The Sactown Weekend Update for July 13 & 14
Now that the weather has cooled down to a mere 93 degrees, it’s time to have some fun in the sun. Here’s a trio of outdoor events—from the State Fair to a foodie barbecue and a Bastille Day waiters’ race and festival—taking place all around town this weekend. Get out!
California State Fair
Head to Cal Expo for the opening weekend of the State Fair, which is celebrating its 160th anniversary. Exhibitions include Jewels of the Jungle, an Amazonian floriculture display which will also include tropical animals like macaws and boa constrictors, and Hall of Heroes, a show designed by Sacramento’s Stage Nine group where attendees can test out their superpowers inside an inter-active cityscape and check out a replica of the Batcave. This year, the fair will also honor Huell Howser with an area dedicated to the beloved TV host, who passed away in January, with memorabilia and clips of episodes from his popular PBS program, California’s Gold. Plus, feast on treats like chocolate-dipped Key lime pie, deep-fried macaroni and cheese balls, and pork chop on a stick. $12. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (midway open until midnight). Cal Expo. 1600 Exposition Blvd. 263-3247. bigfun.org
Eat & Greet
Grange Restaurant & Bar’s pastry chef Jodie Chavious hosts the mother of all backyard barbecues tonight in her Land Park home. Benefiting a local photography project called Sacramento Farmers and Chefs, this event will feature food from Grange’s executive chef Oliver Ridgeway using local ingredients, such as meat from Auburn’s Flying Mule Farm and produce from Pleasant Grove’s Azolla Farm, as well as Ruhstaller Beer and Sean Minor Wines. Plus, lavender from the Lincoln-based Lamm Farm (owned by Amy Dempster, director of sales and marketing for Grange, and her family) and live music by Sacramento bluegrass-folk band Big Empty. $50. Saturday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. sacramentofarmersandchefs.com
Sacramento Bastille Day Waiters’ Race and Street Festival
This annual footrace, now in its fourth year, is expanding to a full-fledged Bastille Day festival in midtown. The day will start at 9 a.m tomorrow with a 50-mile bike race that ends on L and 18th streets, and continue with the waiters’ race at noon (where up to 50 servers dressed in Parisian-style garb will speed walk around midtown balancing a tray, bottle and two glasses), followed by a post-race block party with French music, crepes, a pop-up theater showing French films, and more. Free. Street party and waiters' race: Saturday from 11:30am to 3 p.m. L St. between 18th and 19th streets. facebook.com/SacramentoBastilleDay
