Ultimate Summer Fun Guide 2014

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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!

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WaterFun

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

DollarMovies

Cinemark Theaters and Regal Theaters

 

FairsandFestivals

 

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

 

Concertsinthepark

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*

 

IndoorExercise

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

 

BeCreative

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

 

ExploreNature

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*

Visitamuseum

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

MeetAnimalsSacramento Zoo

Folsom Zoo

Serpentarium

Discovery Science & Space Museum – Nature Discovery Room

OnStage

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

Outdoormovies

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*

 

Storytimesandmore

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*

RefreshingTreats

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

AmusementParks

Fairytale Town

Funderland Amusement Park

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

 

SummerCamps

 Thank you to our FABULOUS Sponsors:

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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

SacramentoSummerCamps.org

SpecialEvents

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:BusyKidzAd

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Happy Summer from my family to yours! ~Keilah

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Written by Keilah Woodard

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!