8/14 – Thursday Night River Cruise aboard the Hornblower – California’s capital city is filled with lively history and beautiful sights, and you’ll have the perfect view on this Sacramento river cruise. Hop aboard Thursday nights throughout the summer for special late night river cruises! The one hour boat cruise ride includes live narration by the Captain, including Sacramento River facts and history.

8/15 – August Campfire at the Maidu Museum & Historic Site – Storytelling has been an important part of Native American culture for thousands of years. Sit under the stars at this outdoor amphitheater to enjoy native stories around the campfire. They will provide roasting sticks and marshmallows for a sweet program’s end to this fun family event.

8/15 – 8/16 – Family Campout at Fairytale Town – Spend the night in Fairytale Town’s storybook park. This exciting overnight adventure includes a theater performance, arts and crafts, activities, a scavenger hunt, bedtime stories, and a sing-along. Wake up the next morning under Fairytale Town’s canopy of trees to a light continental breakfast.

8/16 – Ice Cream Safari at the Sacramento Zoo – Join for the 30th Annual Ice Cream Safari where you can get all-you-can-eat Baskin Robbins ice cream in cones, sundaes, and floats along with all-you-can-drink Coca-Cola beverages. Explore the 14-acre zoo with ice cream treats around every corner! There will also be entertainment for the kids and fun for everyone including face painting, an Ice Cream Dance Party and live entertainment. Don’t forget to enter the GiRaffle for the chance to win some fun prizes.

8/16 – Hands On History: 175th Anniversary Commemoration at Sutter’s Fort – Celebrate 175 years at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park during Hands on History: 175th Anniversary Commemoration! A few of the interactive activities and stations set-up for the day include: a stencil rubbing station of John Sutter’s brand; a pioneer dress-up station where families dress as pioneers; pen and quill activity station; period-appropriate laundry station; period games for kids; a corn husk doll craft station; cooking demonstrations using iron ware with tastings of food prepared in the outdoor brick bake oven; and a display of guns and weapons from the Gold Rush era complete with demonstrations of black powder weaponry highlighted by the crowd-favorite firing of Sutter’s cannon.

Thru 8/16 – The Big Bad Wolf by Runaway Stage Productions – What happens when three slick swine join one cape-wearing girl with a vengeance in an attempt to frame the Big Bad Wolf? Nothing short of mysterious mix-ups and musical mayhem, of course! Join Fairytale Forest’s top reporter as she attempts to get the “cross-my-heart, true story” of the Big Bad Wolf. Find the fun in an old classic, and hold on for an adventure that will give Little Red and the gang a taste of the twenty-first century.

8/16 – Sacramento Fire Station Open House at Station 60 – The Sacramento Fire Department will begin hosting Fire Station Open Houses on Saturdays starting in May. Bring your family and friends to visit with firefighters, take a tour of the fire station, get an up-close look at a fire engine, and more!

8/16 – 8/17 – Breathe California Presentations at the Discovery Museum – Take a deep breath and meet the museum’s special guests from Breathe California. They’ll teach your family all about Sacramento’s air. The family feature will explore the connection between clean air and healthy lungs. Learn how food waste is used to help improve our air quality! Children 12 and under are also invited to create and decorate a model of a wind turbine to take home.

8/17 – Back-to-School Celebration at the Crocker – Teachers, parents, students, and homeschoolers are invited to kick of the new school year at this festive event! Learn how the Crocker can affordably bring creativity and art education into your child’s life or classroom. Enjoy a performance by Calidanza Dance Company; go on a SketchCrawl through the galleries; preview new Tour + Art Workshop themes; climb aboard the Art Ark; visit Homeschool Day discovery stations; and preview an “A” is for Art tour.

8/17 – Exploring the Maidu Village at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center – Nisenan Maidu people have lived in this area for thousands of years. Learn about their special relationship to the land, which they still celebrate today through stories and a hike through the Village.