By Nicholas Ibarra | OBSERVER Staff Writer

Come out to the Sacramento downtown area on February 26 at 5 p.m. to experience hundreds of Sacramento-area musicians, dancers and visual artists in a spectacular street parade that highlights the city’s diverse culture and arts.

This first-time event is a project of The Curiosity Collaborative (formerly March for Science Sacramento) — a nonprofit organization supporting diverse community initiatives that encourage curiosity, sustainability, and creative expression — in partnership with the Sacramento NAACP, Wide Open Walls, and Sac Valley Spark. The parade will feature marching bands, large floats, light-up burning man vehicles, and dancers and musicians of all ages.

“The City of Trees Parade is all about lifting up Sacramento art, music, and culture. The core idea of Mardi Gras is freedom and personal expression. It’s a format for celebration that lifts up everything amazing in a city, and it’s celebrated all over the world,” Curiosity Collaborative CEO, Wesley Samms, said in an email convo with the OBSERVER. “When we celebrate Mardi Gras here in Sacramento, we’re encouraging creativity and fostering pride in our city and in our heritage wherever we are, whoever we are!”

The event is free and all are encouraged to come out and bring their family and friends to Sacramento’s thriving downtown area and enjoy the festivities on the waterfront. 

The parade will begin on 9th Street and Capitol Mall and end on 2nd Street in Old Sacramento.

There will be a total of 575 parade participants.

Here are some of the confirmed performers:

  • Grant Union High Drumline;
  • Infinite Spin Aerial Performance;
  • UC Davis Marching Band;
  • Sac High Dance and Cheer Team;
  • BTU Arts Youth Brass Band;
  • CKM Dance Team; and
  • So many more!

“The City of Trees Parade is going to get bigger every year. I hope that each year new, diverse groups, performers, artists, and individuals will participate,” Wesley Samms said. “I hope it will bring more money to the creative community in Sacramento, lift up the unseen wonders that exist here, and encourage everyone to be proud of who they are and where they live.”

Be sure to come and check out all this City of Trees parade has to offer!