Summer’s finally here! We suggest putting your three-month plan of freezing your undergarments and hugging the air conditioner on hold; instead, take a look at some of the great activities summer has in store for you—both in and around the local area. Fun stuff! Pool stuff! Kids’ stuff! Food stuff! Adult beverage stuff! A veritable smorgasbord of sunshiny, delicious, adventure-filled fun. We can see you’re enticed. Let’s go! (OK, fine: We’ll allow the air-con and frozen undergarments as Plan B.)

Article by Sharon Penny

FUN KIDS’ STUFF!

Have a budding animal lover in your midst? Camp Kindness at the Sacramento SPCA is a great way to teach your kids about dogs, cats and other companion animals, through demonstrations, games, tours and guest speakers. Five-day summer sessions run June through August for ages 7-9, 10-12 and 13-15. Don’t miss out on the fun—sign up now! 

 

Bring your Sleeping Beauties, Ugly Ducklings and Frog Princes to Fairytale Town’s Storybook Park on June 17 at 5:30 p.m. for an exciting Family Campout. Admission includes a theater performance, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, bedtime stories, continental breakfast and more. 

 

Never underestimate how much fun art can be for kids. The Crocker Art Museum’s Kids & Company Gallery Adventure is a perfect introduction to art for ages 5 and older, and it’s a great way for adults to see art through kids’ eyes too. The adventure takes place on the first and third Sunday of every month, 10:30-11:30 a.m.; free for museum members, or free with general admission for nonmembers. 

 

Bring your little one (up to 18 months old) to the Crocker Art Museum for the Baby Loves Art program, a stimulating gallery walk that allows babies and parents/caregivers to connect through art. Baby noises are A) expected and B) welcome. Front carriers recommended; strollers allowed, but please no backpacks. Held every third Tuesday of the month, free for museum members, or free with general admission for gallery nonmembers. Meet at the admission desk; no advance registration required. 

Let your creative young innovators loose at one of ReCREATE’s awesome weeklong Summer Maker Camps choose from Circuits and Robotics, Prototyping and 3D Modeling, Cosplay Challenge, Maker Carnival, Fairy Gardens, Cardboard Challenge and Robotic Petting Zoo. (Note: We’re unclear on whether there is a YES PLEASE, ALL OF THE CAMPS, PLEASE option.) 

 

 

 

The City of Roseville has super-fun day camps for kids of every age, from Camp Play for 4-6-year-olds, to Camp Roseville for ages 6-11; and Teen Scene for ages 11-13. And that’s just a taste of what’s on offer! 

“Let’s all go to the lobby”…or how about the LIBRARY for Lincoln Public Library’s Family Movie Night? Bring the kids for a fun night brought to you by the Friends of the Library and the Lincoln Host Lions Club, held in the Willow Room on the third Saturday of every month at 5:30 p.m. Purchase your popcorn, soda and candy there or bring your own snacks. 

  

 

Share the tradition of Native American storytelling with your kids at the Maidu Museum Campfires. Toast complimentary marshmallows by the fire and hear the native stories of the Maidu Indians under the night sky at the Maidu Museum’s outdoor amphitheater every third Friday at 7:30 p.m. (Museum doors open 7 p.m.) Call in advance for groups of 10 or more. 

On July 15, take your kids on a journey to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away for an experience like no other and watch Star Wars under the night sky for Rocklin’s Evening in the Park! The force will be with you from 7-10 p.m. at Johnson-Springview Park. Remember kids: No matter what George Lucas tells you, Han shot first. 

FUN FOOD & DRINK!

10 local and regional ice cream, shaved ice, frozen yogurt and gelato magicians—Style staffer tested…and approved. Oh, we know there’s more: We’re just getting you started!

