15 Best Festivals in Rancho Cordova
All year long, Rancho Cordova, California, bustles with unique and fun events that celebrate everything from national holidays to the local community. Here are 15 of the area’s top festivals and events to enjoy in the coming year.
All year long, Rancho Cordova bustles with unique and fun events that celebrate everything from national holidays to the local community. Visitors are invited to join in on the festivities by getting acquainted with the city’s jam-packed calendar of sporting competitions, parades, and community gatherings. You’ll also find some of the region’s biggest festivals take place not far from Rancho Cordova in Sacramento and Folsom. Here are 15 of the area’s top festivals and events to enjoy in the coming year.
1. St. Patty’s Parade
Taking place in Old Town Sacramento just 15 miles from Rancho Cordova, this free, annual street party in March marks everybody’s favorite Irish holiday. Highland dancers, pipe and drum bands, and marchers decked in green meet at Neasham and Front Streets to parade through the historic landmark district.
2. Passport to Wine
What’s better than sampling some of the state’s best wines? How about doing so in a beautiful setting. At the Passport to Wine Festival, you can taste a wide variety of wines from the El Dorado region of California, with more than 20 wineries participating. You can tour the rustic towns in the Apple Hill region while enjoying limited bottlings, obscure varietals, and food offerings over two weekends in April.
3. Kids Day in the Park
Hosted each April by the Cordova Community Council, Kids Day in the Park is a day full of free activities for families in Hagan Park. Geared toward children 12 years and younger, the festival includes games, rides, and crafts—think face painting, play areas, and a bike rodeo—along with food and drink vendors. This past April, Cordova Community Council hosted Kids Day in the Park as a drive-thru. Kids Day in the Park serves as a health and resources fair for families with free parent resources and providers on-site holding vision, hearing, and dental checks.
4. International Festival (iFest) & Wines of the Word
Each May, the Rancho Cordova community comes together to celebrate its ethnic diversity and invite newcomers to share their cultures. Located at Village Green Park, the family-friendly iFest features international food, drink, dance, music, and art at no cost. Wines of the World is the 21-and-over portion of the evening with wine tastings from six continents (tickets available online or at the event).
5. Ride the Parkway
Bringing together the three B’s—beer, biking, and BBQ—the Ride the Parkway festival invites visitors and community members to enjoy a ride on the American River Parkway each May. Three different ride options cater to everyone: the 5-mile Cruiser Route, the 12-mile Fixie/Single Speed Route, and the 26-mile Roadie Route. All routes start and end at the William B. Pond Recreation Area where you’ll find the post-ride party with live music, a BBQ lunch, local brews, and prizes.
6. Hangtown Motocross Classic
Taking place at Prairie City OHV Park in May, the Hangtown Motocross Classic showcases some of the best riders from around the world. The Dirt Diggers North Motorcycle Club has hosted the race since 1969, and it has since grown to include a slew of amenities for spectators. Open-air and covered viewing platforms, food and drink concessions, vendor booths, a children’s play area, and onsite camping make Hangtown the ultimate festival for motocross fanatics.
7. Equestrian Competitions
The Murieta Equestrian Center in the community of Rancho Murieta, just southeast of Rancho Cordova, has a yearlong calendar of races and horse shows. The Murieta Equestrian Center has five indoor arenas, 12 outdoor arenas, and seating for 3,000 spectators.
8. Collegiate Regattas
In June of select years, Rancho Cordova hosts the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship Regatta at beautiful Lake Natoma. College athletes from across the country compete in this multi-day event, which welcomes spectators to the races. Both the Western and National championships are regularly scheduled at Lake Natoma, and you can check Regatta Central for exact dates.
9. Sacramento Pride Festival
The SacPride Festival promotes LGBTQ awareness and equality with entertainment, multiple stages and dance tents, food and drink vendors and a community march. This weekend-long extravaganza in June is hosted by the Sacramento LGBT Community Center and takes place at Capitol Mall in downtown Sacramento. Single- or two-day tickets can be purchased online.
10. Folsom Fourth of July Rodeo
Celebrate the Fourth of July at the Folsom Pro Rodeo in the Dan Russell Rodeo Arena, 12 miles east of Rancho Cordova. The four-day spectacle includes classic events like the Painted Ladies, Flying Cowboys, and Mutton Busting. The jubilee continues into the evenings with fireworks and live music.
11. Fourth of July Festival & Parade
Each year in Hagan Park, the Cordova Community Council hosts a weekend-long celebration of the quintessential American holiday. With concerts, parades, food, carnival rides, games, a beer garden, and, of course, fireworks come sundown, this is the place to be for the holiday. Fireworks admission tickets and carnival ride wristbands are available for purchase.
12. California Capital Airshow
The world-famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels will be zooming overhead in autumn for the California Capital Airshow at Mather Airport. This family-friendly, two-day event in October honors the Sacramento area’s rich aviation history and local veterans.
13. Run to Feed the Hungry
The largest Thanksgiving run in California, the Run to Feed to Hungry includes a 5K and a 10K run or walk through the streets of East Sacramento every Thanksgiving morning. Proceeds from the run support the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services organization.
14. Cordova Christmas Tree Lighting
Don’t miss the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Village Green Park. This free, public event put on by the Cordova Community Council in December starts in the late afternoon with music, train rides, food trucks, and our very own Santa Claus. The ceremonial tree lighting and fireworks wrap up the show.
15. Holiday Lights Drive-Thru!
For the last half of December check out the largest light show in Rancho Cordova all from the comfort of your car! Bring a donation for the Police Activities League's Christmas in Cordova and say 'hi' to the happy Elf!
Written in part by Jenna Herzog for Matcha in partnership with Rancho Cordova and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.