CHICO — The Chico City Plaza was adjusted to allow beer drinking ahead of the 2023 ChicoLive Music Festival beginning noon Saturday, hosted by the Downtown Chico Business Association.
Volunteers set up a canopy tent in front of the plaza’s stage Friday afternoon, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. trailers were parked nearby in preparation for beer service.
ChicoLive is a 21 and older music event, and is a replacement for Taste of Chico, said Vice Mayor Kasey Reynolds, who was present during setup.
“We’re looking forward to a new and exciting way to bring guests to downtown Chico,” Reynolds said. “This will hopefully be the first annual,” with a future goal to have multiple stages at restaurants in the city, making for a destination event.
“Chico’s got a ton of musicians and we have a ton of art,” she said.
Reynolds said she worked her first Taste of Chico event when she was 10 years old, and her mother was with the Downtown Chico Business Association.
With Taste of Chico canceled since COVID-19 lockdowns, Reynolds said she and other restaurateurs were looking for something to replace the classic Chico event because its cost was too high to continue.
“It’s been going and It’s a great tradition, but we stopped during COVID . th..en we had to think of something different,” she said.
The entire Chico City Plaza will be closed for ChicoLive including Main, Broadway Fourth and Fifth Streets to make a safe space for alcoholic beverage enjoyers.
Bands including some from the north state will play noon to 7 p.m. with performances from Frankie Ballard, Township, Stroke 9 and The Funnels.
Reynolds said funds gathered during the event will be going toward a downtown Chico improvement project “good for all of downtown.”
Chico High School and Pleasant Valley High School coaches will be manning the beer taps during the music festival, and a donation will be made to sports teams as well.
After the concert is over, local restaurants will host bands through the night.
Tickets are available for $75 at the gate and discounted prices online for Chico State students and faculty; association members and members of the Chico Chamber of Commerce at https://bit.ly/chicolive2023.
