On opening day in April, kids worked through a scavenger hunt behind Dollar General on the Midway. Shane Myers played live music, and the Exchange Club of Durham handed out flags and water. That was the first Sunday of the Durham Grange Farmers Market's 2026 run, as the Gridley Herald reported. Organizers told the paper they hoped to build a regular Sunday tradition in Durham through the fall.
That run is about to end. The market's last scheduled Sunday is October 25. After that, Durham's dated community events move up the same road to Patrick Ranch Museum at 10381 Midway, and they change shape. October at the ranch means big ticketed weekends. November and December bring smaller evenings at a table.
Sunday, October 25: The Whole Midway in One Day
Sunday, October 25, is the last day this fall when everything on the Midway overlaps. The market has its final morning, the ranch's Autumn Fest is open for the weekend, and Troop 31's haunted house opens after dark.
| Time | What's happening | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Durham Grange Farmers Market, last scheduled Sunday | 9368 Midway, behind Dollar General |
| Weekend daytime | Autumn Fest & Pumpkin Patch | Patrick Ranch Museum, 10381 Midway |
| 6 to 9 p.m. | Troop 31 Haunted House, $15 per ticket | Patrick Ranch Museum |
Patrick Ranch's homepage says Autumn Fest runs every October weekend. It opened October 3 and 4, and the site doesn't post an admission price. The haunted house also runs Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24, before Sunday's show, and it has one last night after that on Friday, October 30.
The Market's Final Morning
The market is run by Durham Grange #460, a chapter listed in the California State Grange directory. The current Butte365 event listing gives the venue as 9368 Midway and describes it as a mix of local businesses, artists, food vendors and produce. The Grange says it wants a gathering place where neighbors connect and local farmers and small businesses do well.
Before you set an alarm, check the hours. The April article and the current Butte365 listing say 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Gridley Herald's printed calendars from September 25 and October 9 list 8 a.m. to noon. If you want to catch the produce before it sells out, plan on the earlier start. You can also email the Grange at [email protected] before Sunday.
The season was scheduled to run weekly through late October, and October 25 is the last Sunday on the current listing. For news about a winter market or a 2027 season, ask the Grange directly.
The Haunted House Is Built by the Scouts Selling the Tickets
The haunted house is a fundraiser, and the scouts build it themselves. Action News Now reported that Chico's Troop 31 spent about a month on it, coming out to Patrick Ranch up to three days a week to build, decorate and plan each themed room. Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Gordon told the station the project gives the scouts a chance to practice leadership, get creative and work as a team. One scout said, "It's just totally inspiring that just a group of some random kids, basically just built this whole thing."
This is the troop's second year running it, and the scouts told Action News Now this year's version is bigger than last year's. The money they raise goes back to the troop so the scouts can keep building their skills. Tickets are $15, you pick your night on the ticket page, and the ranch lists a snack bar along with the themed rooms.
Patrick Ranch's November and December Calendar
From November on, the Patrick Ranch events calendar changes gears. Autumn Fest and the haunted house drew crowds over whole weekends. Most of the winter events are a single evening or afternoon, with small prices or tickets you order ahead. The two-day Artisan's Faire is the exception. The ranch is also asking visitors to check back for updates, so confirm a date before you head over.
Here's the lineup:
- Bunco in the Barn, Thursday, November 12. Dinner runs 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for $5, and Bunco starts at 6:30 p.m. for $10. The ticket page sells Bunco on its own or with dinner.
- Pumpkin Succulent Centerpiece Workshop, Sunday, November 22, 1 to 3 p.m. It costs $55, and materials are included. That's just in time to make a centerpiece for Thanksgiving week.
- Holiday Pie Pre-Sale pickup, Tuesday, November 24, 2 to 6 p.m. You order 9-inch apple, pumpkin or maple-pecan pies ahead by flavor, at $25 each.
- Annual Artisan's Faire, Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ranch hasn't posted an admission price.
- Bunco in the Barn, Thursday, December 10, 5:30 p.m. Same setup as November, with $5 dinner and $10 Bunco, and you can book Bunco on its own or with dinner.
The ranch's official 2026 calendar doesn't list a separate Christmas event. In December, the Artisan's Faire and the second Bunco night are what's on.
Handmade goods were part of the Sunday market mix on the Midway from April through October. In December, the Artisan's Faire brings them back for one weekend at Patrick Ranch. The Bunco nights fill a different gap. Market mornings were drop-in. Bunco is a seat at a table on a Thursday night, and the ranch runs it twice before the year ends.
The Quieter Change on Durham-Dayton Highway
One more change on the town's calendar has no end date. Patrons of the Butte County Library's Durham Branch at 2545 Durham-Dayton Hwy won't be charged late fines anymore. The Chico Enterprise-Record reported that the Butte County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on September 22 to keep the library fine-free after a largely successful pilot. The paper's story featured the Durham branch. The Board first adopted the one-year pilot on August 26, 2025.
The county's announcement explains how it works now. Overdue items no longer build up fines. You still need to return what you borrow, and lost or damaged items still carry fees.
The branch hours pair well with the ranch's winter schedule. The library is closed Sunday and Monday. It's open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. So on November 24, the Tuesday of the pie pickup, the library is open until 6 p.m., the same time pickup ends at Patrick Ranch. On the Bunco Thursdays, the branch closes at 6 p.m., half an hour before the 6:30 game starts.
Here's the whole sequence through December. The Grange market's last Sunday is October 25. The haunted house's last night is October 30. After that, Patrick Ranch has five dated events between November 12 and December 10, and the library on Durham-Dayton Highway keeps its weekday hours with no late fines. For more on daily life outside town, see what country living in Durham really feels like, or read about the two fall festivals with very different track records.
If you're in Durham and this season has you thinking about what your place on the Midway or a quiet orchard road is worth these days, Lora Trenner is glad to talk it through, no pressure and no rush. Start with a quick home valuation, then grab your pies on the 24th.
