16 Fall Events + Festivals In the Greater Sacramento Area

NOTE: This post is from 2016. Click here for an updated list of 2018 fall events!

Who says festivals and events have to wind down once the summer is over? Mark your calendars with these fun community events happening in and around Sacramento — some of which are specifically geared to celebrating fall and all of its glory.

1. Lodi Grape Festival

Thursday, September 15 – Sunday, September 18

The Lodi Grape Festival is a four-day wine extravaganza celebrating all things wine and grapes. Over 50 wineries will be in attendance, serving samples of their amazing wines, in addition to vendors selling bottles of their best-selling wines and new creations. You’ll also enjoy a myriad of live musical performances, a dance contest, and a tasting seminar. Check out their full schedule of events to see what’s in store during your visit!

2. Farm-to-Fork Legends of Wine

Friday, September 16

Farm-to-Fork Legends of Wine provides an opportunity for wine lovers to sample and discover more about the region’s most celebrated varietals selected by two of Sacramento’s most respected culinary powerhouses. Your wine selections will be paired with artisan cheeses and local delights, as you enjoy a sophisticated evening in front of the majestic capitol building in downtown Sacramento.

3. California Brewers Festival

Saturday, September 17

Whatever you do, don’t miss the California Brewers Festival on Saturday, September 17 from 1–5 p.m. at Discovery Park. Since the festival’s inception over 20 years ago, it has become the premier event for the beer enthusiast in Northern California. Sample exceptional brews from nearly 100 breweries, cideries and distributors, taste food from local food trucks, and enjoy live entertainment at this fun-filled event in the park. The best part about all of this? Your participation and admission benefits WEAVE, Inc., the primary provider of crisis intervention services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Sacramento County.

4. Folsom Antique Peddlers Fair

Sunday, September 18

Thousands of shoppers will flood the streets for the Folsom Antique Peddlers Fair on September 18 along Sutter Street in downtown Folsom. This free event is a great chance to get some one-of-a-kind home decor pieces or holiday gifts from the vendors selling antique and collectible merchandise.

5. Farm-to-Fork Festival

Saturday, September 24

If you haven’t noticed, Sacramento is proud of their excellent farm-to-fork options in the dining world. The city’s annual Farm-to-Fork Festival showcases and celebrates where our food and drinks come from, connecting attendees with the people who are feeding our region and the world. Admission to the festival is free, but there will be food and drinks available for purchase. Sample food, wine and beer from regional eateries and purveyors, listen to live music, watch several live cooking demonstrations, and visit interactive booths from local grocers, farms, ranches and more!

Photos courtesy of Visit Sacramento

6. Historic Folsom Glow Run

Saturday, October 1

The Historic Folsom Glow Run will light up the streets on October 1, where runners, walkers and joggers will travel along the glowing marked trail, rock out to live DJ music, and have a blast at the black-light enhanced foam dance party at the finish line! Adorn yourself in a costume that glows, blinks, shines or sparkles and register in advance for this action-packed night run benefitting Folsom Parks & Recreation community events and programs.

Photos Courtesy of City of Folsom

7. Davis Sunrise Rotary’s Oktoberfest

Saturday, October 1

Support Davis Sunrise Rotary and enjoy a wonderful night filled with live polka music and community fun at Oktoberfest at Central Park in Davis. The $35 ticket admission for this annual fundraiser provides dinner and one alcoholic drink from their microbrew garden! What a fun way to support your local community, sample local food and drinks, and welcome the month of October.

8. AMADOR: Big Crush Harvest Festival

Saturday, October 1 – Sunday, October 2

The Amador Vintner’s Association invites you to witness the exciting grape harvest first-hand on October 1 and 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watch the outpouring of activity in the vineyards, and enjoy creating food and wine pourings, a variety of live music, and various harvest activities at the Big Crush Harvest Festival!

9. California Capital Airshow

Saturday, October 1 – Sunday, October 2

The California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport offers mind-blowing excitement as U.S. Navy Blue Angels, U.S. Army Golden Knights, Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet Demo, and the USAF F-16 Viper Demo race across the sky. You’ll witness two days of world-class aerobatics, theatrical performances, interactive exhibits, and lots of music and food!

Photo Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels via California Capital Airshow

10. Sacramento Horror Film Festival

Friday, October 7 – Sunday, October 9

Get a head start on celebrating Halloween with the Sacramento Horror Film Festival, frightening horror film fans with three days of feature-length premieres, shorts, music videos, trailers and documentaries. In addition to viewing these spooky films, enjoy Q&As with directors and writers, performance art, stand-up comedy and costume contests at this popular event!

11. Latin Food & Music Festival

Saturday, October 8

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Latin Food & Music Festival hosted by the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. This family-friendly event features live music, dance performances, and a savory food fair. Enjoy free admission and non-stop fun at the Cesar Chavez Plaza on Saturday, October 8.

12. Floating Pumpkin Patch

Saturday, October 22

You’ve probably picked pumpkins before, but it’s likely you haven’t picked them from a pool while swimming. Visit the Floating Pumpkin Patch at the Mike Shellito Indoor Pool in Roseville from 1–4 p.m. on October 22. Pick your pumpkin in the pool and decorate it at their decorating station. Stick around for carnival games, bouncy houses and story times. It costs $7 to swim and $10 to swim and pick a pumpkin, or $15 to swim and pick a pumpkin if you wait to buy your tickets the day of the event. Costumes are encouraged, so get creative!

13. Oktoberfest

Saturday, October 22

The City of Roseville has even more in store for October 22, as they host Oktoberfest at Vernon Street Town Square from 1–5 p.m. Enjoy beer from local and regional breweries, live music, and wonderful food! Pay $25 for a single ticket before October 7, and $35 for a ticket from October 8–22. Proceeds from this fun event benefit City of Roseville youth-at-risk programs.

14. Sacramento Arts Festival

Friday, November 4 – Sunday, November 6

Don’t miss the 19th Annual Sacramento Arts Festival at the Sacramento Convention Center, where you’ll mingle with 225 of America’s best contemporary craftspeople and fine artists offering their original works covering all price ranges. This is the perfect opportunity to shop for your home or stock up on unique holiday gifts. The experience gets even better with live jazz and blues music coming from the main stage, and an abundance of food and drinks available.

15. 2016 Sacramento Harvest Festival

Friday, November 18 – Sunday, November 20

2016 Sacramento Harvest Festival is one of the largest indoor arts and crafts shows on the West Coast, taking over Cal Expo for three days of shopping, live entertainment and family fun. Explore the collection featuring over 24,000 unique items handmade by vendors, artisans and small businesses all around the country. You’ll find original art pieces, jewelry, clothing, specialty foods, photography, toys, home decor, and more at this exciting harvest festival in downtown Sacramento!

16. Turkey Trot

Thursday, November 24

Prepare for your feast on Thanksgiving Day with the annual Turkey Trot in Roseville, where you may run, jog, walk, stroll, roll or even crawl to the finish line. The most important part is that you have fun at the 5K or 10K benefiting local programs for at-risk youth. You may also help feed the hungry by bringing canned food donations to the Roseville Sports Center during packet pickup of at Vernon Street Town Square on race day!

What festivals and community events are you looking forward to this fall?

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