Beat the Heat with Kate Beckinsale and Val Kilmer this Weekend at Wizard World Comic Con Sacramento
Wizard World Comic Con is back in Sacramento this weekend with its usual quirky pop culture charm, along with some new features and entertainment. There’s something for everyone happening at the Sacramento Convention Center all weekend long – even if you are a mom chaperoning three 13-year-old boys (that would be me). It’s true, I spent my Friday evening walking around the west end of the convention center being highly amused and entertained by a variety of things. First, you’ll more than likely get a taste of the event even before you walk through the doors of the center as anime and superhero fans are known to don their favorite costumes and parade around downtown uninhibited before and after the event. So it won’t be unusual if you spot several superheroes out on the street even before you get there.
Once inside, you’ll want to take a look at programming (or better yet, check the program online ahead of time) to determine which seminars and panels you won’t want to miss. You’ll find everything from a debate about whether Marvel or DC is best, to live art demo artists to interviews with celebrities. Just a few of the celebrities on site this weekend include Kate Beckinsale, Val Kilmer, Holly Marie Combs and Kevin Sorbo, many of which will be posing for photo ops and signing autographs (although it’s going to cost you…)
In addition to the celebrities, seminars and panels, there is music, costume contests, kids zone, game playing – both board games and video games – and lots of shopping. There are plenty of items for sale that appeal to the teenage audience, but I was pleasantly surprised this year to find a few retailers selling items – jewelry, Japanese fans, specialty food items – that actually appeal to people like me (middle-aged mom).
While this probably isn’t an event I would attend on my own, the boys I accompanied loved every bit of it and had a great time. While I would say that teenagers are the target audience here, there were plenty of younger children as well as adults enjoying themselves as well.
So…if you are looking for a really great way to escape the Sacramento heat this weekend, head on over to the nicely air-conditioned Sacramento Convention Center for Comic Con. By doing so, you’ll stay cool in more ways than one.
Wizard World Comic Con activities and events are happening all weekend long. Hours are Saturday, 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday, 10 am to 4pm. Ticket prices start at $44 daily, with FREE admission for kids 10 years and younger.
Win Tickets: A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy, Fairytale Town’s Most Popular Summer Event
It’s starting to heat up here in Sacramento, which means hot days and warm nights – a typical Central Valley summer. So, how do Sacramentans stay cool (and sane) all summer long? One of our favorite ways to stay cool is to eat ice cream. There’s really nothing better on a hot summer night than cold, creamy, all-you-can-eat ice cream. If you’ve got kiddos, you’ll want to head over to Fairytale Town on Saturday, June 24 to enjoy one of the summer’s most popular events, A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy – a Shakespearean-themed event at the area’s most popular theme park where fairies run wild all night long and eat ice cream to their heart’s content.
This enchanted evening features nonstop entertainment for the whole family including live theater performances of “Pyramus and Thisbe” from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, arts and crafts, live music by Celtic band Stepping Stone and plenty of Crystal ice cream to go around. All of this within our beloved Fairytale Town. Here are the details:
What: A Midsummer Night’s Dream & Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy
Where: Fairytale Town
When: Saturday, June 24, 2017
Time: 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Cost: Advanced tickets start at $7 for children, $15 for adults
Win Tickets: We’ve got a family four-pack to give away to one of our lucky readers. Tell us what your favorite Crystal Ice Cream flavor is in the comment section below. Leave your comment no later than Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 5pm. A winner will be selected on Friday, June 16, 2017. Good luck!
Win Tickets: Sacramento Hosts Family Friendly Wizard World Comic Con at the Convention Center Father’s Day Weekend
Wizard World Comic Con is back in Sacramento this month with some fabulous celebrity guests and more kid-friendly entertainment than ever before. Twenty-two celebrities will be in Sacramento for Comic Con June 16-17, 2017 including Kate Beckinsale (Underworld), Val Kilmer (Batman Forever), Eliza Taylor (The 100), Paul Wesley (The Vampire Diaries), Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), and the list goes on and on. Autograph signing, photo opportunity, and Q&A sessions will be available with said celebrities.
Wizard World Comic Con Sacramento will also feature non-stop live entertainment including puppet shows, magicians, story time and face painters at the new Kids Zone, plenty of gaming, cosplay costume contests, kids costume contests, artist alley, workshops and plenty of shopping. Interested in attending?
Enter to win a family 4-pack to attend on Friday, June 16 or Sunday, June 18, 2017. To be eligible to win the family pack, please tell us (in the comment section below) which celebrity you would most like to run into at Wizard World Comic Con in Sacramento this year. Leave your comment by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. A winner will be chosen on Wednesday, June 7, 2017. Good luck!
What: Wizard World Comic Con Sacramento
When: June 16-18, 2017
Where: Sacramento Convention Center
Cost: tickets prices start at $39.95, and kids 10 years and under are FREE with paid adult admission. Receive an extra 20% off by entering the exclusive SacramentoKids.net code below:
Discount Code: SACMOM20
Here’s some photos from last year’s event:
Anyone else have an aspiring Picasso in their household? My daughter loves art… drawing pictures, painting, and pottery, creating extraordinary masterpieces out of recyclables… yep – we love art of all kinds!
