The following is the Nov. 5 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.
The classic hip-hop track “Award Tour” by A Tribe Called Quest kept playing in my head while crafting this week’s Cultural Capital. But in this case, it’s more like an “arts tour” around the region.
A sense of adventure runs through this week’s arts and entertainment picks, leading with a trek through Placer County and an homage to a historic Sacramento neighborhood. We’ll also drop by Davis for a festival with an international flair, brush up on those cumbia steps to support a beloved space for Sacramento culture and celebrate the salmon run in Winters.
There’s plenty to discover, so let’s get crackin’!
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In your inbox every Thursday, Abridged's entertainment newsletter from Chris Macias highlights things to do in the Sacramento region.
Play tourist while immersing yourself in art
The details:
- Various locations around Placer County
- Nov. 6-8 (Friday-Sunday)
- Free
Let’s go beyond the gallery and go to the source of where local art is created. The Placer Artists Tour runs this weekend and next, showcasing nearly 130 artists who create in locales such as Roseville, Loomis and Lincoln. Some of them open their studios as part of a self-guided tour, a chance to hear directly from these artists in their creative environs.
The tour also winds through the area’s galleries and schools, with demonstrations at some stops and the chance to purchase art. The works span a wide swath of media, from oil paintings and sculptures to fused glass, furniture and photography.
Pro tips: Pre-registering is encouraged (you get the chance to win “Art Bucks” vouchers), and don’t miss the musical performances at select stops.
A lot of ground will be covered in this 33rd edition of the event, both geographically and artistically. Take the time to plan ahead and soak in Placer County’s creativity.
Support an integral space for artistry and education
The details:
- Sol Collective, 2574 21st St., Sacramento
- 7 p.m., Nov. 6 (Friday)
- $15 in advance, $20 at door
I remember when Sol Collective opened its doors in 2005 on Del Paso Boulevard, an energized space for arts, culture and community. 21 years later, Sol Collective evolves just south of Broadway with a range of programs including arts workshops, R&B yoga and a “Breath in Rhythm” class for men to address their stress.
Help keep this local cultural institution thriving on Nov. 6 (Friday) at Noche de Cumbias y Calaveras II. Plan to bring your dancing shoes, bid on art during a silent auction and bond with community as a Catrina costume contest takes place.
Connect with local Japanese American history
The details:
- Sacramento History Museum, 101 I St., Sacramento
- 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 7 (Saturday)
- Free
Think of Sacramento Japantown Matsuri as a kind of celebratory wake for a historic local neighborhood. The event at the Sacramento History Museum is tied to its latest exhibit “Japantown: Destroyed by Design,” which captures this Downtown area before it disappeared due to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and redevelopment projects.
The family-oriented matsuri (festival) will be held both inside and outside the museum, with traditional Japanese dance and music, storytelling, martial arts demonstrations and a community marketplace among its offerings.
Enter a world of inspirations
The details:
- International House Davis, 10 College Park, Davis
- 2-9 p.m., Nov. 7 (Saturday)
- Free
Take a jaunt to International House Davis on Saturday, and it’ll feel like a trip around the world over the course of a few hours. Located across from the northern edge of UC Davis’ campus, International Fest 2026 features a global lineup of arts and culture, plus a marketplace and kids’ crafts. From Japanese taiko drumming and Iranian percussion to traditional Irish tunes and Afro-Brazilian dance, this festival is a perfect opportunity to explore artistry from far-flung lands in a single, celebratory setting.
A festival that honors an iconic local fish
The details:
- Rotary Park, 201 Railroad Ave., Winters
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 7 (Saturday)
- Free
The Chinook salmon’s annual return to Putah Creek is always something to celebrate. They are key to the region’s biodiversity, transferring marine nutrients into freshwater environments, and a source of cultural identity for local Native American communities. This fall run of Chinook salmon will be commemorated at the Winters Salmon Festival with live music, kids’ activities and educational programs about the importance of conserving our watersheds.
More events you won’t want to miss
- Get a head start on the holidays with Elf the Musical at the Harris Center in Folsom from Nov. 5-8 (Thursday-Sunday).
- Yuk it up with comedy from Tom Papa: Grateful Bread Tour at Channel 24 in Midtown Sacramento on Nov. 6 (Friday).
- Celebrate Bike Dog Brewing’s 13th anniversary in West Sacramento with live music from Jonah Matranga’s Onelinedrawing and SpaceWalker on Nov. 6 (Friday).
- Keep Halloween going with screenings of “The Thing” at the Varsity Theatre in Davis on Nov. 8 and 9 (Sunday and Monday).
Before I go,
For the photography buffs out there, note it’s the last week of Kimberly Olker’s exhibit at the PBS KVIE Gallery. These works capture natural settings in ways that are serene, yet dazzling in their colors and composition. Note the gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday, then closed over the weekend.
And we’ve got a new edition of “The Stacks,” Abridged by PBS KVIE’s video concert series in collaboration with Amatoria Fine Arts Books. Beti Masenqo is the star of this show, mixing her classical violin training with folk guitar and influences from her Ethiopian church choir.
Keep in touch at christo916@gmail.com, and see you next week!
