Downtown Chico's bar scene is trading its usual Saturday buzz for a cause on October 24, when five venues team up for the Butte Humane Society's annual Howl-O-Ween Pup Crawl. The costume-friendly fundraiser runs from noon to 6 p.m., with check-in and passport pickup based out of Parkside Taphouse at 115 W. 3rd Street.
Participants will check in at Parkside Taphouse, receive an official event passport, and then make their way to participating stops including Argus Bar & Patio, B-Street Public House, The Banshee, Bella's Sports Pub, and Joe's Bar, according to Action News Now. Each drink purchase at a venue earns a passport stamp, and crawlers who complete the full loop return to Parkside Taphouse to trade their stamped passports for raffle entries toward various prizes. Tickets cost $25 per person and include an exclusive limited-edition event t-shirt along with the official crawl passport, though t-shirt sizes are only guaranteed for tickets purchased by October 9.
The event brings downtown Chico venues together for a fundraiser benefiting Butte Humane Society. The nonprofit is bringing back its annual downtown pup crawl after previous themed iterations, including a past Heroes vs. Villains costume crawl noted in Butte Humane Society's event history.
Why the Fundraiser Matters This Year
The Howl-O-Ween crawl is a fundraiser for Butte Humane Society. The society has worked since 1911 and is among Butte County's oldest nonprofit agencies.
That financial reliance comes against a backdrop of statewide strain. In April 2024, Butte Humane Society joined other California shelter organizations in raising awareness about a shelter crisis marked by extreme overcrowding, rising intake, and reduced adoption and transfer rates following the pandemic, according to the California Animal Welfare Association.
A Long History, a New Home Base
Butte Humane Society's footprint has grown substantially in recent years. In November 2021, the organization opened a home of its own after a 110-year journey, as documented by KRCR.
Pet-Free Crawl, Service Animals Welcome
Participating venues will accommodate human patrons and allow official service animals, but organizers are asking guests to leave personal pets safely at home for the day.
