(Last UPDATED 1/30/2023) Annual Events in Sacramento. Sacramentans love to party! Festivals of all kind (art, ethnic food, music, film and fun runs to benefit a worthy cause) are just a few examples of fun annual events held each year.
Following is a curated list of select, long-standing events held in and nearby Sacramento. Check back often for additions to, or deletions from, this SacramentoRevealed.com list of annual events.
January
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink (Ali Youssefi Square, 7th & K Streets). Outdoor ice rink in Downtown Sacramento. Open November – January. Check days and time of operation.
Imaginarium (Cal-Expo Center) Holiday Light Festival. Millions of lights, also rides, shows, fun for all the family.
Sacramento Dine Downtown Restaurant Week (various locations). A variety of Old Sacramento Waterfront, Downtown, Midtown and East Sacramento restaurants offer 3-course prix fixe menus for your dining pleasure.
Related Blog Posts:
12th Annual Dine Downtown Restaurant Week and 2019 Sacramento Dine Downtown Week and 2021 Dine Downtown Sacramento and 2022 Sacramento Downtown Restaurant Week
February
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Almond Blossom Festival (Capay Valley). A long standing tradition. Held the last full weekend in February. Variety of events, including a parade. Also, food vendors and crafters.
City of Trees Mardi Gras Parade & Festival (Capitol Mall). Local performing arts groups parade down Capitol Mall to the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Floats, dancers, bands, food trucks, and more.
Related Blog Posts: City of Trees Mardi Gras Parade
March
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Arbor Week. A celebration of trees (various locations). Held March 7 – 13 each year. Check out the Sacramento Tree Foundation website for a list of events.
Authors on the Move. Guests have the opportunity to visit with authors of recently published books. The event benefits the Sacramento Literacy Foundation.
Camellia Society of Sacramento Show & Sale (Elks Lodge #6, 6446 Riverside Blvd.) Annual event showcasing Sacramento’s favorite flower – the camellia.
Capitol Beer Fest (Capitol Mall Greens). Four hours of beer from top brewers, and a variety of food trucks and live music. Event benefits Runnin’ for Rhett Youth Fitness Program.
Free Museum Day/Weekend (various). Advance registration required; capacity is limited.
Sacramento Antiquarian Book Faire (Scottish Rite Temple, 6151 H Street) Annual Spring & Fall events. Thousands of rare and collectible books, maps, photo’s postcards and other items. Buy/Sell
Sacramento Jewish Film Festival. Presenting the best films related to Jews and Judaism since 1997.
Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, Old Sacramento Waterfront. A fun day for kids of all ages!
Sakura (cherry blossom) Grove, Southside Park (corner of U and 8th Streets). Yoshino cherry trees are the first to bloom, followed several weeks later by the Pink Flairs.
Related Blog Posts:
Sacramento – Camellia City and Sacramento’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade
April
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Photography Month Sacramento (region-wide, biennial event). A variety of diverse events, including special exhibits, receptions, workshops, lectures and photo-shoot gatherings. Check event website for details.
Sacramento Earth Day (Environmental Council of Sacramento) Held at Southside Park. Family-friendly event with educational exhibits, eco goods & services, art, music, food vendors and more.
Sakura (cherry blossom) Grove in bloom (Southside Park /corner of U & 8th Streets). Yoshino cherry trees are the first to bloom, followed several weeks later by the Pink Flairs.
SSPCA’s Doggy Dash (William Land Park). Bark in the Park Pet Festival, 2k & 5k walk/run. Help the Sacramento SPCA provide direct care for thousands of animals each year.
Related Blog Posts:
May
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Concerts in the Park (Fridays), Cesar Chavez Plaza, 901 I Street.
East Sacramento Garden Tour. Held each Mother’s Day weekend, a self-guided tour of some of the most beautiful garden in the Fab 40’s. Benefit for David Lubin Elementary School.
Fiesta en la Calle Cinco de Mayo (Southside Park, 7th & T Streets) Latin music, food & drink, dancers and more!
Sacramento County Fair Traditional county fair. Lot of fun for the family.
Sacramento Grilled Cheese Festival (Southside Park, 2115 6th Street). Popular two-day event celebrating everyone’s favorite food – grilled cheese . Saturday 21+ only/Sunday – All ages, family friendly.
Wide Open Walls. Annual mural festival – a Sacramento favorite! Watch local, national and international artists create their masterpieces. Various locations. Note: 2022 – Festival moved from September to May!
Related Blog Posts:
June
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Concerts in the Park (Fridays), Cesar Chavez Plaza, 901 I Street. Free.
Fiesta de Frida sponsored by the Latino Center of Art and Culture. Fiesta in honor of legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Live music, DJ’s, dance performances, Mexican food & drink, “little Frida” parade for children, Frida look-alike contest for adults + more.
Kiwanis Art Festa. Held at the upscale Pavilions Shopping Center in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento.
