Out & About

Popular literary event returns to Sacramento

Sacramento Book Festival is back this month with more than 250 authors, readings, panels, local literary organizations and bookstores.

Award-winning keynote speakers include New York Times bestselling sci-fi author Kim Stanley Robinson and young adult favorite Wendelin Van Draanen. Last year’s festival drew 5,000.

This year’s free event benefits Mustard Seed School, a program of Loaves and Fishes that provides free private school for children of unhoused families.

“Sacramento has amazing bookstores, great libraries and a ton of amazing authors and dedicated readers,” festival chair and author J. Scott Coatsworth says. “But so often we all hang out in our own little parts of the community. I’ve long seen it as the festival’s goal to stitch all of those disparate parts together into a single cohesive community.”

The festival is Sunday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center at 6151 H St. For information, visit sacramentobookfestival.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY MONTH

Photography Month Sacramento, held in April throughout the region, features exhibits, receptions, photoshoot
meetups, workshops, lectures, field trips and more.

Want to get involved? When businesses, organizations, museums and individuals confirm a photography-related concept, they can spread the word at photomonthsacramento.org/events.

Photography Month Sacramento is led by Viewpoint Photographic Art Center on J Street. For information on exhibits and events, visit photomonthsacramento.org.

SAFE SCHOLARSHIPS

SAFE Credit Union awards $2,500 scholarships to 10 graduating high school seniors seeking to learn a trade or earn a degree in higher education.

“SAFE’s scholarship program is special in that we provide opportunities for varying educational pursuits, whether that means attending school at a community college or a university or learning a specialized skill from a trade school,” SAFE Community Impact Manager Lauren LeBov says.

Scholarships are based on merit, financial need and grade point average. Applicants or parents/guardians must be members of SAFE Credit Union. Application deadline is April 30. For information, visit safecu.org/scholarships.

DEBATE LEAGUE

Sacramento Urban Debate League hosts its annual public debate this month where high school students are pitted against public officials on current topics.

The nonprofit league provides competitive speech and debate opportunities for low-income students at C.K. McClatchy, West Campus and The Met high schools. 

“In years past, students have debated with former Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Dr. Flo Cofer and Tara Jeane, current president of the SCUSD board of education,” says league member Sofia Yee. “Topics have ranged from AI usage to education policy.”

The league’s fundraising debate is Wednesday, April 22, from 6–8 p.m. at Serna Center at 5735 47th Ave. Admission is $10 general, $5 students. For information, visit sudl.org.

DINOSAUR SAFARI

Now is your chance to walk alongside a 40-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex at Sacramento Zoo.

Nearly 20 life-size animatronic dinosaurs include a towering Brachiosaurus, winged Quetzalcoatlus and roaring T-rex. Visitors also enjoy a climbable dinosaur statue, fossil dig pit and T-rex photo spot.

Dinosaur Safari runs through Oct. 5 and is included with zoo admission. For information, visit saczoo.org.

BOOK RELEASES

Two authors recently featured in Inside Sacramento celebrate new book releases.

“Finding My Olympia” is Nancy Econome’s second novel focusing on the Greek experience in Northern California in the 1950s. The story examines the treatment of immigrant women and ethnic discrimination as Olympia, a young Greek-American woman, goes missing in Woodland.

Econome’s debut novel, “The Classic Grill—A Tale of Greek Gods and Immigrant Heroes,” received an Honorable Mention from the Maurice Prize sponsored by UC Davis.

“Behind the Binoculars: What nature tours leave out…the embarrassing, the gross & the wild” by Rawge Jones is a blend of science, storytelling and striking photography.

Jones spent more than 35 years as a wildlife biologist and photographer. “Nature is often presented as tranquil sunsets and graceful animals,” he says. “But beneath that polished surface lives a stranger, messier and far more fascinating reality.”

For information, visit nancyeconome.com and rawge.com.

CLIMATE STEWARDS

Effie Yeaw Nature Center offers a UC Climate Stewards course, April 20 through June 1, to help participants understand how climate change affects the region.

The course, led by Cathy Johnson, educator and climate stewardship leader, focuses on local climate issues, including fire, water and ecosystem resilience. Students work on a stewardship project and build confidence in talking about climate.

The course includes online classes Monday evenings, plus two to three in-person field experiences on weekends and optional self-guided field work.

To register, visit effieyeawnature.org, under “Education.”

FREE TAX PREP

Residents throughout the Sacramento region can file taxes for free through April 15 with United Way California Capital Region’s Free Tax Prep program.

Households that earned less than $68,000 in 2025 are eligible. Trained tax volunteers help maximize cash back from state and federal credits, including the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits.

Since 2020, United Way’s Free Tax Prep program has helped more than 28,000 people file taxes, with nearly $40 million received in federal refunds. 

For information or to sign up, visit yourfreetaxprep.org or call 211.

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