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Gold Rush Days


  • Downtown Sacramento Sacramento, CA, 95814 United States (map)

Friday, Sept. 1: -Education Day**
Saturday, Sept. 2: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 3: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 4: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Take a Ride!
Care for a train ride? How about a river cruise? You’ll find these at Gold Rush Days, along with wagon rides! Purchase tickets for wagon and stagecoach rides at any Information/Ticket Sales location (see Event Map), and board at the locations shown on the event map. Purchase train ride and river cruise tickets at their respective boarding points only.

Limited schedule for steam train due to the heat, ride times are 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm for Saturday-Monday. 

Hornblower Cruise Times: Thurs-Sun at 1:00pm, 2:30pm and 4:00pm, additional times for Gold Rush Days SATURDAY AND SUNDAY ONLY 10:00am and 11:30am.  Mondayat 1:00pm, 2:30pm and 4:00pm.  Click here to book your cruise tickets!

Wagon Rides
You can enjoy a wagon ride ($3 per person) while at Gold Rush Days!   You can purchase tickets at any one of our information booths located throughout the event.  Updated schedule due to heat: 10am-2pm Saturday-Monday

Food and Drink
Old Sacramento is known for its many restaurants and eating & drinking establishments. In addition, a special Gold Rush Days menu of delectable food and libations is available at the Embarcadero Tent City, including sarsaparilla.

Evening Activities
Old Sacramento will remain lively even as the daily schedule of Gold Rush Days activities and entertainment concludes each evening.  See below and check out all the night time fun!

Gold Rush Days Beer Crawl – Friday, September 1 -Step back in time and experience the Saloon side of the 1850s. 9 bars throughout the Old Sacramento district are ready to pour their favorite craft beer for you! 9 beers all for $12.  You can join the event on Friday, September 1st, 6pm – 12am. Bring your friends! Limited tickets available.  Click here to buy your tickets!

Gold Rush Country Dance – Saturday, September 2- 6pm-10pm  -A fun and free Saturday night vibrant Country Dance & Street Party on J Street,  complete with live music provided by Buck Ford starting at 7pm and line dancing demos and lessons will be available. Games like Cornhole Toss, Jenga, and more will be provided.

Movie night on the 1849 Scene  – Free outdoor movie showing Sunday evenings at 8 p.m. on the 1849 Scene (grassy area in front of the California State Railroad Museum). The free outdoor movie includes Back to the Future III, a 1990 American science fiction and western film starring Michael J Fox.

Statehood Celebratory Procession – On Labor Day Monday only, a grand finale statehood celebratory procession – complete with a brass band, wagons, horses, donkeys, Living History characters, street performers and more – will take place beginning at 1 p.m. starting at the Eagle Theater with optimal public viewing along the route on J, Second, L and Front Streets.

Lost & Found/First Aid/ATMs/Restrooms
Lost and Found is located at the Old Sacramento Visitors Center (on Second Street near J, next door to Wells Fargo History Museum). First Aid services are at the CM&T Co. building, next door to the Eagle Theater (on Front Street near J). ATMs are located at the Wells Fargo History Museum (Second and J Streets) and just south of the Delta King Landing (Front and K Streets). Restrooms are conveniently located throughout Old Sacramento.

Earlier Event: September 10
Autumn Moon Festival
Later Event: September 2
Millbrae Art & Wine Festival