Summer officially kicked off last week just in time for California’s re-opening and you know what that means…events are back on! The Greater Sacramento area is gearing up with an impressive lineup of fun. From Fourth of July festivities and live music events to River Cats games and summer movie nights, we’ve scoured the region to bring you the most up-to-date local happenings and activities in your area. So shake things up this summer by using our below guide before planning your next outing!

Looking for ways to celebrate the Fourth this weekend? Many communities are set to bring back fireworks, food, and fun! Click on the below events to learn more.

July 3-4: Rancho Cordova 4th of July Celebration at Hagen Community Park

July 4: 4th on the Field Remix at Sutter Health Park

July 4: Fourth of July Parade on Vernon Street in Roseville

July 4: Fourth of July After Celebration at Royer Park in Roseville

July 4: Fourth of July Fireworks at The Grounds in Roseville

July 4: Fourth of July Bike Parade and Festival at Arden Park

July 4: Salute the Red, White & Blue Fireworks Spectacular in Elk Grove

July 4: Annual Fourth of July Family Blast at the El Dorado County Fair

July 4: Fourth of July at Lodi Lake

It’s time to indulge in all that Summer has to offer this year. Click on the below links to see what other local events are taking place now through the end of July!

Sacramento:

River Cats Schedule

Sac Republic FC Schedule

July 2nd (And Select Days): Live Music at Crawdads on the River

Now-August 15th (Select Days): Crocker Art Exhibits: Legends from Los Angeles + FREE Sundays

Now-August 28th: Downtown Live

Now-July 31st: Front Street Water Carousel & Waterfront Wheel in Old Sacramento

Every Second Saturday: Dance on the Edge in Old Sacramento

Now-September 12th: UpcyclePop Art Market in Old Sacramento

Select Weekends (Friday-Sunday): Old Sacramento Underground & Time Travel Tours

July 3rd: Sacramento African Marketplace

July 3rd: Sacramento Seafood and Soul Food Festival at Miller Regional Park

July 8th (And Select Days): 2021 Sacramento Shakespeare Festival (Streaming Live)

July 17-18th: Beer & Taco Festival at Cesar Chavez Plaza

July 25th: 3rd Annual Jazz Fest by the River

July 31st: DOCO Makers Market by River City Marketplace

Carmichael:

Now-August 29th (Every Sunday): Carmichael Farmers’ Market

July (Dates TBD): Concerts in the Park

July 4th (Every Sunday): Carmichael Cars and Coffee

Fair Oaks:

July 14th: Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce Progressive Dinner

July 29th (And Select Days): Concerts in the Park

July 30th (And Select Days): Comedy Under the Stars

July 31st (And Select Days): Theatre Under the Stars

Rancho Cordova/Gold River:

Now-July 10th (Week Days): Art at City Hall: Black & White Plus One

July 3rd (Every Saturday): Sunrise Light Rail Station Farmers Market

July 12th (And Select Days):  At at City Hall: Abstraction

July 16th: Music at the MACC

Folsom:

Now-August (Thursday Nights): Twilight Concert Series in Historic Folsom

Now-August (Weekends): Weekend Pedestrian Promenade in Historic Folsom

July 9th (And Select Fridays): Summer of Music 2021 at Folsom City Lions Park

July 3rd (Every Saturday): Cars and Coffee Show at Folsom Palladio

July 3rd: Way Out West in Historic Folsom

July 7th (Every Wednesday): Palladio’s Wednesday Night Summer Concert Series

July 2-4th: Folsom Pro Rodeo

July 3rd: First Saturday Art Hop in Historic Folsom

July 3rd: Storybook Time at Sutter Street Theatre

El Dorado Hills:

July 4th (Every Sunday): El Dorado Hills Certified Farmers’ Market

July 8th (Every Thursday): Live on the Boulevard at El Dorado Hills Town Center

Elk Grove:

July 1st (Every Thursday): Neighborhood Market

July 3rd (Every Saturday): Farmers Market

July 3rd: First Saturday Art Reception

July 4th: Elk Grove Run 4 Hunger

July 7th: Food Truck Mania

July 16th: Comedy Under the Stars

Roseville:

July 16th: Friday Flicks at Vernon Street Town Square

July 17th (Every 3rd Saturday): Concerts on the Square at Vernon Street in Roseville

Rocklin:

July 8th (And Select Days): Park Pulse at Johnson-Springview Park

July 17th: Concerts at the Quarry

July 30th: FREE Farmers Markets at Johnson-Springview Park

Wanna get away? One of the many great things about Sacramento is its close proximity to places including Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, and the Napa Valley Wine Region. If you’ve found yourself daydreaming about getting out of town during this pandemic, why not treat yourself to a day (or weekend) trip with family, friends, or that special someone?

