Are you ready? I have IDEAS for you! Over 100 ways to make summer in Sacramento AWESOME!
My mission: to round up all the very best things to do around town in order to ensure you have solutions when you hear “I’m bored” or better yet – avoid ever hearing it!
If you’re a planner, here is what I suggest. Print out a blank calendar for each month of the summer. Then start by filling in the events that ONLY happen in the summer, ongoing weekly events you don’t want to miss, and all the FREE things to do. Then start filling in the empty spaces with a variety of activities you know your kids will love. You can even print this guide out with the button at the bottom if you want to create a checklist. I will continue to update the Special Events section, so be sure to check back often!
This Ultimate Summer Fun Guide includes :
Water Fun, Dollar Movies, Fairs & Festivals, Concerts in the Park, Indoor Exercise, Arts & Crafts, Nature, Museums, Animals, Theatre, Outdoor Movies, Storytimes, Treats, Amusement Parks, Special Events and Summer Camps!
Thank you to our FABULOUS Gold Sponsors:
Pretty please take a minute to check out the wonderful camps and programs they have to offer. These are businesses that my family wholeheartedly believes in and the reason this summer guide is available!
Free & Cheap
Spraygrounds
City Pools
Aquatic Centers
Big Water Parks
Raging Waters
Sun Splash
Water Rides, Splash Pads, and Dolphin Shows
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Indoor Surfing
Surf Xtreme
Water Sports
Cal State Aquatic Center
Cinemark Theaters and Regal Theaters
Placer County Fair June 19-22
Folsom Pro Rodeo July 3-5
California State Fair July 11-27
Gold Rush Days Festival August 29 – September 1
Multicultural Festival August 23
Pops in the Park – East Sacramento *FREE*
Friday Evenings in the Park – Rocklin *FREE*
Friday Night Concerts in the Park – Downtown *FREE*
Palladio Summer Concert Series – Folsom *FREE*
Concerts in the Park – Fair Oaks *FREE*
BOUNCE HOUSES
BounceU – Rancho Cordova
BounceU – Roseville
Bouncetown – Sacramento & El Dorado Hills
The Bounce Spot – West Sacramento
Laguna’s Awesome Party Palace – Elk Grove
Party Place – Roseville
INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS
Wacky Tacky – Roseville
Climbaroo – Natomas
TRAMPOLINES
Sky High Sports – Rancho Cordova
Sky Zone – Rocklin
Surf Xtreme Trampolines – Elk Grove
GYMNASTICS
International Gymnastics Center Saturday Sessions – West Sac
Flip2It Summer Activities – Roseville
IMAGINATION
Busy Kidz – Little Town for Little People – Folsom
MALL TOT PLAYGROUNDS *FREE*
Arden Fair, Sunrise Mall, Roseville Galleria
ROLLER SKATING
Roller King – Roseville
King’s Skate Country – Elk Grove
Foothill Skate Inn – Sacramento
Sunrise Rollerland – Citrus Heights
The Rink – Sacramento
ICE SKATING
Skatetown – Roseville
LAZER TAG
Laser Tag of Carmichael
Laser X at Country Club Lanes
Laser Tag of Golfland Sunsplash
Laser Craze Rocklin
ROCK CLIMBING
Rocknasium – Davis
Pipeworks – Sacramento
Granite Arch Climbing Center – Rancho Cordova
Alpha Fired Arts – Sacramento
ArtBeast – Midtown
Color Me Mine – Elk Grove, Folsom & Roseville
Home Depot Kids Workshops *FREE*
Joannes Make-It Take-Its *FREE*
Kids Studio of Fine Arts – Roseville
KidzArt – Natomas
Lakeshore Learning – Roseville *FREE*
Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinics *FREE*
Michaels Kids Club
reCREATE – Roseville
Black Chasm Cavern & Indian Grinding Rock Park
Cosumnes River Preserve *FREE*
Davis Arboretum *FREE*
Effie Yeaw Nature Center *FREE*
Hidden Falls Regional Park Hike *FREE*
Placer Nature Center
Soil Born Farms
Stone Lakes Refuge *FREE*
WPA Rock Garden *FREE*
Aerospace Museum of California
Bohart Museum of Entomology
California Automobile Museum
California State Railroad Museum
California Raptor Center
Capitol Museum
Children’s Museum of Stockton
Crocker Art Museum
Discovery Science and Space Museum
Explorit Science Center
Folsom History Museum
Heidrick Ag History Center/Truck & Tractor Museum
Leland Stanford Mansion
Maidu Indian Museum
Sacramento Children’s Museum
State Indian Museum
Sutter’s Fort
The California Museum
WOW Science Museum
Sacramento Zoo
Folsom Zoo
Serpentarium
Discovery Science & Space Museum – Nature Discovery Room
Once Upon a Storytime by Runaway Stage Productions
When: June 14, 21; 12pm and 2pm
Where: 24th Street Theatre
What: An award winning original interactive musical in which the audience helps Fairytale Princess Lilly, who has lost her memory, embark on an exciting and madcap adventure to find and return to her own Fairytale Story.