Pops in the Park (East Sacramento). Held in June at various East Sac parks. Bring a picnic and low lawn chair/blanket and enjoy the music. Event proceeds benefit under-funded local parks.
Sacramento French Film Festival Visit France without leaving Sacramento.
Sacramento Juneteenth Festival, William Land Park.
Movies at the Fort. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, 2701 L Street. Second Saturday of the Month. Movies shown on the walls of Sutter’s Fort in Midtown. Free. Reservations required for admission.
Pony Express Re-Ride. B.F. Hastings Building, 2nd and J Streets (Western Terminus). Annual Sacramento to St. Joseph, MO reenactment along the Pony Express National Historic Trail.
Related Blog Posts:
Movies at the Fort and East Sacramento Pops in the Park and Kiwanis Art Fiesta
July
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
California State Fair and Food Festival at CalExpo (1600 Exposition Blvd.). 17 days of fun showcasing our diverse state + carnival, food & drink, live music, fireworks, animals, competitions, etc.
Concerts in the Park (Fridays), Cesar Chavez Plaza, 901 I Street.
Movies at the Fort, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, 2701 L Street. Second Saturday of the Month. Family-friendly movies shown on the walls of Sutter’s Fort in Midtown. Free. Reservations required for admission.
Sacramento Bastille Day Waiters’ Race (Handle District, 1800 L Street) Inspired by the famous Paris footrace. Benefits Alliance Francaise de Sacramento and the Sacramento French Film Festival.
Sacramento Shakespeare Festival. Presented by City Theatre of Sacramento City College. Held each weekend in July.
Sacratomato Week. A celebration of the tomato in the Midtown Sutter District each July Food, drink and music.
Sacramento Area:
Courtland Pear Fair. (Courtland, CA) Always (almost) the last Sunday in July. Celebrating the Sacramento River Delta’s Bartlett pear harvest.
Related Blog Posts:
Sacramento Bastille Day Waiters’ Race and California Wine – California State Fair Award Winners and Sacratomato Week and Movies at the Fort and Sacramento Shakespeare Festival – 2017 and Sacramento Shakespeare Festival Opens
August
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Banana Festival at William Land Park. A weekend of all things banana. Live music, food, vendors, contests and much more – all for a good cause.
Japanese Food & Cultural Bazaar, Buddhist Church of Sacramento.
Movies at the Fort, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, 2701 L Street. Second Saturday of the Month. Family-friendly movies shown on the walls of Sutter’s Fort in Midtown. Free. Reservations required for admission.
Race for the Arts, William Land Park, 3800 Land Park Drive. 5K run/walk and kids’ fun runs to benefit local nonprofit arts organization and school programs.
Related Blog Posts:
Japanese Bazaar at Home Edition and Movies at the Fort
September
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Apple Hill (over 50 local family farms). North of Highway 50, Placerville and Camino region. Apples, cider and much more!
Brazilian Carnival, Brazilian Center for Cultural Exchange of Sacramento, 2420 N Street. Brazilian culture, food, drink, music, dancing.
California Capital Airshow (Mather Airport, 10 miles from Downtown Sacramento). Family-friendly event featuring thrilling aviation action plus display aircraft on the ground as well as food and interactive exhibits.
Chalk It Up Art & Music Festival, Labor Day weekend, Fremont Park (15th & P Streets). Food, drink and arts and crafts vendors. Watch the chalk artists create their masterpieces.
Farm to Fork Uncorked – Old Sugar Mill. A free three-day event held each September at the Old Sugar Mill in Clarksburg, CA. Music, wine-tasting and food trucks.
Historic Home Tour. Annual fundraising event by Preservation Sacramento. Tour of historic homes and quality infill projects in the focus neighborhood.
Sac Open Studios. A variety of options to meet with artists and view and/or purchase their work.
Farm to Fork Festival. A combination of events showcasing Sacramento’s agricultural bounty. Events – Legends of Wine, Tower Bridge Dinner plus a free two-day street festival held on Capitol Mall. Food, drink, music, entertainment and more.
Related Blog Posts:
Sacramento Farm-To-Fork Festival and Sacramento Farm-to-Fork Festival and Farm to Fork Legends of Wine and Chalk It Up Art & Music Festival and Chalk It Up Around Town and Sac Open Studios 2021 and 2020 Sac Open Studios and Sac Open Studios 2019 and Sac Open Studios 2018 and Sac Open Studios – 2017 and Sac Open Studios 2016 Launch Party Farm to Fork Uncorked – Old Sugar Mill and Wide Open Walls 2020 and Wide Open Walls 2019 Mural Festival and Wide Open Walls 2018 and Wide Open Walls – Downtown & Midtown and Wide Open Walls, Part 2 – Day 8 – Downtown and Wide Open Walls – Day 6 – Midtown and Sacramento Mural Festival – A Sacramento First! and 2018 Best Music on Walls Mural
October
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Aftershock Festival (Discovery Park, 1000 Garden Hwy, 95833) Multi-day rock and heavy metal festival, largest on the West Coast.
