October 1st

Great Auburn Obstacle Race. Lace up your sneakers and head to Auburn’s Regional Park for a 5K with fun obstacles like a foam tunnel, maze, tire run, creek crossing, mud pit, and more. The race is open to all levels and will begin at 9 a.m. auburnrec.com/events/great-auburn-obstacle-race

Glass, Paper, & Scissors. Peruse larger-than-life glass and metal flowers, amazing floral-themed watercolors, and incredible appliquéd textile pieces at this must-see exhibit at Folsom’s Gallery at 48 Natoma. Hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; admission is free. folsom.ca.us
(THRU NOVEMBER 8)

 

October 5th

HER Women’s Conference. Celebrate women’s health, entrepreneurship, and relationships through engaging workshops and thought-provoking discussions at the Harris Center from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Listen to keynote speakers Kara Goldin and Lauren Johnson, and enjoy hosted wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages. folsomwomensconference.com

October 6th

Queen of the Night! Remembering Whitney. Celebrate the best of Whitney Houston through the talented voice of Trina Johnson Finn, a versatile artist with acclaimed charisma and sophistication. The lively performance will include some of Las Vegas’ top musicians, two talented background vocalists, and four dynamic dancers. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Harris Center. harriscenter.net/whitney

 

Under the Harvest Moon. This black-tie gala presented by Child Advocates of Placer County will feature a champagne greeting, cocktail hour with live music, silent auction, photo booth, family-style dinner (courtesy of Bennett’s Kitchen Bar Market), and dessert sale. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit and their mission to assist foster children, at-risk youth, and struggling families in the community. Doors to the private Lincoln estate open at 6 p.m. casaplacer.org/calendar/gala

The Big Crush. Celebrate the grape harvest by visiting six wineries each day in Amador County where you’ll enjoy wine flights alongside small bites, harvest-related experiences, and live music. amadorwine.com/big-crush-harvest-wine-festival
(THRU 8)

Placer Valley 2023. Head to Bayside Church (Blue Oaks Campus in Roseville) for the largest business summit in the region from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Connect with economic leaders and experience a business trade show, informational sessions, guest speakers, happy hour, and a meet-and-greet with keynote speaker Margaret O’Mara, the Scott and Dorothy Bullitt Professor of American History at the University of Washington. rosevillechamber.com/placer-valley

October 7th

Auburn Wine, Ale, & Food Festival. Sip your way through charming Old Town and Downtown Auburn while enjoying wine, craft beer, and farm-to-fork fare from 25 Sierra Foothill wineries and breweries, along with 25 local restaurants from 1-5 p.m. placerwine.com/plan-your-visit/events/auburn-wine-food-festival

 

Boots and Bling. Raise funds for horses in need by attending this 10th annual BBQ dinner from 4-10 p.m. Festivities include music, entertainment, and a live and silent auction at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds. Proceeds benefit All About Equine Animal Rescue and their mission to aid and rehabilitate neglected and unwanted horses.
allaboutequine.org/boots-and-bling.html

 

Heart of Gold Gravel Bike Race. Experienced bikers are invited to participate in a challenging ride starting at Nevada City’s Rood Center with two course options ranging from 46-70 miles. All proceeds will support teen mental wellness services in Nevada City, including Bright Futures for Youth, Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation, and Youth Bicyclists of Nevada County. heartofgoldgravel.com

 

Maker Faire. Bring your friends and family to Sierra College to witness showcased works of creativity and innovation from crafters, educators, engineers, artists, students, and more from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. rocklin.makerfaire.com

Soap Box Derby. Watch as kiddos and young adults (ages 7-20) compete in amateur races designed to promote teamwork, perseverance, basic construction skills, and the spirit of competition. Races are from 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. both days at Folsom’s Sutter Street. historicfolsom.org/2023/10/07/139753/soap-box-derby
(ALSO 8)

 

October 13th

Coloma Gold Rush. Step back in time and explore the re-creation of an 1850 tent town, mining camp, assay and claims office, gambling hall, general store, carpentry shop, and more at Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (Sunday). marshallgold.com/coloma-gold-rush-live
(THRU 15)

October 14th

Folsom Family Expo. Attend this free, family-friendly event, hosted by STYLE, at the Palladio from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Festivities include hayrides, live performances, vendor booths from local businesses, giveaways, and prizes. facebook.com/folsomfamilyexpo

 

Glass Pumpkin Patch. Visit Folsom’s Gallery at 48 Natoma to view thousands of one-of-a-kind glass pumpkins, acorns, flowers, and more—hand-blown by Aaron and Tate Bezdeck from 2BGlass. All proceeds will benefit Folsom Parks & Recreation’s various community arts education programs. handblownglasspumpkinpatch.com
(THRU 15)

