The Chico Parade of Lights will not take place in 2026, ending this year’s plans for the annual downtown holiday procession. Organizers said they could not meet updated city security requirements with the equipment, staffing and funds available to the volunteer group.
The organizers said the city’s equipment fee alone would exceed $19,000, while added expenses for insurance, restrooms and sanitation would bring the total event cost to an estimated $25,000–$30,000. Those figures are the organizers’ estimates, as reported by North State Public Radio. NSPR said it had asked city staff for comment but had not received a response by publication.
Source: North State Public Radio, “Quick reads — Chico Parade of Lights canceled,” published October 15, 2026, at 5:56 p.m. PDT. Read the full report. The report links to the parade organizers’ cancellation announcement on Facebook.
The parade has been a Chico holiday-season tradition since 1989, according to organizers. The cancellation applies to the 2026 event; the sources reviewed do not say whether the parade will return in 2027.
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