  

1. The Parlor Ice Cream Puffs, Roseville—Warm, gooey donuts (or macaroons) stuffed with exquisite ice cream and toppings

2. Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates, Sacramento—Decadent handmade gourmet ice cream using organic milk and local dairy

3. Rita’s Italian Ice, Rocklin—Italian ices, frozen custard and more! 

4. Frozen in Time Shaved Ice/The Yogurt Shop, Loomis—Look for the shaved ice truck at an event near you, or swing by their storefront for self-serve fro yo in flavors like Oreo Cookie Gelato and Dole Pineapple 

5. Dr. Bob’s Donuts & DoYos, Roseville—“The world’s healthiest donuts” topped with frozen yogurt and toppings is a sweet success, indeed!

6. Leatherby’s Family Creamery, Citrus Heights, leatherbys.net—An area staple since 1982 where every day is “sundae”

7. Osaka-Ya, Sacramento, 916-446-6857—Specializing in Japanese shaved ice (we recommend getting the “ice cream upgrade”) featuring finely shaved ice right off the block with freshly made syrups

 

 8. Vic’s Ice Cream, Sacramento—A family-owned, old-fashioned ice cream parlor and Sacramento staple since 1947

 9. Sparkles Ice Cream, Granite Bay—Handcrafted, gourmet ice cream that’s made-to-order using liquid nitrogen, which puts the “creamy” in ice “cream” 

10. Little Bliss Cakery, Granite Bay—You had us at hand-scooped, ice cream cookie sandwiches

 

“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, where oxlips and the nodding violet grows…” Come ye to the Midsummer Night’s Dream and Crystal Ice Cream Fantasy at Fairytale Town on June 25 from 5-9 p.m. Enjoy William Shakespeare’s fairy-themed play while noshing on all-you-can eat ice cream! Family costumes encouraged. 

Grab a cold one at South Placer Rotary’s Rocklin Brewfest on June 4 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Johnson-Springview Park. Featuring 30-plus craft brewers, including popular locals like Black Vinyl Ale, The Monk’s Cellar and Track 7, as well as “big dogs” like Sierra Nevada and Lagunitas. There will also be live music, food vendors and wine tasting; proceeds benefit the South Placer Rotary charitable foundation. 

Don’t miss Grape Days of Summer on the Placer County Wine Trail this August (dates TBD). Enjoy wines from some of the award-winning wineries along the trail, plus local food and live music, while learning about the area’s agriculture along the way. 

Placer County wineries are full of fun and music this summer; be sure to visit any of the excellent wineries for regular summer events like Sip’s Ladies’ Night every Thursday from 5-8 p.m. for 15 percent off bottles; Wise Villa’s Friday Night Dinner & Music every Friday from 5:30-7:30 p.m.; and Dono dal Cielo’s Free Live Music every Saturday from 1-4 p.m.

Put on your best beer goggles and hop on over to the hops at the eighth annual Auburn Brewfest at Gold Country Fairgrounds on June 11 from 4-9 p.m. Tons of local and well-known brews, as well as great food and live music will all be on tap. 

  

Things will heat up at Rusch Park when the third annual Hot August Bites (I want to make so many Neil Diamond puns right now but it’ll cost me my job) celebration kicks off August 13 at 4 p.m. Enjoy food trucks, live music by the 8-Tracks and a classic car show. Rusch Pool will be open for a free night swim from 4-7 p.m., too. 

Don’t miss the third annual Loomis Blues Burgers & Brew on June 25, featuring live music from The Divine Diva Review, delicious food and plenty of local libations at the Peter Oakes Stage in beautiful Downtown Loomis. 

The eighth annual Classics Cats & Cabernet charity event at FieldHaven Feline Center will be held June 11 from 4-8 p.m. Attendees will enjoy a fabulous dinner and dessert along with wine, beer and sangria snow cones; there will also be classic cars on display, as well as silent and live auctions. Emcee for the evening is KFBK’s Kitty O’Neal. Proceeds benefit FieldHaven, and last year’s event raised almost $100K. 

