Out & About
March 2026
By Jessica Laskey
Artists & Activists
Events honor Royal Chicano Air Force
Sacramento celebrates the Royal Chicano Air Force with six months of events led by La Raza Galeria Posada.
The Royal Chicano Air Force is a collective of artists and activists founded in 1970 by Sacramento State art professors, their students and community artists.
The celebration, “InFormation,” includes exhibitions, artist panels, symposia, workshops, poetry readings and film screenings.
Sacramento History Museum presents “RCAF in Mictlán: 50th Anniversary of Dia de los Muertos,” documenting the Royal Chicano Air Force’s Dia de los Muertos observance—the oldest in the Sacramento region.
California State Library offers a speaker series featuring interviews with artists Juan Carrillo, Rudy Cuellar, Luis González, Irma Lerma Barbosa and Juanishi Orosco on the library’s YouTube channel.
Sacramento State’s University Library Gallery displays large-scale reproductions of three murals and individual artworks from the university’s collections.
PBS KVIE runs broadcasts of “Royal Chicano Air Force: Art and Activism” by Steve LaRosa and Toby Momtaz, and other related films.
More art and events are featured at Crocker Art Museum, SMUD Art Gallery, Verge Center for the Arts and other venues around town.
For information, visit lrgp.org.
MASTER SINGERS
In July, Brett D. Epperson takes on the role of artistic director-designate for Sacramento Master Singers, succeeding Ralph E. Hughes’ 40-year tenure.
Epperson joined faculty at University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music last fall after serving as assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at Hastings College.
Epperson has been a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator and collaborative keyboardist in the United States, Caribbean, Europe, Kenya, Mexico and Japan.
Epperson will conduct two pieces at the “New Voices, New Directions” concert March 14 and 15 at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church. For information, visit mastersingers.org.
NEW RESTAURANT
Aiona, a new restaurant from the owners of Michelin-recognized Allora in East Sacramento, opens this month at 1213 K St. to bring the vibrant spirit of the Mediterranean to Sacramento.
Rooted in live-fire cooking and paired with a 3,000-bottle wine cellar, Aiona offers refined indoor and outdoor dining, a dedicated private events space and valet parking—creating a destination for unforgettable food, wine and hospitality.
For information, visit aionasacramento.com.
DESIGN LAB
SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity’s Design Lab is a “maker space” offering multi-day workshops and drop-in sessions where participants create take-home projects with tools and technology.
Robo-Challenge workshop participants build their own Robo-Rollers and put them to the test in a soccer-like game, learning robotics and electrical engineering.
Rocket workshop participants design and launch 3D-printed rockets, learn engineering design processes and build data-analysis skills.
Drop-ins are most Saturday and Sunday afternoons. For information, dates and times, visit visitmosac.org.
JAZZ EDUCATOR
The Sacramento Jazz Education Foundation has awarded its jazz educator award to Josh Murray, band director at Rio Americano High School.
The honor, presented every two years at Teagarden Jazz Festival, recognizes a regional jazz educator with a long, consistent record of providing traditional jazz education.
Murray, a saxophonist, has been band director at Rio since 1998. Rio’s AM Jazz Ensemble was a finalist at the Essentially Ellington Festival 12 times, won the 2019 national Perform with Bob Mintzer competition, hosted and opened a concert with Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center, and has performed worldwide.
SUMMER CAMP
Registration is open for CLARA’s Performing Arts Summer Camp for ages 6–13.
Students work with professional artists to explore genres of dance, music, theater and visual arts over one-week sessions, culminating with a performance on the final afternoon of camp.
Sessions are in June and July, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. For information, visit claramidtown.org/camp.
HEALTHY AWARD
Sacramento is a national winner of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America’s 2026 Healthy & Sustainable Communities Awards.
The city is recognized for promoting access to fresh foods through its Field Trips for Fresh Food Access initiative, providing free field trips to farmers markets and community gardens for students from disadvantaged schools.
ARTIST SPEAKERS
A mentor artist speaker series, part of the Birds and Benches public art project, runs through May at North Natomas Community Center.
The speaker series kicks off a multi-year public art project that includes installing eight benches at North Natomas Regional Park and along Jackrabbit Trail.
Mentors work with artists throughout the project, offering guidance on public engagement, design, fabrication and installation.
“These mentor artists bring real-world public art experience that helps emerging artists navigate the technical and logistical aspects of permanent public art,” Art in Public Places Manager Donald Gensler says.
Hear from sculptor and teacher Ronnie Frostad, owner of Frostad Atelier Foundry, March 3; Larry G. Meeks, metal artist and educator, April 7; and Terrence Martin, metal sculpture artist, May 7. Talks are 5:30–7:30 p.m.
For information, visit cityofsacramento.gov and search “Birds and Benches.”
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.
