No Luck in Finding the Irish

Chico is known for its high party activities during holidays. This year the luck might have run out. Chico State University in conjunction with Butte College and other academic institutions have decided to change the Spring Break week off to coincide with St. Patrick's Day. The intended thought is to have students head home for the vacation instead of staying and partying in Chico. St. Patrick's Day fell on a Wednesday, and I suspect that because no one wanted to wait for the party to come, they took advantage of their time off to plan trips for the holiday. 

Josh Low, 21, walks across Salem St. at W. 2nd St. as St. Patrick Day celebrations spill into the streets as partiers, CSUC/Butte students and non-students, enjoy the week off on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Downtown Chico, Calif.  (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Kaitlynn "KB" Wolfe, 21 (left) rides her bike with Sarah Peters, 23 (right) as they head towards a house along W. 4th St. near Ivy St. as St. Patrick Day celebrations spill into the streets as partiers, CSUC/Butte students and non-students, enjoy the week off on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Downtown Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

The town had very few students. While it was kinda nice to not have the hassle of drunken youth yelling and fighting, it was a little challenging to find something unique. Most were dressed in the casual green with hardly anyone getting into the Irish spirit to decorate themselves for the day. 

Partiers play beer pong outside a home along W. 4th St. near Ivy St. as St. Patrick Day celebrations spill into the streets as partiers, CSUC/Butte students and non-students, enjoy the week off on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Downtown Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Partiers walk past mounted patrol units Det. Abigail Madden and Sgt. Scott Ruppel along Ivy St. near W. 4th St. as St. Patrick Day celebrations spill into the streets as partiers, CSUC/Butte students and non-students, enjoy the week off on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in Downtown Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Word on the town is that César Chávez Day is going to be THE day for party plans. That day is in the middle of the week, yet students will not be on vacation for the week, giving them the close proximity to local venues.