Looking for fun fall events this weekend? Then look no further than the festivities along the Capitol Corridor! Enjoy a Day of the Dead Party in Sacramento, celebrate PIER 39’s 39th Birthday, engage in art, poetry, and jazz performances in Davis!
Dia de Los Muertos Fiesta: 10/13, Sacramento
Get ready for some spooky Halloween spirit at the California Museum’s annual Dia de Los Muertos Fiesta (Day of the Dead Party). On Friday the 13th, from 6pm to 10pm, there will be appearances by Day of the Dead exhibit artists Saskia Onvlee, Roberto Vega, Lurac & Oscar Magallanes as well as a ceremonial blessing by Maquilli Tonatiuh Aztec Dancers. Fiesta activities for everyone include a sugar skull decorating workshop; a costume contest with prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners; hands-on activities and face painting for kids ages 5 and up. Food and beverages will be sold by Mayahuel Restaurant & Tequila Museum and a Mercado de Los Muertos (Market of the Dead) will feature items on sale by regional artists including John S. Huerta. $10 tickets will be sold online through Oct. 12 or purchase for $20 at the door. In addition, the museum will have a grand opening of the new exhibition Arte y Almas: Día de Los Muertos 2017 (Art & Souls: Day of the Dead 2017).
Getting there: Take the train to the Sacramento Station. From there, you can walk or hop on the SacRT Gold Line with a free Transit Transfer that you can request from the Capitol Corridor conductor.
PIER 39 Birthday Bash & Fireworks: 10/14, San Francisco
Grab your party hats and head to the waterfront to celebrate PIER 39’s 39th birthday! From 5pm to 10pm, Saturday, October 14, enjoy raving glow-in-the-dark entertainment, DJs, a silent disco, and a live performance by The Party Crashers at Pier 39 Birthday Bash and Fireworks. At 9pm, the fun-filled evening under the stars will culminate with PIER 39’s spectacular fireworks show over San Francisco Bay.
Getting there: Depending on your station of origin, take the train to the Richmond Station or Oakland Coliseum Station. There you can connect to BART for service into downtown San Francisco. Discount BART tickets and Muni tokens are available for purchase in the Café Car. From downtown San Francisco, you can take Muni to PIER 39 or enjoy the mile walk along the water.
Jazz and Beat Festival: 10/13 – 10/14, Davis
Experience an intimate weekend of jazz, art and poetry collaboration at the 10th Annual Jazz and Beat Festival in Davis. The festival combines visual art and music – featuring jazz musicians and painters simultaneously creating improvisational artworks. On Friday, October 13 from 6:30pm to 10pm, enjoy poetry readings and painting improvisations set to the rhythm of live jazz. The evening will also include the Jack Kerouac Annual Poetry contest in which winners collaborate with musicians. This is a unique opportunity for attendees to experience exclusive performances by well-known jazz musicians, jazz painters, and poets with two live venues featuring more than 200 artists.
Getting there: Take the train to the Davis Station, which is just a short walk away.
Pizzafest: 10/14, Berkeley
Unfortunately this event has been cancelled as it was an outdoor event and the air quality is so poor due to the smoke in Berkeley. Fingers crossed it will come back next year!
Written by Sylvia Sheehan
Photo courtesy Kristi Dvorak