Weekend Family Fun For May 18-20th

5/19  Mermaid Promenade in Old Sacramento – The 2nd Annual Promenade of Mermaids is here again to usher in the beginning of summer. Mermaids and other assorted sea creatures will rise from the river and promenade around the streets of Old Sacramento to enjoy a day out of the water. The Grand Marshall of the event will be none other than DJ Larry Rodriguez! King Neptune and a Queen Mermaid will be crowned and will help him pick the best costumes. Prizes will be awarded in both adult and children’s categories. Anyone can march, however to be eligible for best costume prizes you must register.  1pm.

5/19  Armed Forces Day at the Aerospace Museum – In honor of Armed Forces Day, the Museum will also be hosting an Open Cockpit Day where children of all ages can explore, climb into, or imagine what it would be like to soar through the skies in several of the many aircraft on the ramp. Guests will experience historic planes and displays representing over eight decades of aviation history.  Activities are planned throughout the day, including an interactive remote control aircraft display by Mather Aerospace Modelers. Support 4 Soldiers, where attendees can color pictures, sign cards and flags for troops overseas. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet and speak with local Tuskegee Airmen, and author, Len Kovar, WWII Prisoner of War, How I Survived.  Swabbies On The River will be on hand selling their famous tacos, and hot dogs for the kids!  9am-5pm.

5/19  Celebrate Sacramento at Natomas High School – This event brings together the Sacramento community to celebrate our rich diversity and showcase all that Sacramento has to offer: from local businesses, to performance groups featured on two separate stages, to fun activities for children including carnival games and bounce houses. Participants can sit and relax while watching local talents perform on stage or take a stroll and see what the many vendors have to offer. Perhaps most importantly, this festival is an opportunity for residents to come out and mingle with neighbors and strengthen the bonds that make this a special community.

5/19  Hands on History at Sutter’s Fort – Manufacturing was a major money making effort of Sutter and it was one of the primary reasons why Sutter encouraged settlers–so he could have both employees and customers. Sutter was giving away land and a start in the ranching business to any family that could make it to California, so Sutter’s New Helvetia became the destination of overland migration. Visitors will learn about the many endeavors in which Sutter engaged in the attempt to make his venture a financial success.  10am-5pm.

5/19  Farms, Friends & Fairytales at Fairytale Town – Celebrate agriculture at the fifth annual Farms, Friends, & Fairytales event! Arrive early to watch the twin Babydoll sheep, Lucy & Ethel, get sheared, and then watch as a wool spinner spins the wool into thread using an old fashioned spinning wheel. Enjoy agriculture themed hands on activities, a mini-farmer’s market, and visit with local area farms and organizations to learn more about California’s rich agricultural history.  11am-3pm.

5/19  Community Safety Saturday – Join Proven Insurance and Capital Insurance Group (CIG) for a family-friendly day of fun and safety!

Representatives from the KlaasKids Foundation, the California Highway Patrol, Sacramento City Police Department, and others will be on hand to share safety tips, offer fingerprinting, and provide information on keeping you and your family safe at home and around town.  This fun-filled family event will feature food, raffle prizes, firetruck tours, and car-seat safety inspections. Don’t miss it!  10am-2pm.

5/19 Family Spring Carnival & Circus – Come join for a Circus and Spring Carnvial. Lots of carnival games, arts & crafts for kids, inflatables including climbing wall with bungies, Swan Brother Circus, and more. Located in beautiful Jane Steele Park with lots of shade–a great place to have a family picnic.  10am-2pm.

5/20  Pacific Rim Festival in Old Sacramento and the Downtown Plaza – The street fest is planned and staged by volunteers from more than 15 Asian Pacific community groups. Their goals are to broaden the awareness and understanding of the Asian Pacific heritage, to showcase the many positive contributions to the community at large, and to lend support to cultural endeavors in the form of grants and scholarships.  Stop by and taste the food at one of their many food booths, watch and listen to the variety of entertainers at one of the four Entertainment stages, and purchase a T-shirt or merchandise from one of the art and craft vendors.  10am-5pm.

5/20  UC Davis Symphony Orchestra Family Concert – at the Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall, this program features Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, with Provost Ralph Hexter as the narrator, and a work to be announced by the winner of the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra’s Concerto Competition.  3pm.

5/20  Partial Solar Eclipse Viewing at the Discovery Museum– The western United States will be able to observe a solar eclipse for the first time in 18 years. While the Sacramento area won’t see the full form of eclipse, we will get a chance to see a partial eclipse of the Sun. Join the Discovery Museum for a special guided evening for viewing this incredible event.We will begin with a program explaining what an eclipse is and how one happens. Safe viewing techniques will be discussed, and each participant will receive a special eclipse viewer. During the actual eclipse, families are invited to enjoy their own picnic dinners in our nature area while observing the eclipse. We will conclude the evening with a planetarium show that will feature planets and constellations visible as soon as darkness falls.   5:30-7:30pm.