Get ready to rock because the West Coast's biggest rock festival, Aftershock, is right around the corner, bringing artists like Guns N’ Roses, Avenged Sevenfold, Tool, and Korn to Sacramento. From getting to the festival and finding a place to stay, to exploring all that Sacramento has to offer, here’s our guide to making your Aftershock festival experience one to remember.
Image Courtesy of: Danny Wimmer Presents
First things first, let’s talk through festival logistics:
No Tickets? No Problem: With just a limited amount of time left before the festival, there are still a limited amount of four-day GA tickets available for purchase. You won’t want to miss out on the fun, so don’t wait too much longer to snag your tickets at AftershockFestival.com.
Getting to the Festival: There are two entrances festival attendees can use to enter Discovery Park: one from the north at Garden Highway or one from the south at Jibboom Street. There will be a limited amount of paid parking available in designated areas surrounding the park. Parking passes can be purchased in advance HERE. Due to the limited amount of parking, Aftershock advises festival attendees utilize rideshare services, take advantage of the free SacRT rides, or purchase a Park and Ride Shuttle pass, which will allow them to park at Cal Expo and shuttle over to Discovery Park. For more information about getting to Aftershock, visit aftershockfestival.com/gettinghere/.
Finding a Place to Stay: If you’re looking for a place to rest your head after a day of rocking out to your favorite bands, book a stay at a Sacramento hotel. For a full list of hotels near the festival grounds, visit www.visitsacramento.com/hotels/.
Now that you have your Aftershock tickets in hand and your festival game plan figured out, it’s time to make sure your festival experience here in Sacramento is one to remember.
Enjoy a Cocktail
Getting cocktails is the perfect way to kickstart your festival festivities. If you’re downtown, Public House Downtown on 16th Street offers a unique approach to your usual sports bar, and Juju Kitchen and Cocktails on L Street offers a variety of small plates, craft cocktails, and local beers and wines. If you’re looking for somewhere a bit closer to Discovery Park, The Virgin Sturgeon on Garden Hwy. or Fanny Ann’s Saloon are worth checking out.
Map Created by: Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Fuel Up with Some Grub Before the Festival
There’s no better way to prepare for a day full of festival madness than grabbing some grub. Rock & Brews, which is conveniently located near the Park and Ride Shuttle pickup location at Cal Expo, offers all your favorite American comfort food classics with a Rock ‘n’ Roll twist. Downtown Sacramento offers a wide variety of restaurants such as Cafeteria 15L, Tank House BBQ & Bar, Ernesto’s Mexican Food, and more. If you’re looking for food options closer to Discovery Park, be sure to check out Crawdads on the River for fresh seafood or El Bramido along Northgate Blvd. for Mexican food. You can also check out this map from the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of restaurants around the festival.
For more information about Sacramento restaurants, visit www.visitsacramento.com/restaurants-and-drinks/.
Explore Sacramento’s Arts and Culture
With Aftershock being a four-day festival, there’s plenty of time to explore all that Sacramento has to offer. If you feel like indulging in California history, head over to the Old Sacramento Waterfront for attractions like the California State Railroad Museum or the Sacramento History Museum. If art is more your jam, be sure to check out the Crocker Art Museum or take a walking tour of all of Sacramento’s murals.
Explore Sacramento Nightlife After the Festival
The night doesn’t have to end once the festival is over. If you’re looking to continue rocking the night away, head over to Bottle & Barlow in the R Street Corridor for Trash Rock Thursdays. If you can still rally by the time Sunday rolls around, Jungle Bird in Downtown Sacramento has Sabbath Sundays where they whip up “Mai Tais & Metal.” Other Sacramento nightlife spots include The Shady Lady Saloon, Dive Bar, and Torch Club.
Cure your Hangover with a Cup of Joe or Brunch (or both)
If you’re looking to refuel and recover after rocking the night away (maybe just a little bit too hard), there are plenty of brunch spots here in Sacramento that are sure to have you feeling sunny side up in no time. Tower Café is the perfect spot if you’re looking for a wide variety of both sweet and savory brunch options. If brunch isn’t cutting it and you need even more of a pick-me-up, Sacramento coffee shops like Temple Coffee Roasters, Pachamama, and Old Soul. Co. are worth a visit.
Read our full post-festival recovery guide HERE.
