Memorial Day weekend events in Sacramento

For many, Memorial Day weekend evokes the start of the summer season—warm days, cool nights, and lots of outdoor fun. On the other hand, Memorial Day itself serves as a day of remembrance for those that have given their lives for our country. Sacramento events this weekend take on both those meanings, with ways to honor those that have fallen, plus plenty of outdoor festivities and summery fun. Be sure to check Sacramento365.com's Holiday Event section for even more options.

Take advantage of your extra day with these weekend-long events:
Festivals: 76th Annual Sacramento County Fair: Cal Expo; Thurs-Sun 10am-10pm; Mon 10am-7pm
The 2012 Sacramento County Fair celebrates 76 years of fair memories and magic with a carnival, food, barn animals, music, shopping, bull riding, and the popular demolition derby.

Festivals: Sacramento Music Festival: Old Sacramento & Downtown; Fri-Mon, times vary
This year’s Sacramento Musical Festival is one giant party as the sounds of jazz, blues, zydeco (and related styles) permeate Old Sacramento and the Downtown area. The Festival offers more than 400 sets of live music, featuring 20 venues with over 70 bands, including a few dozen internationally-known artists that will have revelers dancing in the streets!

Museums: Jazz-Related Activities at the CA State Railroad Museum: California State Railroad Museum; Fri-Mon 10am-5pm
Coinciding with the Sacramento Music Festival, the Railroad Museum will offer jazz musicians performing inside the Museum and aboard the weekend excursion train rides, and offer complimentary admission to event badge holders.

Festivals: Roseville Greek Food Festival: St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church; Fri 5pm-10pm;
Sat Noon-10pm; Sun Noon-6pm
Do you like gyros? There'll be plenty of them at Roseville's Greek Food Festival. Come enjoy Greek food, music, and dancing.

Kids & Fam: Discovery Weekend: It’s Butterfly Time: Discovery Museum Science & Space Center; Sat-Mon 12:30pm-4pm
Flutter by the Discovery Museum this holiday weekend and enjoy a bounty of butterfly activities. Don't forget to enjoy the grounds; bring a picnic lunch and check out the butterfly garden!

Food & Wine: Memorial Day Weekend at Carvalho Family Winery: Old Sugar Mill; Sat-Mon 1pm-4pm
Come join on the Crush Pad for a weekend full of great wine, great food, and great music! Enjoy a bottle of wine, BBQ tri tip, and live music performed by DeWald/Taylor Jazztet and Ray Iaea.

Honor those who have fallen:
Special Events: Reading of the Names: Memorial Day: Capitol Park – California Vietnam Veterans Memorial; Sun 7am
Please join in honoring and remembering those California Vietnam Veterans who were killed in the Vietnam War, as well as Veterans from all wars, all services, and those currently serving at this Reading of the Names in honor of Memorial Day.

Music: A Day of Remembrance Concert: Westminster Presbyterian Church; Sun 4pm
Camerata California Chorus with the Camellia Symphony Conductor, Dr. Les Lehr present this Memorial Day Weekend concert featuring the West Coast Premieres of “Last Letter Home” by Lee Hoiby (composer will be in attendance!) and “Elegy” by Lewis Songer, plus “A Great and Glorious Victory” by Jonathan Willcocks, “Third Mass” by Joseph Haydn.

Sports & Rec: Buzz Oates No Excuses 5K: William Land Park; Mon 8:30am *Kids’ Runs begin earlier
You forgot your racing shoes? You drank too much the night before? Your shorts kept riding up? One excuse you can’t use at the No Excuses 5k is “I’m too old.” The unique age-graded formula guarantees everyone an equal chance of winning the overall title. The beneficiary of the race is The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 500, a non-profit Veterans organization serving all Veterans.

Sports & Rec: Wounded Veteran Run: Folsom Parkway Trails; Mon 9am
The Wounded Veteran Run is inspired by the daily perseverance and dedication of our nation’s combat wounded service members. The goal of the race is to honor those who have sacrificed for our freedom, and to raise awareness and donations for the Wounded Warrior Project through community outreach.

Special Events: Memorial Day Parade: Begins from Family Community Church; Mon 8am-11:30am
VFW Post 4647 is proud to present the 46th Annual Memorial Day Parade honoring all those who gave their lives in defense of our great country.

Sports & Rec: Military Appreciation Day with the Sacramento River Cats: Raley Field; Mon 1:05pm
Players will wear special camouflage uniforms as the River Cats honor the military members who protect our freedom. Military members and their families will take part in between-inning fun.

Make memories with Sacramento Nightlife:
Gilligan’s Island Pub Crawl Memorial Weekend: Begins from Blue Cue; Sat 6pm
5hundy Social Club & Blue Cue are back together for their 2nd Annual Summer Kick-Off Pub Crawl. Free wristbands entitle you to drinks specials at each bar on the crawl. Don't forget to come dressed as your favorite Gilligan's Island Character!

Night + Day Party: Memorial Day Weekend: MiX Downtown; Sun 2pm-2am
Enjoy music, sun, and fun with three special guest DJs in addition to amazing resident DJs Gabe Xavier and DJ Peeti V. Sangria and Margarita specials to cool you off at the hottest rooftop party in the city. Sun worship encouraged!