them, if we're not going out there and being part of these beautiful events and taking space in these centers, then eventually we're not going to have them,” Mercado said.
Some of this year’s offerings include the art of printmaking at Chico State’s Janet Turner Museum, and the Chico Arts Center’s "The Makers Cafe," a free arts and craft hour in the 1947 Pullman train car.
Butte County Museum Weekend participating locations
- Museum of Northern California Art, Chico
- Janet Turner Print Museum, Chico
- Oroville State Theater, Oroville
- Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology, Chico
- Gateway Science Museum, Chico
- Patrick Ranch Museum, Durham
- Chico History Museum, Chico
- Chico Children’s Museum, Chico
- Gridley Museum, Gridley
- Oroville Chinese Temple, Oroville
- C.F. Lott Historic Home, Oroville
- Feather River Nature Center & Native Plant Park, Oroville
- Pioneer History Museum, Oroville
- Colman Museum & Centerville One-Room Schoolhouse, Chico
- Chico Art Center, Chico