1. Lake Tahoe: Lake Tahoe is the perfect escape from the summer heat with its wide array of recreational activities including boating, water sports and hiking in the summer. They also have fantastic restaurants, concert venues, and shopping! Take a look at some of the local events happening now through the end of July by checking out the South Lake Tahoe and North Lake Tahoe events calendars.
2. Napa Valley: What better way to kick off summer than by paying a visit to Napa and enjoying a nice glass of wine, exceptional cuisine and mesmerizing views of vineyards…because “wine not”? Take a ride on the Napa Valley wine train and soak in breathtaking landscapes, soar above the clouds in a hot air balloon, enjoy a culinary experience at one of their many award-winning restaurants, or visit one of their 400+ wineries. Click here for a list of upcoming events and here for lodging accommodations.
3. San Francisco: San Francisco is back in action and has plenty of events in store this summer! Attend one of their Summer Music Sessions (tickets are limited), watch both the SF Giants and the Oakland A’s in action, or visit one of several museum exhibits. If you’re heading to the Bay for the Fourth, check out this guide for fireworks, concerts, parades, and more.

There’s hope on the horizon for buyers. According to the Sacramento Association of Realtors, while inventory is still down 28.6% from May of last year, we did see a 26% increase in inventory from April to May of this year. So what does that mean for buyers? It appears that with increasing inventory, we will reach a better equilibrium of supply and demand. Check out the latest stats here.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you’re like me, you might be wondering how you can celebrate safely this year amid the pandemic…Many of us will forgo our usual traditions and spend this holiday away from our extended family and friends. But that doesn’t mean you can’t think outside of the box and create new traditions. This year is an opportunity to switch things up and show your family, friends, and community all of the ways that you’re thankful for them – even if it can’t be done in person. Below are a few creative ideas to help you celebrate Turkey Day, 2020-style.

This year, we are encouraged to celebrate Thanksgiving “al fresco”, as outdoor gatherings are deemed significantly safer than indoor ones. And with the forecast showing plenty of sunshine and a high of 63 degrees in the Sacramento area, it’s not totally out of the question. So grab some outdoor heaters, crank up that fire pit and throw on a sweater and warm attire for a memorable outdoor celebration. If you are celebrating with different households, create a potluck station where each household can take turns loading up on their favorite dishes. Check out some of the below essentials—from kitchenware to décor – for a successful outdoor gathering. You might find that you already have some of these items lying around the house…

If you are unable to celebrate with extended family and friends, consider organizing a virtual Thanksgiving experience with your loved ones. Not sure how to set up a Zoom call? Check out this helpful guide.

Recipe Swap: Participate in a Thanksgiving recipe swap, where you can share your favorite recipes, test them out and set up a Zoom call for a taste test challenge! You can easily exchange family recipes online using one of these existing Google Doc templates.

Game Night: Who loves game night? Host a virtual game night with these 10 kid-friendly games (Thanksgiving themed of course) that can be played easily from behind the screens. You can also make a game out of these Thanksgiving Trivia questions, where the winner receives an e-gift card or prize of your choice.

Macy’s Parade: For many of us, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together is a favorite tradition, and this year they are going virtual. So why not go virtual as well and watch along with your extended family and friends using Zoom or FaceTime? Find out how you can tune in here.

Zoom Dinner: Last but certainly not least, consider hosting a virtual Thanksgiving dinner with loved ones that are not able to attend using Zoom or Facetime. Set up a call using your phone or laptop and share your meal as you normally would, go around the table and say what you are thankful for, catch up with the family…the possibilities are endless!

This Thanksgiving, it’s especially important to help those in need as many have been affected by this pandemic, both health-wise and financially. Below are some ways that you can donate your time, money, and resources to charitable organizations, businesses, and community members.

Support Our Local Restaurants: Many of our local restaurants are especially hurting during this time. Consider ordering takeout this year at one of your favorite spots. Check out Sac Bee’s list of restaurants that are offering delicious Thanksgiving feasts. OpenTable® also has a growing list of its own—see what made the list here.

Help Out a Neighbor in Need: Volunteer to go grocery shopping for a neighbor or friend who may be at-risk or elderly.

Donate to a Food Bank or Shelter: Find a local food kitchen or shelter that may need your help this year. Donate your time or money to the Sacramento Food Bank here or a local shelter here.

Give Back to our Furry Friends: Our furry friends need love too! Volunteer, donate, or adopt a pet at a local shelter, including The Sacramento SPCA or the Front Street Animal Shelter.

Run to Feed the Hungry (Virtual Event): Participate in the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services’ first-ever, Virtual Run to Feed the Hungry event.

Meals on Wheels: Find a Meals on Wheels near you and sign up to volunteer. This widespread organization is committed to supporting our senior neighbors to live healthier and more nourished lives in their own homes.

Sending warm, heartfelt wishes from my home to yours this Thanksgiving!