Best Things to Do with Kids in Sacramento This September 2026
Ready for a jam-packed month of events in Sacramento for kids? You could say that September is a circus. Kick off the month saying goodbye to summer with the best things to do in Sacramento with kids this Labor Day.
Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey flips into Sacramento. Butterflies flutter into the skies during the Grandparents’ Day Butterfly Release at the Sacramento Children’s Museum, as well as during Butterfly Fest at The Secret Garden in Elk Grove.
Comic book fans have their share of events this month, from CrockerCon to SacAnime. Plus, little kids can dress up as pirates and princesses at the Buccaneer Ball. Speaking of royal gowns, fairytale characters and princesses will be wandering around Roseville during Fountains Fairytale Day.
Meet the Machines revs into Rancho Cordova, the Fair Oaks Chicken Festival clucks into fall, and budding paleontologists can head to Dino Day in Elk Grove.
September marks the start of many fall festivities, including the 2026 season openings of the best pumpkin patches in Sacramento.
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SacAnime Summer will be in Sacramento for three days from September 4-6, 2026 at SAFE Credit Union convention Center. This is a family-friendly event with activities for all ages including gaming and cosplay.
Watch Sacramento artists create vibrant art on the sidewalks of Midtown with chalk art at Chalk It Up over Labor Day Weekend in Fremont Park. This free, three-day festival returns over Labor Day Weekend from September 5-7, 2026. This family-friendly festival will have live music, vendors, and food.
Kids Fest will take place on Sunday, September 6, 2026 at Enchanted Natomas. The free event will support childhood cancer during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. There will be many free activities for families at the festival like sensory art activities, character visits, and more.
California Admission Day Celebration marks the anniversary of California Statehood on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 on the west steps of the State Capitol Building with cake and ice cream while supplies last. There will also be live music from the 1850s performed by the Capitol’s ukulele group at this free, family-friendly event.
Catch a free drive-in movie at the West Wind Drive-In in Sacramento on Thursday, September 10, 2026. Gates open at 6pm and movies begin at 8pm. $2 nachos will be available, along with activities such as bounce houses, face painters, a balloon artist, and an obstacle course.
The family-friendly Butterfly Fest at The Secret Garden returns to Elk Grove on September 12-13 and September 19-20, 2026. Lifecycle Tours will take place each day at 11am. There will be face painting for kids and a coloring table. The Secret Garden also has scavenger hunts for kids. This is a free event and an[…]
Have a magical time at the free Fountains Fairytale Day on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at the Fountains at Roseville meeting wandering fairytale icons. Kids will get to meet Cinderella, Moana, Rapunzel, and Flynn. Pick up a complimentary treat from the Fountains booth and get a sprinkle of fairy dust when ordering a treat from[…]
The Sacramento Children’s Museum celebrates the role grandparents play at their annual Butterfly Release on Sunday, September 13, 2026. Butterflies are limited and purchasing in advance is required. This will be an outdoor event that will include art projects, activities, vendors, and more. Butterflies are locally sourced and released back into the wild at the[…]
The Annual Lodi Grape Festival returns for four days from September 17-20, 2026. There will be carnival rides, entertainment, food, and so much more. Carnival rides are an additional cost from admission fees.
The most famous circus comes to town! Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus put on the greatest show on earth from September 17-20, 2026 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.
All aboard for one of the most popular holiday events in Sacramento for kids! Tickets for the California Railroad Museum’s annual and beloved 2026 The Polar Express train ride go on sale to the general public on Friday, September 18, 2026. You’ll want to act fast on these tickets as they sell out quickly!
Meet the Machines drives into Rancho Cordova on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Hagan Community Park. This free touch-a-truck event will have over 20 machines and vehicles for families to check out. There will be additional activities such as games, giant slides, and more.
Head to West Sacramento for a free Latino Heritage Celebration on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at the parking lot of the Arthur F Turner Community Library. There will be lowrider cars, Latinto-themed crafts, music, dance, and more.
Space To Play in Elk Grove will have a special Dino Day on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Little dino lovers will get to dig for fossils, get face painting, and have a meet and greet with a baby dinosaur.
The Annual Fair Oaks Chicken Festival returns on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The family-friendly festival will have a kids’ zone, live music, chicken decorating contest, food trucks, and more!
The Placerville Oktoberfest & El Dorado County Harvest Festival takes place on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Historic Main Street in Placerville. This free, family-friendly event will have a family fun zone with carnival games, corn hole, Highland Cows, pretzels, fall fun, and lots of food.
Fall Family Fest will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Vernon Street Town Square in Roseville. This free fall festival will have tons of fun activities for kids including a Big Trucks Zone with large trucks to explore, interactive activities, and live performances.
Families can enjoy a free Mid Autumn Moon Festival on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at the Mary L Stephens Davis Branch Library in Davis. There will be crafts for kids, calligraphy, traditional music, and mooncake tastings will be available while supplies last.
Say goodbye to the summer at the EDH Summer Fest on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Community Park in El Dorado Hills. There will be tons of family fun, including carnival games, face painting, a petting zoo, rides, inflatables, live music, food vendors, and more.
Arrghh! Pirates, princesses, and mermaids are invited to attend the Buccaneer Ball on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at the Sacramento Children’s Museum. Prepare for an evening of fun at the museum. Registration is recommended.
Enjoy Ballet in the Park for free in Land Park on Saturday, September 19, 2026. Ballet dancers will take the stage. Bring a blanket and picnic for the performances.
Kids ages 4-15 can participate in an obstacle race at Fairytale Town on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Obstacles over and through Fairytale Town’s notable play structures will be a whole new way to experience this beloved Land Park attraction.
CrockerCon takes place on Sunday, September 20, 2026 at the Crocker Art Museum. This free family festival will celebrate cartoons, comics, and pop culture. Come to CrockerCon in cosplay, interact with comic book creators, and explore over 60 exhibitors.
Celebrate North Highlands will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026 in Freedom Park. This free family event will have activities and games for kids, performances on a community stage, and food vendors.
Join The Wonder Grove and Elkhorn Village for a free Worldwide Day of Play on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Kids will get to play with slime, bubbles, chalk art, build a cardboard city, and more. For $5, kids can also get slimed the Nickelodeon way.
Green Acres Nursery will have a free fall festival on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at their Citrus Heights, Roseville, and Auburn locations. This family-friendly event will have kids’ crafts, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, pumpkin-themed activities, face painting, a pie walk, and more.
The Folsom Renaissance Faire & Joust takes place on Saturday & Sunday, September 26 & 27, 2026 at Folsom City Lions Park. All ages are welcome to attend this medieval adventure. There will be games, crafts, puppet shows, story telling, jousting tournaments, and characters from pirates to fairies. Tickets are only available online. Children 5 and[…]
The Winters Festival de la Comunidad (Carnitas Festival) will take place on Saturday, September 26, 2026 in Rotary Park. This free, family-friendly festival will have carnitas plates, a large children’s area, mariachi music, folkloric dance, food trucks, and more.
Top Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus
