10 fun things to do on Memorial Day weekend
From music in the streets of Old Sacramento to barbecue and baseball at Raley Field and the county fair at Cal Expo, we’ve got the scoop on 10 fun ways to spend Memorial Day weekend throughout the region.
Sacramento County Fair
May 26-30 Celebrate the unofficial start of summer with five days of festival fun at this annual fair, which takes place at Cal Expo over Memorial Day weekend. Check out competitions like a corn-dog-eating contest and diaper derby (tiny tots have 90 seconds to crawl from one cheering parent to the other), and agricultural displays like the yearly Farm Garden in a Wheelbarrow exhibit. Youngsters can visit a petting zoo, take pony and camel rides, or hop on one of over 10 rides in the kids’ carnival, and hungry fair-goers can munch on turkey legs, funnel cakes and churros. $5. Thurs.-Sun. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Cal Expo. 1600 Exposition Blvd. 263-2975. sacfair.com
Elk Grove Brewfest
May 27 Beers in Sac, a local company that promotes craft beer awareness in the Sacramento region, is partnering with the city of Elk Grove and the Runnin’ for Rhett Foundation (which is also the beneficiary for the event) for this inaugural beer festival. Elk Grove newcomers Tilted Mash Brewing and Flatland Brewing Co. will be featured among the dozens of local breweries, cideries and a meadery sampling their wares, which will include Oak Park and Claimstake brewing companies. Between sudsy sips, fill your belly with offerings from food trucks like Culinerdy Cruzer and Cecil’s Taste; and a VIP ticket ($45) gets beer geeks in an hour earlier, meaning first dibs on limited pour beers. $10-$45. 6-9 p.m. (5 p.m. for VIP). Old Town Plaza. Elk Grove Blvd. and Railroad St. Elk Grove. 229-8681. elkgrovebrewfest.com
St. Anna Greek Food and Wine Festival
May 27-29 At this 22nd annual festival, sample Greek specialties like gyros, lamb dishes, spanakopita, moussaka (eggplant with ground beef) and souvlaki (skewered meat and vegetables), as well as sweets like baklava. Dance to Greek music and sip on traditional tipples, such as anise-flavored ouzo or Metaxa (a Greek brandy). Don’t forget to enter the drawing—prizes include a trip to Hawaii, 49ers tickets and an evening on the Napa Valley Wine Train. $3 (12 and under free). Fri. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Sat. 12 p.m.-10 p.m. Sun 12 p.m.-8 p.m. St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church. 1001 Stone Canyon Dr. Roseville. 772-9372. festival.saintanna.org
Sacramento Music Festival
May 27-30 Musicians from across the country will fill the streets of Old Sacramento with music for Memorial Day weekend with headliners that include rock band Pablo Cruise and the swing music of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Catch tributes to Jimmy Buffet, the Rolling Stones and Johnny Cash, visit the youth stages featuring high school musicians, check out a car show on Saturday or take a train ride provided by the Sacramento Railroad Museum. Kids can also visit an instrument "petting zoo" to get up close to a variety of music makers. $25-$49; $20-$25 for ages 13-20 (free for kids ages 12 and under). Times and locations vary. 444-2004. sacmusicfest.com
Bici & Bevi Yolo Olive Oil and Wine Ride
May 28 Experience the tastes of Yolo County with this bike tour hosted by the Davis outpost of Hot Italian. The ride begins in downtown Davis and makes its first stop at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science to discuss the fineries of olive oil with Dan Flynn, the executive director of the UC Davis Olive Center. Then, head to Bondolio Olive Oil near Winters, tour the mill and enjoy a pizza lunch before wine tasting at Putah Creek. The tour concludes back at Hot Italian with samples from Corto Olive Co. and complimentary bottles of olive oil from Yolo Press (plus an optional free train ride to Sacramento). $150. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Hot Italian Davis. 500 1st St. Davis. 530-792-7015. registration.ucdavis.edu
Sacramento Rides! Bike Fair
May 28 Conclude May is Bike Month with a community ride through downtown Sacramento and a bike fair featuring repairs and maintenance tips by Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen, helmet fitting, stationary bike challenges, a compost demonstration and food truck fare from SactoMoFo. Organized by the office of assemblyman Kevin McCarty, the bike ride begins at 9:30 a.m. at The Mill coffee shop (1827 I St.) in midtown and ends at the Railyards for the festival, where there will be complimentary valet bike parking and up-close views of the new development north of downtown. Free. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The Railyards. 5th and H streets. 324-4676. asmdc.org
Crocker Familypalooza
May 29 Join the Crocker Art Museum for its whimsical Familypalooza event inspired by Dr. Seuss’s fictional town Whoville. At this fourth annual event, kids can watch the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival perform Seussical the Musical, get noisy at a mobile sound lab and sing and laugh with educational entertainers the Vegetable Circus. Free. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (museum will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) Crocker Art Museum. 216 O St. 808-7000. crockerartmuseum.org
North Highlands Memorial Day Parade
May 30 The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4646 will host its 50th annual Memorial Day parade in North Highlands with a patriotic lineup featuring the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band, the Natomas High School Drum Corps, the Ben Ali Shriners and the Ben Ali clowns. Keep an eye out for local politicians supporting their troops like Phil Serna, Kevin McCarty and Doris Matsui. 10 a.m. Watt Ave. and I Street. 332-5950. memorialdayparade.vfwpost4647.org
Rivercats Memorial Day Picnic
May 30 Spend Memorial Day enjoying America’s greatest pastime with the Sacramento Rivercats at this annual all-you-can-eat picnic. Before watching the Cats face off against the Oklahoma City Dodgers, feast on barbecue tri-tip, hot dogs, burgers and grilled chicken in the park’s new Sactown Smokehouse barbecue area. During the game, try your luck at bingo for a chance to win Rivercats prizes. $35 ($25 for children ages 12 and under). Barbecue at 12 p.m. and game at 1:05 p.m. Raley Field. 400 Ballpark Dr. West Sacramento. 376-4722. ticketmaster.com
Vettes for Vets and American Muscle Car Show
May 30 This seventh annual car show benefiting the California Auto Museum will feature a variety of corvettes and souped-up American muscle cars. Veterans, active military members and their families get free admission to the museum. Free ($25-30 to register a car). 9 a.m.-3 p.m. California Automobile Museum. 2200 Front St. 442-6802. calautomuseum.org
You Might Also Like
See outdoor movies (for free) this summer in the Sacramento region
10 bountiful farmers' markets to visit throughout the region
Local landscape designer aims to turn Sacramento riverfront into urban beachfront
