The following is the Oct. 1 edition of Cultural Capital, an arts and entertainment newsletter written by Abridged contributor Chris Macias. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.
Think of this week’s Cultural Capital as “anything but Aftershock.” We’ve certainly got you covered at Abridged by PBS KVIE if you’re ready to circle up in the mosh pit and rock with the Discovery Park masses this weekend. Check out my story about Sacramento’s homegrown musical connections at Aftershock and the current state of the festival, which last year drew a combined crowd of 164,000. Or scope Becky Grunewald’s list of five on-brand Sacramento restaurants and bars to visit during the West Coast’s largest rock, punk and metal festival.
No worries if Aftershock isn’t for you, whether you’re not into the heavier side of rock music or feel overwhelmed at festivals. Cultural Capital has you covered with other festivals over the weekend and beyond, along with picks for live music, literary and visual arts, makers markets and more.
Grab some ouzo and let’s go!
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In your inbox every Thursday, Abridged's entertainment newsletter from Chris Macias highlights things to do in the Sacramento region.
Dance and feast like you’re in Greece
The details:
- Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 606 and 616 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento
- 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., October 2-3 (Friday-Saturday); 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 4 (Sunday)
- $3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., $5 from 3-10 p.m., Oct. 2 (Friday); $5 Oct. 3-4 (Saturday-Sunday). Children 12 and under free all weekend.
Opa! Let’s start this first weekend of October with a signature Sacramento event, one that teems with culture, performing arts and plenty of food. The Sacramento Greek Festival is back for its 63rd year, running from Friday through Sunday at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church near McKinley Park.
Decade after decade, this celebration of Greek culture draws upwards of 8,000 attendees, who revel in the dancing, community and lines for baklava. In terms of food, the festival’s wide menu of Greek and Mediterranean dishes does not disappoint.
In between bites of pastitsio noodles and stuffed dolmades, look for cooking demonstrations, dance performances and church tours. Note that this festival is cashless, so be ready to tap that card.
More festival fun
The details:
Cue up the “Peanuts” theme and head to the Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 3 and 4 (Saturday and Sunday). Ogle at pumpkins that weigh close to a ton, watch the giant pumpkin race on the waters near Strauss Island and compete in the Scarecrow Contest.
At Downtown Sacramento’s Musiclandria, the Youth Power Festival on Oct. 3 (Saturday) features a program of advocacy, art activities and three hours of live music to keep the place bumping. Local vendors and food trucks will also be in the mix.
Finally, here’s a festival for cinema buffs. The Oak Park Black Film Festival runs Oct. 5-10 (Monday-Saturday) at the Guild Theater. It kicks off with the music documentary “Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That’s the Weight of the World)” and includes a range of both short and feature films. The festival also includes Q&A sessions with directors and concludes with an awards presentation.
Get your groove on, from Davis to Auburn
- Head to CASA de ESPAÑOL on Sacramento’s R Street Corridor for an evening of art and mucho dancing at Cumbia y Corazon with Son Café on Oct. 2 (Friday).
- Sing along to “Love is a Battlefield” and “Heartbreaker” as Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo play Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln on Oct. 2 (Friday).
- Groove to Chicano soul and cumbia with Nacho and the Dollar Menu at Watermelon Music in Davis on Oct. 3 (Saturday).
- Check local musicians while wandering the streets at Auburn Porchfest on Oct. 4 (Sunday).
Tap into literary and visual arts
A double whammy of Latino literature is set for this weekend. Tomas Moniz, an Oakland-based writer and finalist for the 2020 PEN/Hemingway Award, will be joined by Sacramento’s acclaimed essayist/poet José Vadi at Beers Books on Oct. 2 (Friday) in Southside Park.
The two head to Elk Grove’s A Seat at the Table on Oct. 3 (Saturday) where they’re joined by Maceo Montoya and Sarah Proudman for a panel discussion in honor of Latinx Heritage Month. It’s highly recommended for wordsmiths of all types.
Across the Yolo Causeway, the new season is underway at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art. Among its new exhibits is Together Again, 1960-2026: Perspectives from UC Davis’ Fine Arts Collection. The show opened Sept. 23 and is ongoing, with works from such definitive UC Davis-affiliated artists as Wayne Thiebaud, Roy De Forest, Robert Arneson and Deborah Butterfield.
Find your costume at a Halloween-themed market
Spooky season is here, so let’s get to some shopping. One prime place to start is Woodland’s Haunted Bazaar on Oct. 3 (Saturday), where Main Street between College and 2nd streets will be filled with vendors and ghost tour opportunities.
The folks behind this bazaar then set up shop on Oct. 4 (Sunday) at Sacramento’s Lucid Winery for Wicked Woo Woo Market. This one includes tarot readings, mead and more Halloween-ish goods to make your house the creepiest spot on the block.
Before I go,
Think of it as the Aftershock of local art. From Friday through Sunday, the annual PBS KVIE Art Auction is your chance to score from over 270 artworks. Click here for information on bidding and schedule for the live auction. Good luck nabbing that Gregory Kondos or Gioia Fonda piece.
And one correction: last week’s Cultural Capital had the free artist reception for Miguel Gutierrez Jr.’s “NOBLE” photo show on Oct. 12. It’s on Oct. 2 (Friday), from 6-8 p.m. at Gallery at 48 Natoma in Folsom.
See you next week!
