Sactown's May 22-24 Rundown: Time Travel, Carnival Lights & River Cats Baseball
From the DeLorean rolling into the SAFE to the Cal Expo midway and a free Friday concert downtown — the 916 stacks the deck this weekend.
Sactown is absolutely loaded this weekend. The DeLorean parks downtown for the closing weekend of Back to the Future The Musical, the carnival lights flip on at Cal Expo for the County Fair, the River Cats host a three-game set across the Tower Bridge, and Concerts in the Park keeps Friday nights free and outdoors. May 22 through 24 — the 916 isn’t messing around.
🚗 Back to the Future The Musical
Friday, May 22 @ 7:30 PM (runs through Sun May 24)
Great Scott — the DeLorean is parked in downtown Sacramento for the closing weekend of Back to the Future The Musical’s two-week Broadway Sacramento engagement (May 13–24). The 2022 Olivier Award winner for Best New Musical brings Marty, Doc, Biff, and the actual flying car to the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center on L Street, packed with the songs you remember (‘The Power of Love,’ ‘Johnny B. Goode’) plus a high-voltage new score. Friday is the last evening opener of the run, with weekend matinees on Saturday and Sunday for anyone who’d rather not gun it to 88 mph after dark. Showtimes: Fri 5/22 7:30 PM · Sat 5/23 1:30 & 7:30 PM · Sun 5/24 1:30 & 7:30 PM. All ages welcome.
The Move: The SAFE Center is a six-block walk from Hotboys Sacramento at 1115 21st St — grab fried chicken sliders in Midtown before the 7:30 curtain, or hit us for a post-show late bite (we’re open until 10 Mon–Wed, so weekend hours work too).
📍 Get tickets on broadwaysacramento.com
🎡 Sacramento County Fair
Friday May 22 – Sunday May 24 (runs May 21-25) · Daily 10 AM – 10 PM
The carnival lights are back at Cal Expo for the Sacramento County Fair’s five-day Memorial Day-weekend run, with the heart of the action landing Friday through Sunday. Expect the classic county-fair stack: a full midway, livestock barns, agricultural and creative-arts competitions, daily arena shows, hypnotists, a rescued-exotics petting zoo, and an absurd amount of fair food. Admission runs $12 general / $10 youth (12–16) / free for kids 11 and under / $8 seniors (60+). It’s the only weekend of the year the 1600 Exposition Blvd. fairgrounds turn into this kind of carnival, so go bring the family. All ages welcome.
The Move: Cal Expo is a quick 10-minute drive up Business 80 from Hotboys Sacramento (1115 21st St., Midtown). Carb-load on Nashville Hot before the funnel cakes, or swing back into Midtown afterward for something with a little less powdered sugar.
📍 Get tickets on sacfair.com
⚾ Sacramento River Cats vs. Sugar Land Space Cowboys
Friday, May 22 @ 6:45 PM (series Fri–Sun)
Triple-A baseball with a Major League view — the River Cats (Giants affiliate, currently sharing Sutter Health Park with the visiting A’s) host the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros Triple-A) for a three-game weekend set across the Tower Bridge. Friday’s 6:45 first pitch is paired with the West Sac skyline lighting up at sunset, Saturday’s 6:37 evening game traditionally ends with fireworks, and Sunday’s 1:05 PM finale is a perfect day-game cap. Game times: Fri 5/22 6:45 PM · Sat 5/23 6:37 PM · Sun 5/24 1:05 PM. All ages welcome.
The Move: Hotboys Sacramento (1115 21st St.) is a 5-minute hop across the Tower Bridge from Sutter Health Park — easiest pregame chicken sandwich in the 916, then walk it off on the river path to first pitch.
🎵 Concerts in the Park
Friday, May 22 @ 6:00 PM · Gates 6 PM, music until 9:30 PM
Sacramento’s longest-running free music tradition is in week four of its 33rd season, with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership lighting up Cesar Chavez Plaza every Friday from May through July. The 2026 lineup leans into expanded genre programming — nationally touring acts, DJs, and Sactown legends across indie, Latin pop, indie rock and hip hop nights. Bring a blanket and cash for the food and beer booths from 10th and J Street, and stake out a patch of lawn under the magnolias before the 6 PM downbeat. It’s free, it’s outdoors, and it’s the most reliable Friday hang in downtown. All ages welcome.
The Move: Cesar Chavez Plaza sits at 10th & J — pick up Hotboys Sacramento sliders at our Midtown shop (1115 21st St.) on the way in for the easiest blanket-spread dinner of the season.
📍 More info on downtownsac.org
🎪 International Kids Festival 2026
Saturday, May 23 @ 10:00 AM · 10 AM – 4 PM
The 22nd annual International Kids Festival takes over the William A. Carroll Amphitheater in Land Park for a full day of free family programming. Expect pony rides, a climbing wall, bungee jumping, a tag arena, jump houses, miniature-train rides, face painting, balloon twisting, plus a continuous lineup of multicultural live performances and cultural showcases on the amphitheater stage. Admission and parking are free, and SacRT is running complimentary rides to the festival (download the flyer from the festival site). It’s the easiest ‘yes’ on the family weekend agenda. All ages welcome.
The Move: William Land Park is a 7-minute drive south of Hotboys Sacramento (1115 21st St., Midtown). Hit our shop on the way over for sliders to stash in a cooler — between the climbing wall and the pony line, the kids will work up an appetite.
📍 More info on internationalkidsfestival.org
The Hotboys Connection
A DeLorean parked downtown, the County Fair midway lit up at Cal Expo, Triple-A baseball with sunset views across the Tower Bridge, free music at Cesar Chavez Plaza, and a free family festival in Land Park — the 916 is firing on every cylinder this weekend. And Hotboys Sacramento is right in the middle of it all.
- Sacramento: 1115 21st St, Sacramento, CA 95811 — open 9am–10pm Mon–Wed. Whether you’re prepping for the 7:30 curtain at the SAFE Center, fueling up before funnel cakes at Cal Expo, crossing the Tower Bridge for River Cats first pitch, spreading a blanket at Concerts in the Park, or packing a cooler for the Kids Festival in Land Park, we’re right here in Midtown and ready for you.
See you in Sactown. 🔥