Cost: Adults $8.00, Kids $6.00
Puppet Festival at Fairytale Town
When: July 5-6, August 2-3
Where: Fairytale Town
What: Puppet Art Theater Company Little Red Riding Hood in the Children’s Theater in July and Three Billy Goats Gruff in August.
Cost: Puppet show tickets are $2.00 in addition to paid park admission.
Two Dumb Dogs at Sutter Street Theatre
When: June 7 – July 6; Saturday & Sunday at 1:00pm
Where: Sutter Street Theatre
What: A hilarious comedy with lessons that include discovering self-confidence, using your brain and recognizing that following rules is sometimes a good thing. Ferdo and Floof are two not-very-bright dogs—
Cost: Tickets $13.00 – $17.00
Movies in the Park – Fair Oaks *FREE*
Screen on the Green – Sacramento *FREE*
Movies in the Park – Roseville *FREE*
Friday Evenings in the Park – Rocklin *FREE*
Natomas at Nite – Natomas *FREE*
Sacramento Public Library Storytimes *FREE*
Folsom Public Library Storytimes *FREE*
Roseville Public Library Storytimes *FREE*
Barnes & Noble Storytimes *FREE*
California State Railroad Museum Storytime
Sacramento Children’s Museum Storytime, Cultural Connections, and more
Storytime at the Barn in Hagan Park
Fancy Feet Friday Playdates
WOW Bus *FREE*
Baskin Robbins
Big Spoon Yogurt
Cafe Roma
Coldstone Creamery
Dairy Queen
Fosters Freeze
Farrell’s
Gunther’s Ice Cream Shop
Leatherby’s
Rite Aid – Thrifty Ice Cream Counter
Vampire Penguin – Hawaiian Shaved Ice
Vic’s Ice cream
Wendy’s – Frostys
Fairytale Town
Funderland Amusement Park
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Thank you to our FABULOUS Sponsors:
BounceU – Create & Bounce Art and Tech Camps
BusyKidz – On Broadway, Little Van Goghs and more
KidzArt – Mystical Realm Camp
Early Engineers – Spy Camp
Fairytale Town – Adventure Play Camp and more
Flip2It – Acrobatic Camp and more
reCREATE – Inventors Unite Camp and more
Crocker Art Museum – Painting Camp and more
Discovery Science & Space Museum – Space Explorers Camp and more
Find more Summer Camps:
Sacramento Parent’s Camp Guide
Fire Station Open Houses *FREE*
When: Saturdays
What: Meet firefighters, tour the fire station, check out fire trucks up close, and more.
Where: Fire Stations throughout Sacramento – see schedule
Cost: FREE
Family Bike Nights *FREE*
When: Thursday & Friday Nights
What: Ride and play throughout the miniature town. Safety Clinic, bike vendors for Q&A, and food court.
Where: Safetyville USA
Cost: FREE
Roseville Downtown Tuesday Nights *FREE*
When: Tuesdays in June, July and August; 5-9pm
What: Live bands, kids’ fun zone, farmer’s market, delicious food, Xfinity Classic Car Show, Hot Rods & Classics.
Where: Vernon Street in Downtown Roseville
Cost: FREE
Family Campouts
When: June 13, July 26, August 15
What: Families set up camp all over Fairytale Town’s 2.5 acres. Tents, sleeping bags, blankets, chairs and picnic dinners. Scavenger hunts, a theater performance, sing-alongs, arts and crafts, bedtime stories and more.
