Your Back-to-School Guide for the North Valley

Get ready, families! The countdown has begun, and the first day of school for your little ones in the North Valley is just around the corner.

We've got you covered with the ultimate guide to kick-start the school year. Looking for school calendars in the North Valley? Fun back-to-school events in Butte County? Where to go back-to-school shopping in Chico, Oroville, or Orland?

We have it all, plus advice and tips for dealing with that first-day anxiety, printables to make those first-day pics special, and even ideas on what to pack for lunch! Check it all out below:

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School calendars for the North Valley

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Back to school events in the North Valley

Chico Marketplace: Gift with Purchase Event
Details: Bring receipts totaling $200 or more to the office and receive a $20 gift card to a Chico Marketplace retailer! July 22 - August 4

Chico: Lunch in the Plaza School Supplies Drive
Details: Join Azad's Martial Arts and the Chico Chamber of Commerce downtown and bring school supplies to donate. August 2

Magalia: Cedarwood Ice Cream Social
Details: Cedarwood students and parents can meet and mingle. Free ice cream for the kids! August 2

Chico: Back to School Bash
Details: Free backpacks and supplies, health fair, carnival games, food, and more! August 6

Chico: Back to School Backpack Giveaway
Details: Promise Church is giving away over 200 backpacks filled with school supplies! August 6

Paradise: Back To School Event
Details: Free School supplies, backpacks and haircuts for income-eligible families. August 6

Orland: Back to School Hair & Backpack Event
Details: Glenn County schoolchildren can get a free haircut! Qualifying families can also receive backpacks and school supplies. FREE August 7

Magalia: Pine Ridge Ice Cream Social
Details: Pine Ridge students and parents can meet and mingle. Free ice cream for the kids! August 9

Paradise: PRES Ice Cream Social
Details: Paradise Ridge students and parents can meet and mingle. FREE ice cream for the kids! August 11

Magalia: Back to School Pancake Breakfast
Details: Support youth programs and enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast on the Ridge! Adults $10, Kids 12 and under $5 August 12

Chico: End of Summer Social
Details: Say goodbye to summer with animals, bounce houses, food trucks, face painters, crafts, games, and more! FREE August 19

Know of a community back-to-school event in the North Valley we're missing? Add it to our Macaroni KID Chico calendar now!

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Back to school shopping in the North Valley

There are the big box stores, of course, but you can also support locally-owned businesses when doing your back-to-school shopping! Here are some of our favorite places for shopping for school supplies and clothes in Northern California that are locally owned:

Once Upon A Child - Chico
801 East Avenue, Suite #106
Chico, CA 95926

FKO Oroville
1124 Oro Dam Blvd E #C
Oroville, CA 95965

Three Little Birds in Orland
708 4th Street
Orland, CA 95963

Have a favorite locally owned spot for back-to-school shopping you don't see listed here? Email mackidchico@macaronikid.com and we'll get it added!