Indoor arts and music events around Sacramento this weekend

The following is the July 23 edition of Cultural Capital, an arts and entertainment newsletter written by Abridged contributor Chris Macias. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.

I don’t mean to be Captain Obvious, but it’s hot! We’re in the thick of the Sacramento area’s summer swelter and there’s a premium on finding shade and just staying cool.

So, this week’s Cultural Capital is all about indoor events to keep you inspired and entertained. We’re still covering lots of ground, from family-friendly events and live music to film screenings, art activities and more.

Pass the Otter Pops and let’s go!

Family-friendly fun without the sun

The details:

• Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St., Sacramento
• 10:30-11:30 a.m., July 25 (Saturday)
• $8-$16

Childhood isn’t complete without a fistful of clay and letting that imagination run wild. The Crocker Art Museum has a novel way to kickstart this kind of creativity with the second edition of Playhouse and Playdough on Saturday. Along with Wearable Worlds, which debuts in August, these are the newest offerings in the Crocker’s Kids + Family programs.

Playhouse and Playdough participants will watch “Peter and the Wolf,” a time-honored bit of classical music education, then bring visions of the movie to life with air dry clay. With the surreal claymation approach from this 1973 German version of the film, you know the final products from the kids will be keepers.

While at the Crocker, it’s an opportune time to check out “Gleefully Askew: A Gladys Nilsson Retrospective.” This latest exhibition opened July 19 and it’s one where you’ll see watercolor in entirely new ways. The elongated figures in the artist’s work will make the Crocker’s walls come to life in fun and funky ways.

Afterward, cool off by taking advantage of the local uptick in snow cone and shave ice spots. Osaka-Ya, which is just about a mile away, is a classic summertime destination for snow cones. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice in Old Sacramento and Hānai Shave Ice & Island Grindz on the R St. Corridor also have you covered nearby with frozen treats.

Musical cures for summertime blues

Outdoor festivals and concerts are definitely a vibe, but not so much when the temperature hits triple digits. Here are indoor picks for getting your music fix.

Local shows don’t get much cozier than the concert and conversation series from Amatoria Fine Art Books in Midtown and Abridged by KVIE PBS. The latest installment happens July 24 (Friday) with hip-hop from Jakhari Smith followed by a Q&A led by Natachi Mez, an Abridged community reporter. Highly recommended for the acoustics and intimacy of the space.

For fans of progressive heavy metal, a Queensrÿche show is a must (and so is the diaeresis ÿ in the band’s name). The current lineup is much different than its “Operation: Mindcrime” heyday of the 1980s. Still, their July 24 show at Hard Rock Live in Wheatland will still rock in a “Jet City Woman” kind of way. 

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s passing. But you can still get a taste of The King with the “Elvis Live!” tribute on July 24 at the Harris Center in Folsom. Bonus Elvis points for sporting blue suede shoes.

Disclaimer: I know indoor club shows can be hot and sweaty on their own, but at least you don’t have to worry about catching a farmer’s tan. You can get your get your local indie-rock on with Stella Crest’s vinyl release at the Starlet Room in Midtown Sacramento with Minor Fiasco and Loose Choir on July 24. Or for ska and punk, check out The Lesdystics record release party with Diseptikons and Another Damn Disappointment on July 25 (Saturday) at Roseville’s Goldfield Trading Post.

Cool cinema from Downtown Sacramento to Auburn

Chilling at a movie with a giant slushy in hand is always a choice way to beat the heat. Try these screenings if you crave less of a multiplex experience and more of an indie or classic Sacto theater vibe.

The jump cuts and raw documentary-style approaches in Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless” revolutionized the cinematic experience. See this 1960 classic at The Dreamland Cinema in Midtown from July 24 (Friday) through July 26 (Sunday).

Catch the David Lynch retrospective at the Tower Theater in Sacramento, including three showings daily of “Mulholland Drive” from July 24-26.

Practice your “Tequila” dance and catch “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” at Downtown Sacramento’s Crest Theatre on July 23 (Thursday). Note that weekday movies at The Crest are a mere $2.

Marvel at expert paddlers without getting wet. On July 24, the Auburn State Theatre presents selections from the 2026 World Tour Paddling Film Festival. The footage of paddlers going over waterfalls and navigating raging currents will make you instinctively reach for a life jacket.

More events you won’t want to miss

Here are four more local arts and literature events happening around the region:

• Get “lit” as in the CapLit reading series on July 24 (Friday) at The Auditorium at CLARA in Midtown. This edition features “Rabbit and Ox” by Jen Soong and “Changing Lanes” by Gina Mulligan, two stories that encapsulate the tensions of our modern times.
• Shop from local artists and vendors at the Blue Line Arts Mart, held on July 25 (Saturday) at Blue Line Arts in Roseville. Pottery, tie-dye clothing, woodwork and jewelry are among the offerings.
• Leave the markers and paints at home. The Family Art Lab at the Orangevale Library’s Jane Wise Meeting Room has the supplies covered for an afternoon of creativity on July 25. This session is open to kids, teens and families.
• Is the next Joan Didion or William Vollmann in our midst? Head to A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove and scour the selections at its Local Author Fair on July 26 (Sunday).

Before I go,

While this week’s dispatch is all about fun out of the sun, I would be remiss to not mention a couple outdoor events.

If you love classical music, waltz on over to the 37th Annual Strauss Festival in Elk Grove Regional Park from Thursday through Sunday. Also, get a taste of the Old West and a history lesson at the 5th Annual Black Cowboys Parade and Community Festival, which will be held Sunday at Hagan Community Park in Rancho Cordova.

Keep in touch with me at [email protected]. Stay cool, and see you next week!

Chris Macias is a regular contributor, writing Cultural Capital for Abridged by PBS KVIE.