Chico State Pulls Out All the Stops for Wildcat Weekend

With nearly 30 events happening over three days in October, Chico State has planned a weekend to remember.

From Thursday, October 6, through Saturday, October 8, the University will host and partner with the Downtown Chico Business Association for Wildcat Weekend, headlined by the signature events Homecoming, Alumni and Family Weekend and Chico Preview Day. Each day will include a broad range of events to showcase the University’s academic and cultural achievements while celebrating its connection to the city.

Jay Friedman, director of Chico State’s Office of Alumni of Parent Engagement, noted that bringing a Homecoming-style event back to the University is an excellent time for alumni and their families and current and prospective students to come together with the wider community for a time of celebration and to experience firsthand what Chico State has to offer.

“Alumni and Family Weekend is the one time of year that we invite all of our alumni back to campus,” Friedman said. “This provides them with an opportunity to see the new buildings and lab spaces as well as reconnect with faculty and staff and network with our current students.”

The entire three-day slate of events can be found at the Wildcat Weekend website. Here are some highlights:

Thursday

The events kick off on Thursday at University Soccer Stadium, as the Chico State soccer teams host conference foes Cal State East Bay—the men start at 4:30 p.m. and the women begin at 7 p.m.

The Chico Chapter Fall Event happens from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Meriam Park Barn at 1930 Market Place, with fan favorites The Kelly Twins providing their talent and wildly popular dueling piano show. Tickets are $10 apiece and include hors d’oeuvres—a no-host bar will also be available. Tickets are on sale now.

Friday

Events begin at 9 a.m. with Joy of Learning. This virtual event—which can be viewed on Chico State’s Facebook page or Livestream page—will highlight the University’s exceptional faculty enlightening and inspiring the Chico State community with engaging talks.

“We will learn about the neuroscience of reward, empathy in architectural design, and superheroes in animal nutrition, among many other fascinating topics,” said Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson. “This extraordinary teach-in is always a highlight of the fall semester and this year will be no different.”

Tours of the 800-acre University Farm will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. The Farm is located at 311 Nicholas C. Shouten Lane in Chico, and those interested in participating in the tour must sign up.

Then, the Chico State Women’s Philanthropy Council will host “Evening with Women in Agriculture,” a discussion moderated by the College of Agriculture’s Director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Resilient Systems Cindy Daley. The discussion will feature a group of Chico State alumnae who work in agriculture industry and will take place at the ARTS Recital Hall at 5 p.m.

Finally, the University and the Downtown Chico Business Association are partnering for The Art and Wine Walk. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. and includes many participating businesses in Downtown Chico.

Other on-campus events include a free screening of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Glenn Lawn at 6 p.m., Chico State’s School of the Arts’ rendition of “Cabaret” at Harlen Adams Theatre at 7:30 p.m. and “The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes” by Chico Performances at Laxson Auditorium at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Wildcat Preview gets things started from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., providing campus tours and introducing prospective students and their families to everything the University has to offer. An Alumni and Family Weekend BBQ on Kendall Hall Lawn follows from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person, which includes a BBQ lunch, games and more, and live music will entertain visitors from 1 to 4 p.m.

Later on, Chico State’s Gateway Science Museum is hosting “Science Rocks!” benefit gala from 6 to 9 p.m.—tickets are currently available. And for those interested in exploring the outdoors at night, the Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve will host a full moon forest bathing walk at 6:30 p.m.

Additionally, on both Friday and Saturday visitors can enjoy on-campus art tours inside Kendall Hall and at the Janet Turner Print Museum, while also enjoying exhibits at the Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology and the Gateway Science Museum.

Those who require an accommodation to participate in any on-campus events or who have questions about accessibility may contact the Accessibility Resource Center at 530-898-5959.