Skip the holiday traffic, and take the Capitol Corridor to get to some great Memorial Day weekend activities. Celebrate Carnaval in San Francisco, see classic cars in Old Sacramento, and sample brews and burgers in Fremont!
Carnaval Festival: 5/26 – 5/27, San Francisco
Happening: 10am – 6pm
Roots of Carnaval (Raíces del Carnaval) is the theme of the 40th celebration of Carnaval Festival in San Francisco. During this two-day, vibrant and colorful festival being held in the Mission District, the streets transform, pulsating with dancing, drumming, brilliant costumes, global cuisine, and a plethora of activities. The annual event attracts more than 400,000 people who come to enjoy the revelry and soak up the pageant of color and culture. Enjoy traditional entertainment from Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Guatemala, Chile, Haiti, and West Africa on every street corner. On Sunday, May 27, the Grand Parade will start at 9:30am at the corner of 24th and Bryant streets, where it will proceed west to Mission Street. From there, the parade heads north on Mission down to 17th Street, where it will turn east and flow into the festival area.
Getting there: Take the Capitol Corridor to the Emeryville Station. From there, ride our dedicated bus to the Temporary Transbay Terminal stop, where you can connect to Muni, BART, catch a cab, Lyft or Uber to the event. Alternatively, take the train to the Richmond Station or the Oakland Coliseum Station, connect to BART and ride to the 24th Street Station, which is just a short stroll to the festival.
Old Sacramento Classic Car Show: 5/26, Sacramento
Happening: 11am – 5pm
Calling all car enthusiasts! Don’t miss your chance to see some of the best of American models at the Old Sacramento Classic Car Show. Explore the streets of Old Sacramento as local car enthusiasts bring more than 100 classic cars made in America between 1968 and 1993 out for display. Live music will be featured throughout the day and visitors can explore the vendor village along the waterfront. Those with a sweet tooth should check out the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store tent where free vintage soda tastings will be happening every hour on the hour.
Getting there: Take the train to the Sacramento Station, which is just a short walk from Old Sacramento.
Fremont Burger and Brew Fest: 5/26, Fremont
Happening: 12pm – 5pm
Ride down to Fremont for the fourth annual Fremont Burger and Brew Fest happening on Saturday. Taste and celebrate vibrant craft brews made locally in the San Francisco Bay Area and greater northern California, all while sampling mouthwatering burgers and sliders. The day-long festival will showcase gourmet food vendors, art and craft merchants, live entertainment, street vendors and booths from local business. A highlight of the event is the Burger Throwdown, a burger cooking competition pitting local teams against one another to create the most mouthwatering burger in under an hour. This event is free and open to the public, but tasting packages can be purchased in advance online or at the door. You’ll fine the festival on Capitol Avenue between Paseo Padre Parkway and Liberty Street.
Getting there: Take the Capitol Corridor to the Fremont-Centerville Station, and from there you can use VTA, with a free Transit Transfer to reach the festival. Alternatively, take the train to the Richmond Station or Oakland Coliseum Station, connect to BART, and get off at the Fremont Station. The festival is a 10-minute walk from the BART station.
Written by Sylvia Sheehan
Photo courtesy Robert Werner