Sacramento Events and Festivals

(Sacramento, California - CA, USA)

Sacramento offers something a little different to other major cities in the US, with its selection of popular and unique homegrown festivals and events.

Summer is the busiest time in Sacramento, with jazz concerts, open-air activities and celebrations of the gold rush days, as well as arts festivals and the exciting Music Circus. Perhaps the greatest celebration in the city is the Jazz Jubilee towards the end of May, which is the second-biggest of its kind in the world and is full of things to do, see and enjoy.

The Jazz Jubilee takes place each year over the Memorial Day weekend and was first held in the early 1970s, becoming something of a giant party. Jazz and blues concerts are staged at venues such as the Delta King Paddlewheel Saloon, the Embassy Suites Ballroom, the Firehouse Courtyard, the Hyatt Ballroom and the Sheraton Grand Nave Ballroom, while the floating Delta King Dock also offers live music and plenty of dining.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Third Monday in January - Martin Luther King Day
• 12th February - Lincoln's Birthday
• Third Monday in February - Washington's Birthday
• Last Monday in May - Memorial Day
• 4th July - Independence Day
• First Monday in September - Labor Day
• Second Monday in October - Columbus Day
• 11th November - Veterans Day
• 4th Thursday in November - Thanksgiving
• 25th December - Christmas Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Unified Wine and Grape Symposium - late January, a three-day event and the largest wine and grape show in the US, with numerous wine industry professionals and exhibit booths

February

• Sacramento Jazz Festival - late February, held at the State Railroad Museum, the Sacramento Jazz Festival attracts many lovers of jazz who come to listen to musicians from near and far perform

March

• No significant festivals or events in Sacramento in March

April

• Festival de la Familia - late April, great for all the family, the Festival de la Familia is an extravaganza of music and food showcasing Latino culture and attracting thousands of revelers

May

• Annual K9 Cancer Walk - early May, a sponsored walk for teams of dogs and their owners to raise money for the Morris Animal Foundation Canine Cancer Campaign and their research into canine cancer
• Sacramento Jazz Jubilee - late May, set in the Old Town part of Sacramento, the Jazz Jubilee is the biggest event of the year and combines quality jazz musicians with a massive spread of food and festive fun

June

• Meadowview Jazz and Cultural Festival - late June, an enjoyable family event with many national and regional artists, food, booths and cultural exhibits
• Sacramento's Pride Festival and Parade - mid-June, attracting many gay and lesbian visitors to the city

July

• Music Circus - the Music Circus is held in a huge circus tent with numerous shows suitable for the whole family and some popular Broadway musicals
• California State Fair - mid- to late July, held at the California Exposition Fairgrounds, the State Fair is a very popular annual event in Sacramento with food, entertainment and cultural exhibitions as well as many rides for the kids

August

• Gold Rush Days - Labor Day weekend, held in Old Sacramento, the Gold Rush Days celebrates the times of great prosperity in the region through the Gold Rush, with arts and crafts, food and family fun and entertainment

September

• Annual California Brewer's Festival - mid-September, held in Discovery Park, the Brewer's Festival hosts microbreweries from all over northern California and other states, with great food from local restaurants

October

• Sacramento Arts Festival - early October, held at the Sacramento Convention Center, the Sacramento Arts Festival features fine artists from around the country, with thousands of entries culminating in one of the best events of its kind in the US
• Sacramento Heritage Festival - mid-October, an extravaganza of Sacramento's finer offerings, with a line up of some excellent bands and plenty of food stalls
• Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival- mid-October, annual film festival featuring a selection of films

November

• Matrix Arts Gallery Exhibition - mid-November, held at the Matrix Arts Gallery annually since 1976; the Matrix Gallery celebrates the holiday season with a special exhibition

December

• No significant festivals or events in Sacramento in December