Where: Fairytale Town
Cost: $25 – 30 per person includes all activities and overnight admission
Mommy & Me Day at Raley Field *FREE*
When: Wednesday, June 18; 10am – 12noon
What: Variety of activities on the outfield including playing catch, and exploring the River Cats’ inflatable bounce house and obstacle course. The River Cats’ mascot Dinger will be on hand to entertain children and parents alike.
Where: Raley Field
Cost: FREE
Auburn’s Party in the Park *FREE*
When: Friday, June 20
What: Live bands, kid zone, crafts, food court.
Where: Regional Park
Cost: FREE
Free Community Concert *FREE*
When: Sunday, June 22; 5-7pm
What: Mission Oaks Parks and Recreation is putting on a concert featuring the band Hip Service. There will also be a car show and food trucks.
Where: Swanston Park
Cost: FREE
$4 Fridays at the Museum
When: Fridays – June 27, July 25 and August 22
What: On June 27th, look forward to: Live Music by The Hoots, Face Painting, Food Trucks, A classic car from the California Automobile Museum, Special Outdoor Activities and of course, Museum play.
Where: Sacramento Children’s Museum
Cost: $4.00 per person
A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy
When: Saturday, June 28; 5-9pm
What: A magical midsummer’s eve featuring multiple ice cream tasting stations, live entertainment, hands-on activities, an enchanted marketplace and more!
Where: Fairytale Town
Cost: Advance tickets $15.00 Adults and $5.00 Kids
Mister Cooper at Music in the Park *FREE*
When: Sunday, June 29; 6-8pm
What: Our favorite local musician and music educator, Mister Cooper, will be kicking off the 2014 Music in the Park concert series again this year at the beautiful Curtis Park. His two sets start at 6pm and 7pm.
Where: Curtis Park
Cost: FREE
Miniature Steam Train Rides *FREE*
When: July 5 – 6; 12noon-4pm
What: Ride a miniature steam train through the trees of Hagan Community Park.
Where: Hagan Community Park behind the Petting Barn.
Cost: FREE; donations appreciated
Astronomy and Stargazing
When: Saturday, July 12; 8-10pm
What: Special focus on Saturn, Mars, Moon, stars. An astronomer will weave tales of the galaxies and explore the night sky with his telescopes.
Where: Placer Nature Center
Cost: $7.00 per person
Birthday Bash
When: Saturday, August 2; 5-8pm
What: Celebrate the museum’s third birthday. Carnival games, face painting, dancing, and the very first appearance of LEO, their mascot!
Where: Sacramento Children’s Museum
Cost: Advance tickets $12.00 includes a meal (purchase by July 24th)
Gymtivity Open House
When: Friday, August 15; 9am-12pm
What: Flip2It’s GYMTIVITY Camp is a; fitness based education preschool age program. It’s a wonderful time to socialize, explore movement with the use of music, arts and crafts, and of course learn some gymnastics!
ages 3.5 – 5 (MUST be potty trained)
Where: Flip2It
Cost: $15.00 per child
Cat & the Fiddle Festival
When: August 9-10; 11am – 3pm
What: Hey diddle, diddle the Cat & the Fiddle Music Festival is back again! Join Fairytale Town as we celebrate music and fun in the summer sun with two days of live music! Families can enjoy rockin’ daytime concerts on the Mother Goose Stage from 11 AM – 3 PM each day. Be sure to catch Mister Cooper on August 10 at 11am.
Where: Fairytale Town
Cost: Free with park admission
Thank you to our FABULOUS Sponsors:
Happy Summer from my family to yours! ~Keilah
Written by Keilah Woodard
My love for exploring and creating experiences with my three kids led to the founding of SacramentoSidetracks.com in 2009. I realized that Sacramento has so much to offer and I was excited to share my findings with other parents. Besides simply having fun, these are the other positive side effects of taking my kids on outings that I’ve discovered: we have quality time together away from the distractions at home, we cultivate our curiosity, learn new things, conversations are triggered by what we see and do, we connect and bond as a family, and we create new memories. Ready to get sidetracked, too? Let me be your guide!
