Sacramento Music Festival • Sacramento CA

An annual Sacramento event since 1974, the Sacramento Music Festival is Sacramento's biggest festival. The festival takes place across the entire town, spanning from Downtown, more than 20 venues and huge outdoor stages. You'll see a variety of acts at the festival. While it used to be called the Old Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee, the festival today has various Latin and jazz acts, old school blues and country and, of course, all sorts of rock 'n' roll. Below is what you can expect from the festival.

The Music

You'll find the most diverse music festival in Sacramento. You can find everything from local music acts and school bands to professional orchestras and creole music. Some past names to attend the event are Los Lobos, Eve 6, Shawn Mullins and the renowned Latin-inspired band Mola. The festival takes place over Memorial Day Weekend, leaving you time to see all of the various acts. In all, the music at the Sacramento Music Festival is soulful. Whether's it's slow blues, jazz, or Latin music, get ready to set your soul free here. But first off, you're going to need great food.

The Food

While the shows take place across various restaurants in town, there are food trucks and other avenues of finding great food. Typically, the Firehouse Court is a hotspot for music acts. Settle in with some great food at the Firehouse Restaurant, and enjoy the live music. However, the music does spill out onto the streets, so keep your eyes peeled for food trucks serving everything from classic fair food like corndogs to exotic food trucks serving Caribbean and Mexican food.

Locations

Old Town is one of the most popular locations at the Sacramento Music Festival. Thanks to the great bars and restaurants in Old Town, you can have a perfect night out while enjoying live music. Old Town Smokehouse is great if you're looking for a full meal before you hit the streets, while numerous cafes are open for a quick bite to eat. Be on the lookout for Old Sacramento Cafe and Heavenly Brew if you need to refuel for the rest of the night.

A few hotels in Sacramento host music performances. The Holiday Inn and Embassy Suites have done so in the past, while the Delta King riverboat also welcomes guests and performances on its deck. However, the lineup and venues change from year to year, so make sure you prepare in advance.

The music festival takes place all across town, so be sure you have great transportation options to take you around town for the day. While it's a great idea to walk around the town and see the music acts that are nearby, if you're looking to see the most of Sacramento and have a restaurant or artist you've wanted to see, your best bet is booking a comfortable Sacramento party bus or personal driver.

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