Apple Hill (over 50 local family farms). North of Highway 50, Placerville and Camino region. Apples, cider and much more!
El Panteon de Sacramento/Dia de lost Muertos (Latino Center of Art and Culture, 2700 Front Street) Re-creation of a candle lit Mexican cemetery, live music, dancing, food & drink, arts & crafts.
Sacramento Archives Crawl, (various locations) held on the first Saturday of October in celebration of National Archives Month.
Sacramento Armenian Food Festival St. James Armenian Apostolic Church of Sacramento, Citrus Heights). Live music, traditional Armenian dancing and cuisine.
Sacramento Antiquarian Book Faire (Scottish Rite Temple, 6151 H Street) Annual Spring & Fall events. Thousands of rare and collectible books, maps, photo’s postcards and other items. Buy/Sell
Sacramento Arts Festival (SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, 1400 J Street). Over 200 craftspeople and fine artists offering original art, furniture, clothing, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, etc.
Sacramento Greek Festival, Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, 616 Alhambra Blvd. Three-day festival featuring Greek food, music, dancing, cooking demonstrations and more.
Shepard Garden & Arts Center Fall Sale. Two day sale of jewelry, plants, crafts, flowers, antiques, food and much more!
Turn Verein Oktoberfest (Turn Verein on J Street) German beer on tap, German food, live music, outdoor biergarten, family friendly.
Related Blog Posts:
Apple Hill Day Trip and Greek Festival Returns to East Sacramento
November
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Apple Hill (over 50 local family farms). North of Highway 50, Placerville and Camino region. Apples, cider and much more!
Crocker Holiday Artisan Market (Scottish Rite Center in East Sacramento). A curated collection of quality items, the Market is a perfect opportunity to start or finish your holiday shopping.
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Thanksgiving Eve at 6:00 p.m. (Front & K Streets, Old Sacramento Waterfront)
Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink (Ali Youssefi Square, 7th & K Streets). Outdoor ice rink in Downtown Sacramento. Open November – January. Check days and time of operation. ($)
Festival of New American Music (Sacramento State School of Music). High quality performances of a broad body of recently composed or improvised music.
Harvest Festival: Original Art & Craft Show (CalExpo-1600 Exposition Blvd.). All types of art and crafts, as well as food offerings, to help you make a dent in your holiday shopping list.
Imaginarium (Cal-Expo Center) Holiday Light Festival. Millions of lights, also rides, shows, fun for all the family.
Mountain Mandarin Festival (Gold Country Fairgrounds in Auburn, 209 Fairgate Road, Auburn, CA). Hours vary by day. Mandarin-focused food and drink, entertainment, arts and crafts.
Run to Feed the Hungry 10K and 5K. Thanksgiving Day, East Sacramento. A Sacramento tradition. Benefits the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services.
Sacramento Arts Festival (SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, 1400 J Street) Multi-day festival offering up food, entertainment, and original arts & crafts (painting, sculpture, home décor, metal, jewelry, ceramics, etc.) for sale.
Theatre of Lights (K Street, Old Sacramento Waterfront). Family-friendly event. Annual reading of “Aa Visit from St. Nicholas” where performers on the balconies above the crowd bring the poem to life. Check website for days & times of performances. Free.
Related Blog Posts:
Festival of New American Music and Sacramento Arts Festival and Crocker Holiday Artisan Market and Run to Feed the Hungry – A Sacramento Tradition
December
2nd Saturday Art Walk (Midtown). Galleries and local businesses host art exhibits, meet local artists, enjoy food & wine, live music, street fairs and more. Approximately 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
California International Marathon (26.2 miles). Folsom to the State Capitol. Boston Marathon qualifier. Grab a viewing spot and watch the athletes compete.
Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink (Ali Youssefi Square, 7th & K Streets). Outdoor ice rink in Downtown Sacramento. Open November – January. Check days and time of operation.
Imaginarium (Cal-Expo Center) Holiday Light Festival. Millions of lights, also rides, shows, fun for all the family.
Sacramento Master Singers Christmas (various churches). Holiday programs feature favorite and new renditions of holiday carols.
Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour (East Sacramento Fab 40’s). Self-guided tour of East Sacramento homes decorated for the holidays, plus a holiday boutique and café at the school. Proceeds support student education and tuition assistance.
The Nutcracker, presented by The Sacramento Ballet, SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center (1301 L Street).
Theatre of Lights (K Street, Old Sacramento Waterfront). Annual reading of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” where performers on the balconies above the crowd bring the poem to life. Check website for days & times of performances.
Turn Verein Christkindlmarkt (3349 J Street). Christmas music, arts, crafts, ornaments, German wines, and cookies & cakes for sale. Family friendly.
Related Blog Posts:
California International Marathon and Sacred Heart Holiday Home Tour
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