The 2nd Saturday Art Walk

Art walks are nothing new, and if you’ve spent any time among Sacramento’s apartments for rent you’ve likely heard about the much-lauded 2nd Saturday Art Walk. It’s an easy enough concept to grasp, as the City of Sacramento itself points out:

“The Second Saturday Art Walk occurs the Second Saturday of each month. The City of Sacramento permits the use of public property for vending and outdoor amplified sound between the months of April and October, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM.”

Show up, enjoy the art, listen to live performances, have a great time. What else could there be to it other than that? Well, that succinct summation is to-the-point, but glosses over some of the finer details you might want to know about before heading into the city for this lofty art tour. We’ve decided to provide some supplemental information you’re sure to find useful before your inevitable visit.

What You Need to Know About 2nd Saturdays

You already know the time and general location of the Art Walks, so what other information could possibly interest you? For starters, how about the best location for parking? While it’s true there are some places on the street to snag a spot, you’d be much better off trying the East End Parking Garage, right in the heart of Midtown.

Described by Sacramento’s Downtown Grid as the “best deal in Midtown” you’ll only need to pay a flat rate of $5 to park your vehicle here on 2nd Saturdays, and with about 600 spaces, there’s plenty of room to accommodate visitors.

As for which galleries you’ll want to check out, you can check out the gallery map, which lists the event’s participants:

1810 Gallery
Art of Toys
Art Studios
Archival Framing
ARTHOUSE
Axis Gallery
B Sakato Garo
Beatnik Studios
Brickhouse
CK Gallery
E Street Gallery & Studios
Elliot Fouts Gallery
Fe Gallery
Groundswell
Jay Jay
Kennedy Gallery Art Center
La Raza Galeria Posada
Little Relics
Patris Studio and Gallery
Sacramento Art Glass
Sol Collective
Sparrow Gallery
Tim Collom Gallery
Union Hall Gallery
University Art Storefront Exhibit
Urban Hive
Verge Center for the Arts
Viewpoint Gallery
WAL Public Market Gallery
Warehouse Artist Lofts

There are even a few “galleries off the grid,” like Old Sugar Mill and Artspace 1616. The former is a winery just 15 minutes from downtown, while the latter is a contemporary space located on Del Paso Boulevard.

If you want to check out the Art Walk newsletter, stay up-to-date on exhibits, and view the detailed calendar of 2nd Saturday events, you’d do well to download the Sacramento Grid app. This “comprehensive directory” of downtown can give you the inside scoop on plenty of area businesses, and the information you gain from this guide will be invaluable in making the most of every 2nd Saturday.

And if you’re interested in participating in 2nd Saturdays yourself, there are two documents in particular you’ll want to read. The first is the Second Saturday Art Walk Tip Sheet. This guide contains pertinent details on the permits and other requirements you’ll need to become an Art Walk Vendor: fire permits, alcohol permits, outdoor sound permits, vendor permits, etc.

The second document is the 2nd Saturday Art Walk Application. In addition to informing you on the various rules and regulations you’ll need to follow, it will allow you to submit your information to the City of Sacramento, and get you on the list of official vendors for one of the Art Walk events.

What You Can Expect to See During an Art Walk

Now, onto a sample of what you’ll be seeing when you head to a 2nd Saturday event. You can already see from the list of artists that there’s a wide range of specialties on display. The 2nd Saturday website highlights a few from time to time, and you can read their blog in detail to get a better understanding of what’s in store.

For instance, their feature on The Box it Came In. This unique display at the Archival Gallery was a part of their 35th anniversary exhibition, and featured a number of local notables, like DL Thomas, Roger Thibauld, and Patricia Altshul. The artwork all showed what creative minds could achieve with just a box (or two) and their imaginations. The results, are something you’d have to see to believe.

Then there was the Summer Chalk Art Festival at Southgate Plaza. This was a more family-friendly affair, wherein artists “transformed the sidewalk into an awesome street museum.” Notables included special guest, the “Chalk Chica,” and the results were some stunning sidewalk art that proved even a humble stick of chalk can become a powerful instrument of artistic expression in the right hands.

And let’s not gloss over when art can help benefit charitable causes, as it did during the Art Benefit for Jenny’s Quest. Both Mary Jane Boxer and Tom Sellas put their fabulous works on display, and donated 50% of all their sales to helping the Jenny’s Quest charity, which is dedicated to fighting pediatric brain stem cancer.

As you can see, it’s not just about great art, but also helping support the community and your fellow man. Be sure to check out upcoming 2nd Saturday events and getting in on the action to have a great time while alsobringing aid to those in need.

Did You Need Another Reason to Check out the Sacramento Apartments for Rent?

It’s hard to imagine why, as cultural offerings like 2nd Saturday already lend themselves to a weighty argument as to why Sacramento is such a popular place to live.

If you needed more convincing, though, you needn’t look much further than fine Sacramento communities like The Arbors. Here, among some of the most innovative apartment homes you’ll find, you can enjoy a standard of living that brings the best of the city and combines it with the coziness and luxury of a gorgeous gated paradise. This is what living in Northern California is all about; be sure to check it out and make The Arbors your prime destination in the beautiful Golden State.

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Events