Republic FC Fan Fest returns to Heart Health Park on Saturday, Feb. 22. | Photo via Sacramento Republic FC
Soccer season is upon us, which means it’s almost time for Republic FC FanFest. The team will host its fan-forward celebration on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Heart Health Park — let’s break down the schedule + highlights.
Strive for 45 3K Fun Run + Walk | 11:30 a.m.
Join the inaugural 3K Fun Run + Walk that’s part of the club’s ongoing initiative to encourage kids to be active for 45 minutes daily. The route begins + ends on the field and takes runners through Cal Expo. Register now.
Ventura County FC vs. Sacramento Republic FC | 2 p.m.
After the 3K, take a seat and cheer for our home team in this preseason showdown. Bonus: All attendees will receive a commemorative 2025 player poster. Tickets start at $19.
Meet the Team | After the preseason match
After the final whistle, fans can meet the team, hear from new head coach Neill Collins, and browse new merch — including that fresh 2025 kit.
Republic FC will kick off its 2025 season with its home opener on Saturday, March 8. Tickets go on sale Thursday, Feb. 6.
Events
Events
Thursday, Jan. 30
Strange Days: A Tribute to The Doors | 7 p.m. | Harlow’s | $27 | This LA-based tribute band fuses vintage instruments and modern tech to honor the trippy tunes of The Doors.
Friday, Jan. 31
PBR: Unleash the Beast | Friday, Jan. 31- Sunday, Feb. 2 | Times vary | Golden 1 Center | $82+ | If this is your first rodeo, giddy up — watch athletes go head-to-head with powerful bucking bulls.
Sebastian Maniscalco | 8 p.m. | Thunder Valley Casino, Lincoln | $130+ | The actor and comic who has cranked out six comedy specials — including “Is It Me?” on Netflix — performs his “It Ain’t Right Tour.”
Saturday, Feb. 1
Midtown Record Swap | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | CLARA | Free | No plans today? Scratch that — check out a mega mix of vendors selling + swapping records, tapes, CDs, vintage wears, and collectibles.
Lunar New Year | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Sacramento History Museum | $6 | Create colorful paper lanterns, design red envelopes, and explore all kinds of Lunar New Year traditions — this event is perfect for little ones.
2025 Lunar New Year Festival | Saturday, Feb. 1-Sunday, Feb. 2 | 11 a.m. | Elk Grove Regional Park, Elk Grove | Free | Celebrate the Year of the Snake with food vendors, live music, and lion dances; the festival kicks off with the parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Lunar New Year Celebration | 1-4 p.m. | Arden Fair | Free | Live performances from groups like the Teng Fei Lion Dancers and Honor Kung Fu will take the spotlight at this celebration that also includes local AAPI vendors.
Sunday, Feb. 2
ComicVerse: Winter Comic Convention | 12-5 p.m. | Scottish Rite Center | $13+ | Wear your best cosplay and check out 80+ vendors showcasing comic books, art, toys, games, and apparel from the worlds of sci-fi, anime, manga, and more.
Monday, Feb. 3
25th Annual California Rosa Parks Day | 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. | Folsom Community Center, Folsom | $5+ | Kick off Black History Month by honoring Rosa Parks and today’s Women of Courage.
Wednesday, Feb. 5
Orlando Magic vs. Sacramento Kings | 7 p.m. | Golden 1 Center | $36+ | This Black History Month game will honor the contributions + achievements of Sac’s Black community and beyond.
City Council has agreed to use federal funds to start cleaning up two toxic sites in Del Paso Heights contaminated by gas stations decades ago. The city now owns the lots and has identified “volatile organic compounds” that can vaporize and cause harmful health effects. (The Sacramento Bee)
Open
Oak T Sports Bar & Grill, an American-Chinese restaurant serving everything from burgers and pizza to shrimp tempura, is now open in Folsom. The restaurant is run by a family — including two sisters, both named Ting. It’s open daily, 11 a.m.-12 a.m., and offers happy hour Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. (ABC10)
Coming Soon
Bay Area chain Super Duper Burgers plans to open a 5,000-sqft location in Roseville this April at the former site of Amy’s Drive Thru. The eatery will keep the drive-thru window intact (pit stop, anyone?), and offer its signature smash burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, house-made pickles, and milkshakes. (The Sacramento Bee)
Biz
Local entrepreneurs, it’s time to level up. The Sacramento Kings are accepting applications through Friday, Feb. 7 for Capitalize: Technology, the NBA’s crowd-sourced startup competition open to entrepreneurs within 70 miles of Golden 1 Center. Four finalists looking to further develop their businesses will move into a fan voting round in mid-March.
Civic
Sacramento firefighters returned home after helping in the devastating Los Angeles County wildfires. The 38-member Task Force 7 included Capt. Paul Januario, who said he’s witnessed the aftermath of many disasters, but nothing quite like destruction of the Palisades Fire. Here are some ways to help LA. (ABC10)
Real Estate
With an average monthly rent of $1,748, Sacramento is the 20th most expensive rental market in the US — and locals seem to be moving into smaller apartments. The number of “no bedroom” studio units in the region nearly doubled from 2013 to 2023, attracting 42,000 residents in 2023. (The Sacramento Bee)
Listen
“Off the Record” — a local true crime podcast from the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office — has debuted. The show highlights notable cases and how the DA’s office + law enforcement work to keep our city safe. Check out the first episode wherever you listen to podcasts.
Award
Music to our ears.Rio Americano High School was selected to compete in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition & Festival — a showcase of just 30 high school jazz bands from across the US. The competition is Wednesday, May 7-Sunday, May 11 at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Sports
Say it ain’t so — the Sacramento Kings have had trade conversations involving De’Aaron Fox, and Fox has a preferred destination in mind. Hear from the local experts with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Job
Don’t let your job posting get lost on over-saturated job sites. Get premium visibility when you post on our local job board. Your first listing is free.
Travel
Pro tip: Hawaiian Airlines has special one-way fares between SMF and Hawaiʻi. See the fare sales (like $167) and start dreaming of this year’s vacation.*
Wellness
Simplify healthy living for your whole family. Thrive Market brings groceries free from 1,000+ harmful ingredients right to your doorstep. Sign up to get 30% off your first order, plus a free gift valued at $60.*
City Guide
City Guide
🍕 In pizza we crust
Pesto on pizza? Yes, please. | Photo by @unclevitos
Whenever we’re feeling saucy, we like to dig into a slice of local pizza. Sac’s pizza scene is bubbling with options — and we keep finding ways to top ourselves. If you’re on the quest for the perfect slice, we’ve pie-oneered a list of 15 places to grab pizza that are definitely worth the dough.
Local legends
Uncle Vito’s Slice of NY
Its location across the street from Ace of Spades + a late-night happy hour make Uncle Vito’s the perfect post-concert pit stop—not to mention it offers what can only be referred to as “Costco-sized” slices.
Think outside the pizza box
Curry Pizza House
Classic Indian flavors, incredible pizza crusts, and serious amounts of cheese yield savory and spicy delights. Try the Chicken Tikka pizza made with garlic sauce, chicken tikka, cilantro, tomatoes, and red and green onions.
Fancier fare
OneSpeed Take-Out Tuesday specials include a pizza, salad, and bottle of wine for just $42, making it a great option for an at-home date night.
Speaking of sports fandom, baseball enthusiasts — you’ll want to hit up Sutter Health Park this weekend. The San Francisco Giants will bring their 2025 FanFest Tour to the ballpark on Saturday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. The event will feature appearances from players like Tyler Fitzgerald, Grant McCray, Heliot Ramos, and Logan Webb. Register here for the free event.
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