FUN SIGHTS!

 

 Hidden Falls Regional Park in Auburn is ideal for hikers of any age, with over 14 trails of varying degrees of difficulty; oh and it’s beautiful. It gets crowded in the summertime, so head out early if you want to beat the rush. 

  

Auburn State Recreation Area has a huge variety of activities available including white water rafting, and numerous hiking trails for all ages and skill levels. Quarry Trail is a great hike for families (with plenty of well-maintained bathroom stops along the way) and the scenery is spectacular! 

 

The UC Davis Arboretum, a beautiful treasure on the UC Davis campus right off of I-80, features a shady 3.5-mile loop full of flora from a wide variety of regions. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot turtles, ducks and other wildlife! There are plenty of shaded lawn areas for picnics and family gatherings, and parking is free on the weekends. 

There’s five miles of fun in the gorgeous Gibson Ranch Regional Loop Trail. Enjoy the scenic three-mile trail around the perimeter of the park; if you prefer a watery setting, try the two-mile Dry Creek Trail; or pick up some feed at the general store and feed the ducks at Gibson Lake! 

 

Just a few miles outside of Auburn, take a hike and see the spectacular sights atop the North Fork Dam where a breathtaking cascade of water awaits. The trail to Lake Clementine is roughly 4.5 miles round-trip and classified as moderate. There’s not much shade, so take your time, bring a hat and lots of sunscreen, and try not to hit the trail in the hottest part of the day. 

FUN SWIMMING!

Wake Island Water Sports—the West Coast’s largest waterpark located just outside of Roseville—opened a new Aqua Park in May. In addition to wakeboarding, wake surfing, boating and paddleboats, there’s now a whole mess of inflatable slides, runways, jumping pillows and bouncers—all connected together and floating in a huge lake waiting for you! 

 

Ride the Riptide, surf the Six Chuter, dash the Double Dare, thrill to Thunder Falls, splash down Stormrider, scream down the Stealth, “prince” down the Revolution…do you get the idea? Golfland SunSplash in Roseville has so many water attractions I resorted to a corny joke before I named all of them! 

 

From June 13 through August 5, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30-9 p.m., bring the family for a dip and a splash at Roseville Aquatics Complex’s Family Night. Make the most of these long summer nights! 

Before we built giant slides that beckoned teenagers, there were swimming holes. In the early 1900s Clark’s Hole was a hot spot (it even had its own lifeguard back in the day). About a mile along the Lake Clementine Trail take the detour under the Foresthill Bridge and voila. Oasis awaits! 

  

Swimming’s not fun for everyone; when it comes to having fun in the water, confidence and safety are key. Learn from the best, and take advantage of Rocklin Wave’s Summer Swim Lesson program, with a level to suit any age or skill level. Private lessons are also available, as well as synchronized swimming and youth diving camps. 

FUN TOURS!

Want a real taste of Sacramento? Local Roots Food Tours as the 411. Get to know Midtown like a hip local with the Urban Art Food and Libations Tour; experience the K-Street revival with the Gourmet on K Walking Tour; or stroll East Sacramento and the Fabulous Forties and get right to the heart (and belly) of Sacramento’s food obsession with the Origins of Sacramento Food and Cultural Tour. 

 

 

The Sacramento History Museum offers some great, guided tours through Old Sacramento’s colorful history. Get into the underbelly (literally) at an Underground Tour, or take an Underground After Hours (over 21s) to see another side of Sacramento history; learn about Sactown’s boomtown origins and how the Gold Rush influenced the city at a Gold Rush Experience Tour; or take the Ghost Tour and find out about the skeletons in Old Sacramento’s closet! 

Get your Auburn history right from the source! Placer County Museum Docent Guild offers historic guided Walking Tours of Old Town Auburn every Saturday, rain or shine. Meet at the courthouse on Maple Street at 10 a.m. 530 889-6500 

  

Mark your calendars for 2016’s PlacerGROWN Farm and Barn Tour, a free, self-guided expedition of farms, ranches and vineyards in the beautiful countryside of Placer County on October 9. Locally grown produce and wine will be available for purchase. 

