The fifth annual City of Trees Parade brought a Mardi Gras feel to Sacramento on Saturday night.

More than 50 festive groups joined the parade on its route on Capitol Mall and through Old Sacramento.

“We have 100 volunteers that help us on the day of the event. We also have 61 different performance groups that are going to bring 1,300 performers to our parade,” parade organizer Wes Samms told The Sacramento Bee before the event.

“They’re preparing costumes. They’re preparing dance routines. They’re preparing music and practicing getting ready to come out. They have art vehicles that are ornately decorated and orchestrated and there is a lot of organizing and work that goes into it.”

Participants from the Con-nec-tion Dance Project toss beads to the crowd on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Participants from the Con-nec-tion Dance Project toss beads to the crowd on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com Sphinx riders wave to the crowds of people on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Sphinx riders wave to the crowds of people on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com Countess Stella and the krewe from Agricultural Aristocracy march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Countess Stella and the krewe from Agricultural Aristocracy march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com The C.K. McClatchy High School dance team marches down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. The C.K. McClatchy High School dance team marches down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com Lady Sophia Sweet Potato and the krewe from the Agricultural Aristocracy march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Lady Sophia Sweet Potato and the krewe from the Agricultural Aristocracy march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com Julie Hersch cradles her dog Pliny as they watch performers on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Julie Hersch cradles her dog Pliny as they watch performers on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com The Roper Romps, a group of costumed pub crawlers inspired by Helen Roper from "Three's Company,” march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. The Roper Romps, a group of costumed pub crawlers inspired by Helen Roper from “Three’s Company,” march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com A giant cat puppet parades down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. A giant cat puppet parades down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com The Teng Fei Lion Dancers interact with the crowd during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. The Teng Fei Lion Dancers interact with the crowd during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com The pet parade makes its way down Capitol Mall as a part of the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. The pet parade makes its way down Capitol Mall as a part of the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com The Grant High Drumline marches down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. The Grant High Drumline marches down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com The NOLACal Second Liners pass out beads during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. The NOLACal Second Liners pass out beads during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com Ava Beauton, 5, of Sacramento watches bicyclists ride down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Ava Beauton, 5, of Sacramento watches bicyclists ride down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com A float dubbed the “HMS Sea Cow” rolls down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. A float dubbed the “HMS Sea Cow” rolls down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com Members of the Brazilian Rhythms Workshop make their way down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Members of the Brazilian Rhythms Workshop make their way down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com A Bike Party rider rolls down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. A Bike Party rider rolls down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com A giant cuttlefish by Dust Works parades down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. A giant cuttlefish by Dust Works parades down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com A giant rainbow float drives down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. A giant rainbow float drives down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com A giant dragonfly is driven down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. A giant dragonfly is driven down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com A train decorated with lights is driven down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. A train decorated with lights is driven down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
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Award-winning visual journalist José Luis Villegas first joined The Bee in 1992. He has shared a general news Pulitzer Prize for Bay Area earthquake coverage, and teamed with Bee colleague Marcos Bretón for two books on Latino baseball players. 


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Hannah Ruhoff is the assistant visuals editor at The Sacramento Bee. Previously, she was a visual journalist at another McClatchy property, the Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss. She is an Ohio University alumna and native of Shaker Heights, Ohio.