Best Things to Do in Sacramento with Kids in May 2026
Splash into May by swimming with mermaids in Rancho Cordova at the California Mermaid Convention! Experience more family fun with a kick-off to summer carnivals at the Sacramento County Fair, a nice warm-up to the California State Fair later this year, the Rocklin Community Festival, and Orangevale’s Summer Palooza.
There are also a few free touch-a-truck events in May, with Big Truck Day in Elk Grove and Trucktopia in West Sacramento. And for more transportation experiences, kids can head to the Aerospace Museum for The Force Takes Flight: Open Cockpit Day.
Foodies will want to venture to Yolo County for the California Honey Festival and BerryFest Strawberry Festival, both in Woodland. Speaking of berries, it’s prime u-pick strawberry season, and these are the best places to go strawberry picking near Sacramento.
Check out the Sacramento events calendar for even more events for kids in Sacramento. Want to discover the best things to do in Sacramento with kids? Sign up for the Sactown Supermom newsletter to have events delivered directly to your inbox.
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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. Kids 12 and under, and students with school ID cards receive free[…]
The UC Davis California Raptor Center has its free, annual Spring Open House on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Kids can see raptors and participate in educational activities at this family-friendly event.
Folsom Pedal Quest invites 500 bike riders of all ages to participate in a free self-guided “quest” through the connected bike paths of Folsom on Saturday, May 2, 2026. All ages and abilities are welcome to attend the event. Kids ages 3-6 can participate in the Balance Bike Bash where t hey can pedal on[…]
Join STEM Global Action for a free STEM Fest on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Rex and Margaret Fortune Early College High School in Elk Grove. Students in grades K-12 will get to participate in 60 various STEM activities from making elephant toothpaste to riding a hovercraft, building rockets, and so many more hands-on activities.
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.
The Force Takes Flight: Open Cockpit heads into the galaxy at the Aerospace Museum on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Explore aircraft cockpits in a galaxy far far away alongside costumed characters. Dressing up in galactic gear is encouraged.
The Rocklin Civic Celebration: Red, White & Bluegrass celebrates the City of Rocklin on Saturday, May 2, 2026. This free, family-friendly community event kicks off with a parade at 3:30pm from Front Street to Johnson-Springview Park. The festivities continue at Johnson-Springview Park with live music, entertainment, and a fireworks and drone show finale at 8:20pm.
Have a roar-some time at the Dinosaur Day and Science Fest on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at Sierra College in Rocklin. The day will be full of family-friendly activities from chemistry experiments to live animals, and more. Choose to attend the morning or afternoon session.
Bring bikes and helmets to a free Family Bike Party on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at the North Natomas Community Center parking lot. There will be bike party activities for children ages 3-12 that include a bicycle obstacle course, helmet checks, a traffic circle, free Kona Ice, and more!
The Rocklin Community Festival will take place for four days from May 7-10, 2026. This free community event will occur in Johnson-Springview Park and have carnival rides, entertainment, vendors, and food. While the festival is free, ride wristbands will need to be purchased.
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.
BerryFest Strawberry Festival is a two-day family-friendly festival in Woodland taking place over Mother’s Day Weekend on May 9 & 10, 2026, celebrating the bounty of strawberry season at the Yolo County Fairgrounds.
Celebrate Folsom’s 80th Birthday Celebration at a free community party on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at Folsom City Lions Park. There will be entertainment, carnival games, and lots of family fun. The 1st 500 youth guests will also get free entry to the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary.
Kids will love getting close to check out animals at Wildlife Wonders on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Maidu Museum in Roseville. Go wild for animals like raccoons, owls, snakes, and skunks, while participating in animal-themed crafts.
Mission Oaks will have its 5th annual Spring Carnival on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Gibbons Park in Carmichael. There will be many activities for kids of all ages including carnival games, a bubble zone, petting zoo, art zone, crafts, and an obstacle course.
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.
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[…]
Fly over to Fairytale Town on Saturday, May 16, 2026 for Escape to Neverland Day. There will be games, crafts, and fairies floating around.
Elk Grove’s free Big Truck Day will take place on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at District 56. In honor of National Public Works Week, kids can explore the big trucks that operate in Elk Grove, play in sand pits, and build mini cities.
Enchanted Indoor Playground in Elk Grove will celebrate its 3rd birthday on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. The day will include face painting, an art class, and characters visiting with kids at the indoor playground. Reservations are recommended.
Kick off summer at the Sacramento County Fair! The family-friendly fun returns to Cal Expo for five days from May 21-25, 2026. There will be farm animals, carnival rides, and fried fair food. Expect live entertainment, hands-on exhibits, and more family fun. Children ages 11 and under receive free admission.
The annual International Kids Festival is a free outdoor family-friendly festival that will take place in Land Park on Saturday, May 23, 2026. Kids will love the pony rides, train rides, dancing, performances, bounce houses, face painting, and tons more fun.
Roseville Golfland Sunsplash opens its water park for the 2026 season on Saturday, May 23, 2026. As the temperatures in Sacramento begin to warm up, cool down with water attractions for all ages at this entertainment center in Roseville.
Orangevale’s Summer Palooza is a three-day community festival taking place May 29-31, 2026 at Orangevale Community Park. The summer celebration will have carnival rides, games, live entertainment on a main stage, a free kids zone, vendors, food, and more. The Red, White & Blue Parade takes place on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 9am.
Kids can check out different kinds of trucks for free at the 5h annual Trucktopia on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in West Sacramento.
Celebrate the arrival of spring and the Sakura season at the annual Davis Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at its new location this year at Russell Field at UC Davis. The free community festival features live music like Taiko drumming, delicious food and drinks, and activities for all ages, like mochi pounding.
Head to Michael David Winery for a free Family Night Carnival on Saturday, May 30, 2026. There will be carnival games, face painting, bubbles, and more family fun at this family-friendly vineyard in Lodi.