 

Fork ‘N Road offers curated small group tours and experiences, including Placer Wine Trail Tours, Placer Ale Trail Tours or custom tours of your choosing. What’s more, you’ll be in the capable hands of former wine industry employees, self-described craft-brew geeks and hospitality specialists. 

 

See the inner-workings of a local Rocklin brewery and learn about all that goes into creating fine brews at an Out of Bounds Brewery Tour every Wednesday and Sunday. Or drop by the tasting room weekdays (excluding Mondays) and weekends to sample their wares (and play some ping pong!). 

FUN ENTERTAINMENT!

 You don’t need a tent for the Crocker Art Museum’s Film Series: Adult Summer CAMP!—we’re talking theatrical camp, darlings. Arrive early for a campy Happy Hour cocktail in the Crocker Café, and then cool off in the Setzer Foundation Auditorium for film and fun, with an introduction by local film lover/historian Jacob Greenberg and a campy short film to get you in the mood. On June 2, 1994’s Australian high-camp extravaganza Priscilla, Queen of the Desert screens. 

Summer is block party time, and the Crocker Art Museum is throwing the ultimate summer block party, Block By Block and it’s free! Join artists, musicians, community groups, dancers, DJs, urban gardeners, poets, culinary artists and more for a party like no other on June 11 from noon to 7 p.m. at Steve Jones Park. 

 

 

Fairytale Town Children’s Theater presents Animal Olympics, starring magician and ventriloquist Tony Borders. You’ll see a variety of animals learn amazing abilities: a five-handed monkey, an animal that lifts the most weight just by standing up, and more! Don’t miss the fun June 4-5, with shows at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. 

 

 

Rocklin’s Concerts at Quarry Park continue through summer with Tim Flannery and Lunatic Fringe on June 18 (yes SF Giants fans, that’s Tim Flannery, former third base coach); Country Fest on July 23; Marin County psychedelic rock legends Sons of Champlin on August 13; and An Evening with Molly Ringwald on September 17. 

The City of Rocklin and the Sacramento River Cats are teaming up to benefit Autism Speaks on June 17 for Rocklin Night at the River Cats as they take on the El Paso Chihuahuas. rivercats.com/gamelink (click on “City of Rocklin” to access the special portal; type the code “Rocklin” to get a discount!)

Don’t miss Roseville Theatre Arts Academy’s Godspell (2012 revised version) running July 22-30, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the Roseville Theater. The classic musical featuring hit song “Day by Day” has been updated with new contemporary references and dazzling new arrangements. 

Don’t miss Antelope Summerfest at Antelope Community Park on June 4 from 4-8 p.m. Featuring live music from Boomer, SactoMofo food trucks, a climbing wall, a bounce house, games and Sac Metro Fire demonstrations, the Antelope Aquatics Complex will also be open for public swim and a free night swim. 

 

 The Auburn Library presents free Silver Screen Classic Movies in the Beecher Room, the first Saturday of the month at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. June 4 is the Bette Davis classic All About Eve, July 2 is Woody Allen’s hilarious mockumentary Take the Money and Run and August 6 is the Humphrey Bogart classic The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’ badges!). Be sure to join Susan Rushton in the Beecher Room the following Monday at 6 p.m. for a deeper discussion of the movie. 

Step back in time on June 27 at 5 p.m. for Roseville Historical Society’s Vintage Baseball an 1880s-style baseball game where everything is vintage, including uniforms, equipment and even the rules! Featuring the Gold Country Vintage League vs. Roseville High Alumni at Roseville High’s Clancy Field, general admission is $10; kids under 10 (and anyone over 100) are free. Proceeds benefit the Roseville Historical Society and Roseville High Alumni. 

