Out & About

By Jessica Laskey
June 2025

Fresh Air Wellness

Midtown parks offer free fitness activities

Fresh Air: Midtown Parks, a series of free health and wellness activities, runs at five Midtown parks weekdays through September.

Fitness classes include meditation, yoga, running and dance at Fremont Park, Marshall Park, Muir Park, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park and Winn Park.

No registration required. Bring a mat, water bottle and a friend. Most classes are held in the evenings and open to all ages and fitness levels.

For a schedule of activities, visit midtownparks.org.

PLAYING CARDS

Sacramento Fine Arts Center has created two decks of playing cards featuring works by local artists.

“The artists were charged with recreating iconic and historical locations throughout Sacramento in a variety of media, including oils, watercolors, sculpture and more,” Executive Director Angelia Gordon says.

Each card features a Sacramento event or location, such as the Historic City Cemetery, Crest Theatre, Sutter’s Fort, Farm to Fork Festival and “Light the Beam.”

Color and black-and-white decks are available for $15 at the center’s gallery store in Carmichael or $20 online at sacfinearts.org/cards.

BLACK PANTHERS

California Museum hosts “By the People, For the People: A Black Panther Party Celebration” on Saturday, June 14, from noon to 4 p.m. The event marks the opening of “Revolutionary Grain: Celebrating the Spirit of the Black Panthers in Portraits and Stories.”

“Revolutionary Grain” features photos and stories of former party members captured by photographer Susanna Lucia Lamaina. The work challenges historical misconceptions by presenting the Panthers not as symbols of defiance, but as parents, workers and activists who continue to shape their communities.

The event includes a discussion with Lamaina, a panel with party members, live music, line dancing, family-friendly activities, food and drink from Soul Ona Roll and Urban Roots Brewery.

“Revolutionary Grain” runs through Oct. 31. For information, visit californiamuseum.org/visit/events-public-programs.

NEW ZOO LEOPARDS

Sacramento Zoo has two new clouded leopards named Serai and Rajasi. 

Global populations of the big cat are declining, mostly due to habitat loss and hunting for their unique pelts.

The zoo partners with Clouded Leopard Working Group to provide funding for conservation that focuses on protecting the cat’s habitat and educating communities on how to coexist with the leopard.

For information, visit saczoo.org/clouded-leopard.

ZOO PLANS END

Sacramento Zoological Society and Elk Grove ended plans for the Elk Grove-Sacramento Zoo, citing economic uncertainty and increased construction costs.

“We are disappointed that we will not be able to realize the dream we shared,” society Board Chair Elizabeth Stallard says. “However, the society remains committed to ensuring that this region will continue to have a vibrant and beautiful zoo long into the future.”

MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS

Local museums need volunteers to help with activities, including special events, educational programming, exhibition prep and more.

For information on how to get involved, visit the websites of California Automobile Museum, California Museum, California State Railroad Museum, Fairytale Town, Sacramento Children’s Museum, Sacramento History Museum and SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity.

CAPSTAGE ACADEMY

Local and visiting theater professionals share their skills with the community at CapStage Academy, presented by Capital Stage.

June to July classes are “Introduction to Acting” and “Shakespeare for Actors.”

Adults 18 years and older with all levels of experience are welcome. Classes are at E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts in Midtown. For class schedules and fees, visit capstage.org/classes.

FREE COMPOST

The city offers free compost collected through its curbside organics recycling program to help residents enrich their gardens and yards.

Residents can place up to two orders, 3 cubic yards per order, with options to pick up the compost or have it delivered for a fee.

Order through Dec. 15 while supplies last. For information, visit sacrecycle.org, under “Compost Giveaway Program.”

WATERING TIMES

Summer weather means city and county watering schedules are in effect.

City customers with even-numbered addresses water Wednesdays and Sundays, odd-numbered addresses water Tuesdays and Saturdays.

“We also ask everyone to water before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.,” says William Granger, the city’s water conservation coordinator. “Watering in the middle of the day causes much of the water to evaporate before it even reaches the roots.”

In the county, even-numbered addresses water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Odd-numbered addresses water Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Irrigation times are 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

For information, visit cityofsacramento.gov or waterresources.saccounty.gov, then search “watering.”

FARMERS MARKETS

Two more farmers markets are open for the summer.

The Capitol Mall Farmers’ Market at Fifth Street and Capitol Mall runs Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market features locally sourced groceries, baked goods, fresh flowers and more.

Bodega Market at Cesar Chavez Plaza at Ninth and J streets is Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The market offers hot food, handmade goods, live music and weekly lunch-hour activities, including a book club, instructor-led stretching and more.

For information, visit downtownsac.org.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Submissions are due six weeks prior to the publication month. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.