A couple of years ago when the whole “paint and sip” craze came to Sacramento, I was excited to take my daughter to experience a night out of painting. Sadly, due to my daughter’s young age, we couldn’t find a place that allowed those under 21 years old, due to the presence of alcohol. Luckily, I finally found Art Bistro in Rocklin! Art Bistro is located at 6848 Five Star Boulevard in Rocklin (right off of Hwy 65). They offer painting, drawing and pottery classes, as well as an open studio to create on your own.
Unlike other “paint nights” hosted at different venues, Art Bistro offers classes throughout the month to anyone ages 8 and over. They have a great selection of bistro items – sandwiches, pizzas, salads, appetizers plates, etc. to munch on, and for those who are of age and choose to have an adult beverage, they also sell those as well. The painting classes are approximately 2 hours and they urge you to arrive early so you can order, eat and be ready for the lessons.
We chose to visit over Mother’s Day weekend and my daughter painted me a beautiful bouquet of flowers…one that I will have forever and not worry about watering. While she was getting the instructions on how to paint, I was wandering around the studio and learned that they also offer the “drop in” studio, which is similar to other ceramics places around town and you can choose a ceramic item to paint and they will glaze and fire it for you (at a fraction of the cost of some of the other places).
So if you like to paint, create or draw, this is a great place to stop in and check out. They also have “Live music and Open Mic” nights for those who are more creative with their singing voices. During the summer, they host Summer Camps for kids and open studios throughout the week. They open for lunch at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, close at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, 9:00 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.
For 2 hours of painting instruction and a beautiful canvas of flowers that my daughter painted for me, it was only $35. They almost always have coupons and for 2 hours of entertainment, it’s a great deal. The food was tasty and they have a nice selection of drinks to choose from. Between the open studio, classes and party choices- I’m sure we will be back to visit Art Bistro.
By Heather Crivellone
Making Memorial Day Memorable in Sacramento
Beautiful weather is on tap for Sacramento this Memorial Day weekend and there’s no shortage of activities and events happening around the region. From a good old-fashioned county fair to an international kids festival, you’re bound to find just what your family is looking for. Take a look at this roundup from Sacramento 365: Make Memories This Memorial Day Weekend. Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Do you love the Sacramento River Cats as much as we do? Would you like to take your family out to a game this week? Well, we’ve got a River Cats ticket package that includes four tickets and a parking pass to give away to one of our lucky readers. The tickets are for this Thursday’s home game against the Memphis Redbirds. If you would like a chance to win the tickets, tell us who your favorite Sacramento River Cats player is and why in the comment section below. Leave your comment no later than Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at 12:00 pm for a chance to win. One entry per person, please. A winner will be randomly selected and notified via email on May 24, 2017. Best of luck!
What: Sacramento River Cats vs. Memphis Redbirds
When: Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 7:05 pm
Where: Raley Field, 400 Ballpark Drive, West Sacramento
Cost: Tickets start at $10 for general admission
Summer is around the corner and the kids will be out of school in no time. Every year, parents scramble to find summer camps, sporting events, day trips and activities to keep the kids occupied – without breaking the bank. If you don’t do a little research ahead of time, you may find yourself spending too much money on outings or end up with kids glued to their electronic devices. There are several free and inexpensive activities to do with the kids all summer long in the Sacramento region. Here are my top 5 summer activities that your kids love:
- Kids Skate Free. Sunrise Rollerland and RollerKing in Roseville both participate in this program. Just visit their website and sign the kids up and you will receive weekly coupons to take the kids skating during the hottest part of the day (relief!). The only out-of-pocket costs are the skate rentals if needed and anything from the concession stand.
- Dollar summer movies at Regal Cinema. On select days you can visit Regal Theaters, UA Artists and Edwards Theaters during the summer and view an older family friendly move for only $1. Show times vary and I would check their website for listings.
- Kids Bowl Free. Just like the skating program, all you need to do is visit their website and sign up. You will receive weekly free coupons to bowl all summer long. My family especially enjoys this program, I love visiting Strikes Unlimited during the hottest time of the day and getting some relief from our scorching summer heat! Bowling alley rental is free for two full games and the only out-of-pocket is the cost of the bowling shoes. Participating alleys include:
Steve Cooks Fireside Lanes in Citrus Heights
Pins N Strikes in Elk Grove
Country Club Lanes in Sacramento
Strikes Unlimited in Rocklin - Cool off by visiting one of our many Spray Parks in the area. This is a great activity if you have younger children especially, but even my older kids still love to run around and play at the parks that have the splash pads. Visit our site to see a list of local spray grounds.
- Summer evenings are the best when there is free, family entertainment involved. Our family has enjoyed Pops in Park for several years and we are excited for this year’s lineup. Every Saturday night in June, you can pack a picnic dinner and enjoy a live concert at one of East Sacramento’s favorite parks.
June 3: Joy and Madness at East Portal Park (51st and M Street)
June 10: John Skinner Band at Bertha Henschel Park (45th and Brand Way)
June 17: Mumbo Gumbo at McKinley Park (H and 33rd Street)
June 24: Unsupervised at Glenn Hall Park (Sandburg and Carlson Way)
So there you have it, my families top 5, nearly free summer activities. Hope you decide to make a list and take advantage of some of the summer fun in the area. I’m always reminding myself that we only have 18 summers with our kids… and I want to make each one of the count.
By Heather Crivellone
