THREE DAYS OF FUN AT FEATHER FIESTA DAYS
OROVILLE >> Feather Fiesta Days returns for its 105th year with parades, music, food and an added day of fun as the hometown event offers activities and entertainment Friday, Saturday and Sunday this year.
The event, which drew a crowd of 12,000 in 2023, is “new and improved” this year, according to Eric Smith, Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO.
“We will still have the time-honored traditions of the festival and are expanding to bring new experiences to people,” said Smith.
The expansion includes the addition of a third day to the two-day hometown celebration, stretching the event from Friday and Saturday on into Sunday with a new event, The Food Truck Festival. This tasty addition to the weekend-long festival will be held from noon to 6 p.m. at Riverbend Park.
Hosted by the Oroville Economic Alliance and the Feather River Recreation and Park District the festival will feature at least half a dozen food trucks, retail vendors and live music and dance performances by local high school students and dance groups. In between live performances a deejay will be spinning tunes so attendees can get in on the dance fun. There will also be a children's corner with “plenty of activities for kids including free face
“We will still have the time-honored traditions of the festival and are expanding to bring new experiences to people.” — Eric Smith, Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce CEO
painting,” said Amber Miland, Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce communications director.
The Fourth Annual Pioneer Poker Run will also take off from the Oroville Convention Center on Sunday. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. and departure is at 10 a.m. with a 2 p.m. afterrun party at Bangor Park.
On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Oroville Docent's Association Feather Fiesta Craft Faire, an annual favorite for many decades, will feature a new attraction, Arts in the Park. In addition to the more than 50 crafters offering a wide variety handmade items, Arts in the Park, sponsored by Any Given Child: Butte County, will showcase 200 pieces of artwork by students from nine local elementary and middle schools. The Craft Faire will also include visual and performing arts interactive activities hosted
by the Artists of Rivertown, Birdcage Theater, Notes and Knots Music and Darline Smith Line Dancing.
Feather Fiesta Days kicks off Friday with four events including the May Mix Off, the annual salsa taste-off and margarita mixer hosted by the downtown business association. The afternoon also includes the Kiwanis Kiddies Day Parade and the Oro Dam Cruisers Gold Rush Car Show and Shine. That evening FRRPD will host Roots Man Project in concert at Riverbend Park.
On Saturday, early birds can enjoy Oroville Aerie FOE 196's pancake breakfast starting at 6 a.m. Registration for the 25th annual Oro Dam Cruisers Gold Rush Car Show starts an hour later.
At 10 a.m. the Exchange Club of Oroville's Feather Fiesta Days Parade will tour downtown streets in a caravan of “fabulously decorated” floats lead by grand marshal Judy McInturf, said Kay Castro, parade organizer.
“The theme this year is `unity in the community,'” said Castro. “Last year we had 38 floats. This year we are expecting many more.”
For the famished, parched and shop-till-you drop folks, the Oroville Economic Alliance has you covered on Saturday with its vendor and food court as well as the Feather Falls Casino beer garden in the Myers Street Convention Center parking lot.
Also on Saturday is St. Thomas the Apostle School's Springfest, an event featuring games, music, barbeque and vendors. That evening the State Theatre is taking people to a galaxy far, far away with a showing of “Star Wars — A New Hope.”
For more information on all the festivities, road closures and an events map visit https://www.visitoroville.com/feather-fiestadays.html