Spring SacAnime will take place from Friday to Sunday, April 24-26, 2026 at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Over 100 vendors and cosplayers will be at this family-friendly event. Children ages 11 and under do not require a ticket.
As part of Día, kids can enjoy a Bilingual Storytime combining soccer and reading on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Pannell Community Center in Sacramento. There will be stories, rhymes, songs, and movement for children ages 0-5.
As part of the B Street Theatre Family Series, ONCE UPON A TIME... premieres in April on select days from April 18 to May 3, 2026. The performance will take the audience on exciting adventures. Performance is for children ages 5+ and runs for 1 hour and 15 minutes with an intermission.
The Winters Fire Department will have a free sensory-friendly fire station tour on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 5-6pm. Kids can touch the trucks and meet fire heroes with no sirens or loud noises.
The Elk Grove Spring Palooza returns for the first time since 2019 over three days, Friday to Sunday, May 1 to 3, 2026 at Elk Grove Park. There will be many activities for includes including pony rides, carnival games, face painting, and more. A parade and live entertainment will take place as part of the festival. Kids 12 and under, and students with school ID cards receive free admission.
Have a roar-some time at Dinosaur Day at the Koobs Nature Area on Saturday, May 2, 2026. There will be interactive dinosaur-themed activities for kids at this free event.
SMUD MOSAC will have a K-Pop Demon Hunters Laser Show on select Saturdays March to May 2026. Two show times will include 10:30am and 4pm. Museum admission is required for entry, and is an additional $5 for the Laser Show. Online advance purchase of tickets is recommended as shows are likely to sell out.
Movies in the Park return in Elk Grove for 2026. Free family-friendly movies will be shown in various Elk Grove park. Seating begins at 6pm and movies are shown around sundown.
Barnflix is a free outdoor movies series at Drake's: The Barn in West Sacramento taking place the first Wednesday of the month in 2026 from May to October. While all ages are welcome, this movie series is particularly good for teens.
Fog Willow Farms will have its annual Spring Chicken Family Festival for only three days in 2026 over Mother's Day Weekend, May 8-10, 2026. $12 per person from 9:30am to 6pm. On Mother's Day, moms receive free admission and a small sweet treat.
Nature Explorers is a monthly, open play, drop-in program at the Sacramento Zoo that includes sensory play, interactive activities, nature observation, and more on the first Saturday of every month, all year. The theme changes each month. Nature Explorers takes place from 10am to 2pm behind the restroom near The Okapi Trail, and is included with regular zoo admission.
Snuggle with baby goats during the popular Family Goodnight Goats at Spenker Family Farms in Lodi on select dates from February 28 - May 9, 2026. This event is for ages 4+ and children must be accompanied by a paid adult. Help get baby goats to bed by snuggling and reading to them, followed by milk and cookies. Sessions are 30 minutes and will occur at 6pm and 6:30pm.
The free Promenade of Mermaids will take place on Friday, May 15, 2026. The family-friendly march will take place in Old Sacramento from 4pm-7pm to kick off the California Mermaid Convention. The march will begin from the Embarcadero in Old Sacramento.
The California Mermaid Convention swims into Rancho Cordova with children's activities taking place on Saturday and Sunday, May 16 & 17, 2026, each day from 10am to 4pm. This is a family-friendly event that includes specific children's programming such as kids swimming with mermaids, and participating in land-based games and treasure hunts.
Kids can take to the miniature Sacramento streets of Safetyville USA to ride their bikes and learn about bike safety at Safetyville Bike Rodeos. Pre-registration for the event is required.
Head to Safetyville USA on Saturday, May 16, 2026 for Maggie's Ride, a free family event where kids can safely learn how to ride bikes
Celebrate bees and honey at the annual California Honey Festival at the Yolo County Fairgrounds for two days on Saturday May 16 and Sunday, May 17, 2026. Taste honey, observe live bees, and participate in family-friendly fun in the Kid Zone. There will be over 100 vendors at the California Honey Festival, along with live music, food, cooking demos, and an educational stage.
Families can enjoy a free outdoor movie on Friday, May 22, 2026 as part of Friday Flicks at Vernon Street Town Square in Roseville. The movie Elio will begin playing at 8pm/sunset. There will be free movie-themed activities before the movie from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
Southgate Recreation & Park's District free annual Movie in the Park series returns on various Tuesday and Thursday summer evenings in 2026. Each movie will be shown at a different park. Arrive early at 6pm for kid-friendly activities from the R.E.C. Van, games, and crafts. Movies will begin playing at sunset.
Families can head to Village Green Park in Rancho Cordova for free Friday Moonlight Movies during every Friday in June 2026. Two different movies will be shown each Friday night (first one at 5:30pm, second one at 7pm). This year's theme is Red, White, & Movie Night.
Once upon a time, there was a Fairytale Royalty Float-In Movie Night happening on Friday, June 5, 2026 at the Christine Thompson Aquatic Center in Sacramento. Watch Snow White (live action version) from the pool and enjoy free ice cream, arts and crafts, and more pre-movie fun.
World of Wonder Science Museum (WOW) in Lodi will have free all-day admission for all on select Sundays in 2026.
Families can attend the free Arden Fair Kids' Club Summer Program every Friday and Saturday from June 12 to July 25, 2026, from 1pm to 2pm. The free hour of kids' activities will include hands-on activities, performances, and games.
The Crocker Art Museum screens Movies Off the Wall on monthly Thursday evenings the summer. Films will be showed in the museum's outdoor courtyard. This movie series is better for teens and college students. The 2026 movie theme is romantic comedies from the 90s and early 2000s.
Family Movie Night returns to Folsom for three nights in summer 2026. Families will get to watch outdoor movies for free at unique family-friendly locations in Folsom, including the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary, Andy Morin Sports Complex, and Steve Miklos Aquatic Center. Each movie night will have free activities themed to the location from 6:30pm to 8pm. Movies begin at 8:30pm.