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10 Things to do in Northern California this weekend | August 30, 31 + September 1

Music, food, art, beer, wine and... chalk?? There is a little bit of everything going on around Northern California this weekend for folks of all interests. Read on!

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Do you like music? Food? Art? BEER? Well, this weekend around Northern California there is a little bit of everything!

Sacramento's annual chalk festival in John C. Freemont Park is entering its 29th year this Labor Day Weekend. Not far from that, in the midtown area, the Rainbow Festival will provide a completely different feast for the senses.

Then there's the MASSIVE Dry Diggings Camping & Music Festival in Placerville if you're looking to immerse yourself in a unique concert experience at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Or keep driving up Highway 50 and get to the Midway Art & Music Festival in South Lake Tahoe.

And then there's all the wine and art. Head south toward the Bay and you'll find events featuring the best wine and art from the region with the Taste of Sonoma and the Sausalito Art Festival, the latter of which is undergoing an extensive overhaul on its 67th anniversary.

With all that said, there is still more to see and do, so scroll on down to see more of all the fun things happening this weekend around Northern California.

Do you have an event idea? Send your suggestions to mnuttle@abc10.com

Chalk it up, Sacramento

When: Aug. 31 - Sept. 2 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: John C. Freemont Park, 16th and Q Streets

It’s time to Chalk It Up, Sacramento! The annual sidewalk art festival is back for their 29th annual event on Labor Day weekend in Sacramento’s John C. Freemont Park.

The three-day chalk festival started from humble beginnings, showcasing chalk art in one of the city’s central parks. Since its inception though, the event has exploded into a full-blown party with interactive activities, local arts and crafts, food and drinks. There are event more than 25 bands scheduled to perform all weekend.

Attendance for this free event has also boomed, with more than 60,000(!!!) attendees in 2018, according to Chalk It Up spokesperson John Nelson.

Chalk It Up supports projects and programs for local K-12 schools through its Youth Arts Grant.

Admission: 

  • FREE!
Credit: Chalk It Up volunteers

Rainbow Festival 2019

When: Sept. 1 | Noon to 7 p.m.

Where: Lavender Heights District, 20th St., Midtown Sacramento

The 2019 Rainbow Festival Street Fair is back in Sacramento’s Lavender Heights District, the heart of the city’s gay and lesbian community, and this year organizers are hoping for an even greater turnout.

The Rainbow Festival takes over the area near 20th and K Streets and offers live entertainment and street vendors as part of a celebration of Sacramento’s LGBTQ community.

Headlining performers for the festival include Cazwell, Eureka O’Hara, Alyssa Edwards and Samantha Mumba. Tap here to see the full festival lineup.

The goal of the festival is to raise money for charities that have extra significance to the LGBTQ community and to raise awareness of those charities, the festival website states. Their primary charity this year is the Jose Julio Sarria Scholarship Fund, which is offered all over the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Admission:

  • $10
Credit: Rawpixel/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Group of People Waving Gay Pride Symbol Flags

Yolo Brewfest 2019

When: Aug. 31 | 4 to 8 p.m.

Where: Heritage Plaza and Main Street, Woodland

The 7th Annual Yolo Brewfest is back in Woodland, with more than 30 breweries, cideries, meaderies and wineries on tap for a day of sampling the finest drinks in Northern California.

In addition to the bevy of beverages, the Yolo Brewfest will also feature foods from local restaurants and live music and entertainment.

The event is organized by the Woodland Luna Vista Rotary Club and the City of Woodland. This year’s brew fest will raise funds for the Friends of Adult Day Health Care. Fill in more info.

Admission:

  • $40 – General Admission: Entry into the event at 5 p.m. with unlimited tastings
  • $50 – VIP Admission: Entry into the event at 4 p.m., unlimited tastings with a larger tasting glass, and a reusable swag bag.

[Tap here for additional services being offered, including a designated driver]

Credit: Woodland Luna Vista Rotary Club
The 7th Annual Yolo Brewfest is back in Woodland, Calif.

Dry Diggings Camping & Music Festival

When: Aug. 30 - Sept. 1

Where: El Dorado Fairgrounds, 100 Placerville Drive, Placerville, Calif.

The 5th Annual Dry Diggings Camping and Music Festival is back and better than ever with 22 bands ready to rock all weekend long.

This three-day event, billed as a “camping and lifestyle festival,” is headlined by Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution and Fortunate Youth, and takes place at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. Click here to check out the full concert schedule.

There will, of course, be camping, as well as an interactive vendor village. On Saturday, the Gold Pan Jam skateboarding competition goes down at the on-site skatepark with day-of signups beginning at 10 a.m. The Competition beings at 1 p.m. Notable skateboarder judges will be present.

Festival organizers say their vision is to create a unique music and lifestyle festival experience, where fans come together and enjoy camping, music and a positive welcoming atmosphere for fans of all ages

Admission:

Credit: Michael Salomon

Boots, Beer & BBQ Festival

When: Aug. 31 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: Weber Point, 221 North Center Street, Stockton

The Boots, Beer, and BBQ festival, also known as the B3 Fest, is coming to downtown Stockton this weekend.

