Sacramento festivals draw crowds and boost local businesses
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Sacramento wrapped up a busy weekend with the final nights of two major festivals, Aftershock and the Greek Festival, which drew large crowds and supported local businesses.
Fans packed Discovery Park for the fourth and final day of Aftershock, a major music festival that brought energy and excitement to the city. Local vendors participated in the event, benefiting from the large crowds.
“Aftershock is like one of the biggest events in Sacramento. It’s so cool that all of the local vendors get to be a part of a big show they host for us,” said Analisa Leon, a bartender at Birdie’s in West Sacramento, which had a booth inside the festival.
Festival-goers enjoyed the food and atmosphere, including Birdie’s spicy chicken sandwich.
“The culture out here in Sac, it’s always chill, always good vibes,” said Robert Walton of Roseville.
Walton’s cousin, Suede Edwards of Oakland, explained why she decided to attend.
“I saw the ads online, and I know my cousins live out here so I said why not. It’s the perfect time to bring my family together,” Edwards said.
While Aftershock energized the western side of Sacramento, the 63rd annual Greek Festival brought crowds to East Sacramento. Held at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, the three-day event featured imported goods, food, dancing, music, and shopping, creating an authentic Greek experience.
“The best part is that we want people to feel like they’re in Greece. When you go to Greece, there’s food, dancing, music, and amazing shopping from all the local shopping,” said Lindsey Fostiniskivetos, a vendor at the festival.
For many attendees, the focus was on preserving traditions and passing them down to future generations.
“Thirty years ago that was me. In 30 years it’ll be their kids. The continuity of the culture of the faith and just our heritage and our presence in Sacramento is just a wonderful thing,” said Stefanie Hionhis, co-chair of the Sacramento Greek Festival.
Visit Sacramento reported that each day of Aftershock contributes approximately $10 million to the local economy, highlighting the significant impact of these festivals on the community.