 

 

Prithee friend, don’t miss Take Note Troupe's 11th annual Shakespeare in the Park this summer, featuring A Midsummer Night’s Dream. These free performances will run thru June 11, taking place in Meadow Vista, Auburn, Roseville, Lincoln and Rocklin. 

FUN ARTS + CRAFTS!

 

 

The iconic portraiture of Andy Warhol is on display at the Andy Warhol: Portraits exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum thru June 19. Don’t miss the chance to see some of his most iconic works up close (Judy Garland, Truman Capote, Sylvester Stallone) along with early sketches, polaroids, photographs and personal memorabilia. Evoke Warhol’s Factory experience with your own “screen test” and start working on your 15 minutes of fame if you haven’t already, or hang out in the recreated factory. 

 

Enjoy the best of local art this summer with Auburn Art Walk’s First Fridays, June 3, August 5 and October 7 from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy art shows, music, demonstrations, wine tastings, pop-up exhibits, readings, children’s activities and much more! 

 

 

Eat, drink, paint and be merry this summer by signing up for The Art Bistro in Rocklin’s guided Paint & Sip classes. Or if you’re feeling your creativity and just need an outlet, take advantage of their Open Studio and the wide variety of mediums at your fingertips. 

Want to see some new local art? Visit the High Hand Gallery in Loomis July 5-26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for their quarterly Re-Hang. Because the High Hand artists are so prolific, every few months existing art is taken down and the “re-hang” takes place. Admission is free, and it’s a great opportunity to see new art and new artists. 

FUN FAIRS + FESTIVALS!

The joyful squeals, smell of cotton candy and fried corn dogs, sunscreen, barnyard “fragrances,” calliope music…yes, these sensory experiences can only mean one thing: It’s summer, and it’s time for the fair. Which one? All of them! Or maybe just your local one! It’s up to you. But don’t stop there. Summer fairs mean summer festivals, so if you haven’t driven yourself into a sugar/fried food coma at the fair, check out some of the local produce festivals, or dance off all the food at some of the great live music festivals. It’s all happening! 

 FAIRS

El Dorado County Fair, June 16-19

 Placer County Fair: Wild, Wacky and Wonderful!, June 23-26

California State Fair, July 8-24

Amador County Fair, July 28-31

Yuba-Sutter Fair, August 4-7

Plumas-Sierra County Fair, August 10-14

Yolo County Fair, August 17-21

FOOD FESTS

 

Marysville Peach Festival, July 15-16 

Courtland Pear Fair, July 31

Woodland Tomato Festival, August 13

Banana Festival, August 20-21 at Shasta Park

 Old Sugar Mill Wine and Cheese Faire, August 27-28 in Clarksburg

Alpenglow Mountain Festival, June 18-26 in Tahoe City—a 10-day biannual festival celebrating human-powered mountain sports with events, clinics, equipment demos and more.

California State Fair Concert Series: July 8-24 featuring Salt N Pepa, Plain White T’s, Chaka Khan, Tower of Power, Dwight Yoakam, Styx, Pointer Sister, Don Felder, and Loverboy, just to name a few! 

 

Wanderlust Festival, July 14-17 at Squaw Valley—an extraordinary four-day retreat that combines yoga, music, speakers and outdoor adventures. The ultimate restorative getaway! 

Bear Valley Music Festival, July 22-August 7 at Bear Valley—Maestro Michael Morgan brings the best in classical symphony, jazz, opera and more…all in a gorgeous mountain setting. 

 

Outside Lands, August 5-7 at Golden Gate Park—Radiohead, Lionel Richie, Lana Del Rey, Miguel, Third Eye Blind, The Muppets’ Dry Teeth and The Electric Mayhem and more. 

City of Trees, September  10 at Bonney Field—Weezer, Panic at the Disco, Phantogram and more. 

All other photos courtesy of their respective companies/organizations.