The event is centered around its BBQ and chili cook-off, but will also include live music by country artists, bull rides, giveaways, prizes, and raffles. There will, of course, be food vendors and beer vendors on-site, too.

Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Barbecue Ribs With Sauсes Closeup. Man's Hand With Spareribs. High Resolution

Manteca Music Festival

When: Aug. 31 | 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Where: FESM Event Center, 240 N. Main Street, Manteca

The Manteca Music Festival is billed as a freestyle and old school concert and dance party featuring music stylings from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.

The event is for people ages 21 and older. Artists include Timex Social Club, Mellow Man Ace, Candyman, and Spanish Fly and many more.

There will be tacos sold inside and a food truck available outside as well as a full bar.

Admission:

  • $22 – General Admission
Credit: Strictly Old School Events

2019 Midway Art & Music Festival

When: Aug. 30 at 8 a.m. to Sept. 1 at 9:30 p.m. 

Where: Heavenly Village, 1001 Heavenly Village Way, South Lake Tahoe

Labor Day Weekend in South Lake Tahoe gets an added bonus with the 2019 Midway Art & Music Festival at the Heavenly Village.

This festival is free and open to the public and takes over the entire Heavenly Village and fills the entire weekend with activities for the entire family. Some family-friendly events include carnival rides, caricature artists, jugglers, a fortune teller, and face painting.

There will also be an art show featuring all local Tahoe artists, a 5K run with plenty of room left for more runners, and a car show open to entries for all makes and models with prizes for the winners.

And all weekend long there will be live music on three different stages spread across the village with 14 local and regional artists performing.

Admission:

  • FREE!
Credit: J Savvy Photography

Taste of Sonoma

When: Aug. 31 | Noon to 4 p.m.

Where: Green Music Center at Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park, Calif.

Taste of Sonoma is a showcase of the county’s best wineries and chefs. The event features a wind grand tasting area where visitors can walk around and sample select wines from the dozens of participating wineries.

There will also be a chefs pavilion and demonstrations, guided wine seminars, themed lounges with live entertainment, a silent disco, and a beer garden featuring local breweries and a reggae band.

This event is organized by Sonoma County Vintners, which represents more than 250 wineries and businesses throughout the county.

Admission:

  • $180 – General Admission
  • $255 – VIP Admission

[Learn more about wine seminars and Visa Signature discount passes]

Credit: Bob McClenahan

Sausalito Art Festival 2019

When: Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. to Sept. 2 at 5 p.m.

Where: Marinship Park, Marinship Way, Sausalito, Calif.

The Sausalito Art Festival combines world-class art, music, food and drink to Marinship Park on the Sausalito waterfront over Labor Day Weekend.

Now entering its 67th year, the festival is shaking things up and re-inventing itself.

“It’s an art festival and that will always be our roots,” said Louis Briones, the festival’s executive director.

This year the event will see a new sculpture garden, high-tech art exhibits, new branding and “wine experiences” from Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Also new this year is an Art-Tech pavilion, where guests will get a unique art experience interacting with exhibits using augmented and virtual reality.

To top it all off, there will be live musical performances on two separates stages for all three days of the festival. Some of the groups performing include Blues Travelers, ZZ ward, Blood, Sweat, & Tears and more!

The Sausalito Art Festival Foundation provides scholarships to art students all around the region and promotes the arts culture within the community.

Admission:

  • $30 – General admission each day Saturday through Monday.
  • $25 – Admission for seniors (age 62+) Saturday through Monday.
  • $100 – VIP admission each day Saturday through Monday.
  • $150 – Admission into Friday’s opening night preview party.
Credit: Amy Hart
The Sausalito Art Festival combines world-class art, music, food and drink to Marinship Park on the Sausalito waterfront over Labor Day Weekend.

Oakland meets San Francisco Food Tour

When: Aug. 31 | Tour start times vary

Where: 

  • For the San Franciso tour: Ferry Building Marketplace, One Ferry Building, San Francisco
  • For the Oakland tour: Jack London Square, 481 Water Street, Oakland, Calif.

The Oakland meets San Francisco Food Tour by Local Food Adventures is an immersive 3+ hour experience into the history, art, culture, and especially, the food of the City of Oakland.

For the full tour, diners will meet at San Francisco’s Ferry Building to dine on an award-winning Oakland original. Afterward, guests will board a ferry and embark across the Bay to the Oakland waterfront at Jack London Square. Once in Oakland, guests will set out on a four-stop tour of “The Town’s” unique local food and drink scene.

Those who wish to participate in the tour can join for the full experience from San Francisco to Oakland or you can go straight to the source and meet up directly with diners in Jack London Square. Either way, you’ll be sure to get an amazing taste of what the East Bay has to offer.

Admission:

  • $79 – Per person starting their tour in Oakland only
  • $124 – Per person taking the San Francisco>Oakland tour

[+$20 – VIP option includes an Oakland ale, a flight of four beer tasters, a glass of red or white wine with dessert, and a tote bag.]

Credit: Local Food Adventures

Do you have an event idea? Send your suggestions to mnuttle@abc10.com

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