Fine Art Festival. Peruse or purchase works of fine art from talented El Dorado Hills Arts Association, Folsom Arts Association, and Placerville Arts Association artists at the El Dorado Hills Library from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The inaugural event will benefit the Friends of the Library Foundation. eldoradohillsarts.com/fine-art-festival-2023.html

Emerald Extravaganza. Experience the Folsom Lake Symphony and legendary violinist Chee-Yun live at the Harris Center. Chee-Yun has performed in many acclaimed orchestras like the San Francisco Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Japan's NHK Symphony, and Seoul Philharmonic, with standout performances at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and United Nations. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. folsomlakesymphony.com/emerald-extravaganza

 

Hands4Hope Fall Festival. This farm-themed festival at El Dorado Hills Town Center's Steven Young Amphitheater celebrates the diverse agricultural community of El Dorado County. Expect engaging activities for all ages, including games, pumpkin decorating, tractor hayrides, and a 4-H animal exploration area. Proceeds benefit Hands4Hope and their youth development programs. hands4hopeyouth.org/fallfestival
(ALSO 15)

Glow for Gold Gala. Don your best Roaring ’20s attire and join this party with a purpose to show your love and support to children and families battling cancer within our region. Beginning at 5 p.m. at The Center at 2300 in Sacramento, attendees will enjoy auctions (live and silent), fabulous food, signature cocktails, live entertainment, special surprises, and more. Proceeds will benefit Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance. childcancer.org/events/11th-annual-glow-for-gold-gala

 

October 15th

Pawtoberfest. Enter your pup in a costume contest and meet with firefighter handlers and their K-9 companions at the Zittel Family Amphitheater from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Pet vendors, interactive projects, a dog selfie booth, games, treats, and more will also be part of the festivities. Proceeds benefit Hearts 4 Heroes USA, a nonprofit that strives to provide firefighters, EMTs, and EMS nationwide with the care and support they deserve. historicfolsom.org/2023/10/15/155170/pawtoberfest

 

October 21st

Swim with the Pumpkins. Head to the Steve Miklos Aquatic Center to participate in a floating pumpkin patch from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Festive games, crafts, and a trunk-or-treat will also be available. Admission is free, pumpkins are $5 each, and treats from the Folsom Teen Council will be available for purchase. Costumes are encouraged. folsom.ca.us/government/parks-recreation/recreation/special-events

Taste of the Tour. Plan and prepare for the Placer Artists Tour (November 10-12 and 17-19) by attending this preview show where participating artists will showcase one of their works at Blue Line Arts from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. placerartiststour.org/event/taste-of-the-tour-preview-show-3
(THRU NOVEMBER 19)

Spirits, Brews, and Bites. Sample spirits, brews, and bites from the region’s various distilleries, breweries, and restaurants while enjoying live music in the Folsom Historic District from 2:30-5:30 p.m. historicfolsom.org/2023/10/21/139754/spirits-brews-and-bites

 

October 28th

Festifall. Take the kiddos trick-or-treating along Sutter Street where merchants will pass out candy from 2-5 p.m. A kids’ costume contest ($5 cash entry) will take place from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at Zittel Family Amphitheater. historicfolsom.org/ 2023/10/28/139755/festifall-trick-or-treating

Trunk or Treat. Get into the spirit of Halloween by taking the littles trick-or-treating with the Folsom Police and Fire Departments from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at 46 Natoma Street. The event is free and open to all ages. folsom.ca.us

October 30th

Trick or Treating at Palladio. Celebrate All Hallows Eve by trick-or-treating at the Palladio from 5-6 p.m. in your best costume. Attendees can expect a DJ, fun and games, music, and roaming characters for photo ops. Admission is free. gopalladio.com/event/trick-or-treating-at-palladio

October 31st

Halloween Spooktacular. The El Dorado Hills Town Center will transform into a spooky Halloween haven from 3-6 p.m., as participating businesses open their doors for a festive trick-or-treating experience. At 5 p.m., a costume contest for kids and canines will commence at the Steven Young Amphitheater. edhtowncenter.com/upcoming-events/calendar

Safe Trick-or-Treating. Bring your little goblins and fairies (ages 12 and under) to the businesses of Old Town and Downtown Auburn from 3-5 p.m. for trick-or-treating, followed by a costume contest in Herschel Young Park. Admission is free. oldtownauburnca.com/events/safe-trick-or-treating