{"id":385150,"date":"2026-07-03T17:10:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T17:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/385150\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T17:10:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T17:10:28","slug":"drum-corps-jazz-history-and-4th-of-july-fun-around-sacramento","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/385150\/","title":{"rendered":"Drum corps, jazz history and 4th of July fun around Sacramento"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following is the July 2 edition of Cultural Capital, an arts and entertainment newsletter written by Abridged contributor Chris Macias. Want it sent directly to your inbox?\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The sunburn on the back of my neck is the sign of a good time this past weekend. I spent much of it at Cal Expo, which hosted\u00a0X Games Sacramento 2026<\/a>. The event was somewhat like the California State Fair with kickflips, as attendees took trips on the Sky Ride to catch the action and ducked in the shade to munch on corn dogs and snow cones.<\/p>\n

I was always drawn to skateboarding as a kind of anti-team sport. But it was a blast to witness Sacramento launching a new X Games League format with top pros in skateboarding, BMX and motocross. The Tower Bridge homage in the skate park was a perfect 916 touch. I rooted for Davis native Nyjah Houston, who nabbed the silver medal in the skateboard street event and Auburn\u2019s Brady Baker, who struck gold in men\u2019s BMX dirt.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m hoping X Games comes back to town, especially with additional seating\/bleachers and another round of good weather. We\u2019ll keep you posted on further developments.<\/p>\n

Keep that sunscreen handy as we head into Fourth of July weekend and its many outdoor events. Look for a showcase of the country\u2019s top drum and bugle corps, a fun sketching event in Nevada City and a concert with the area\u2019s finest young jazz musicians. And yes, we have a bunch of Fourth of July picks from throughout the region.<\/p>\n

Boom!<\/p>\n

Want to discover more events across the Sacramento region? Check out Abridged by PBS KVIE\u2019s\u00a0new searchable events calendar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\tSign Up for the Cultural Capital<\/p>\n

In your inbox every Thursday, Abridged’s entertainment newsletter from Chris Macias highlights things to do in the Sacramento region.<\/p>\n

Marvel at the elite level of\u00a0marching arts<\/p>\n

The details:<\/p>\n

Oak Ridge High School, 1120 Harvard Way, El Dorado Hills<\/p>\n

6:30 p.m., July 3 (Friday)<\/p>\n

$20-$85<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t get much more All-American than a night of time-honored marching and music. But the young musicians at the\u00a02026 DCI Capital Classic<\/a>\u00a0are levels way beyond a traditional fife and drum corps or marching band. Check the football field on Friday at Oak Ridge High School and you\u2019ll be blown away by some of the best drum and bugle corps in the country.<\/p>\n

These drum corps take the marching arts to elite levels, with dazzling drill designs and choreography. The show features nine corps including the Bluecoats of Canton, Ohio, runners-up in the 2025 Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships.<\/p>\n

Full disclosure: I\u2019m rooting for the Santa Clara Vanguard, the corps I marched in back in 1987, and a seven-time DCI champion. Last year the corps placed third, just behind the Bluecoats by 1.55 points. (Yes, things can get pretty competitive out there).<\/p>\n

One corps missing this year is the show\u2019s host, the Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps, which is taking a year off from competition due to a\u00a0\u201cstrategic hiatus.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0The good news is a Mandarins alumni corps will perform in exhibition and represent its roots that stretch to 1963.<\/p>\n

Get jazzed\u00a0at the Sacramento History Museum<\/p>\n

The details:<\/p>\n

Sacramento History Museum, 101 I St., Sacramento<\/p>\n

6 p.m., July 8 (Wednesday)<\/p>\n

$40, or $20 for youth, with additional $5 discounts for museum members<\/p>\n

Speaking of young musicians, the future of jazz is in good hands. The Sacramento History Museum is hosting\u00a0\u201cWest End Blues: Sacramento Youth Musicians Series,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0which is led by Sacramento bassist and educator Harley White Jr.<\/p>\n

The three-show series kicks off Wednesday with The New Traditionalists (TNT), an honor band of local high school musicians specializing in traditional jazz styles. Kick back and it\u2019ll feel like days of the Old Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee gone by.<\/p>\n

Get sketchy (again)<\/p>\n

The details:<\/p>\n

Wonder Docent, 230 Broad St., Nevada City<\/p>\n

6 p.m., July 3 (Friday)<\/p>\n

Free<\/p>\n

Last week\u00a0spotlighted Urban Sketchers Sacramento,<\/a>\u00a0a crew that meets around the region to sketch the local landscape with an all-are-welcome vibe. On Friday,\u00a0downtown Nevada City and its historic buildings are the backdrop<\/a>\u00a0for the next session.<\/p>\n

All abilities are encouraged to attend. Just bring your favorite sketching materials and prepare to share your work with the group in a supportive setting.<\/p>\n

Where to\u00a0spark up your Fourth of July<\/p>\n

The details:<\/p>\n

The United States of America turns 250 years old on Saturday and there\u2019s no shortage of spots to celebrate. If you and the family are looking to join the community and catch a fireworks show, here are some picks:<\/p>\n

Fourth of July in Community Park<\/a>\u00a0is a longstanding Davis tradition. Post up with a blanket and enjoy live music from Rainbow City Park and RonKat Spearman\u2019s Katdelic. The fireworks go boom at 9:35 p.m.<\/p>\n

Rancho Cordova always takes its Fourth of July seriously, this time with a\u00a0two-day festival<\/a>\u00a0that includes a parade, live music and epic fireworks displays both nights.<\/p>\n

Down south, the festivities at\u00a0Elk Grove Park<\/a>\u00a0include cover tunes from the 1970s to the current day from Pop Fiction, a silent disco and a finale with fireworks and drones.<\/p>\n

Out in Woodland<\/a>, a.k.a. \u201cThe Woo<\/a>,\u201d fireworks launch on Friday night. Fourth of July kicks off the next day with a pancake breakfast and includes a traditional bike parade, ice cream social and swimming at Woodland Aquatics Center.<\/p>\n

\u201cRed, White & Brew\u201d<\/a>\u00a0is the theme at Drake\u2019s Brewing Co. in West Sacramento. Party it up on the lawn and \u201cooh\u201d and \u201cahh\u201d at the fireworks coming from the nearby A\u2019s game at Sutter Health Park.<\/p>\n

Before I go,<\/p>\n

There are a\u00a0few tickets left for Thursday night\u2019s concert<\/a>\u00a0at Amatoria Fine Arts Books, part of a joint series co-hosted by Abridged. Mike Blanchard and the Californios will perform an intimate set of Sacto-style Americana with impeccable harmonies.<\/p>\n

Then, I have the honor of leading a Q&A with Blanchard about the Sacramento arts landscape. Look for more shows coming your way soon.<\/p>\n

Stay in touch at\u00a0christo916@gmail.com<\/a>. See you next week!<\/p>\n

Chris Macias\u00a0is a regular contributor, writing\u00a0Cultural Capital\u00a0for Abridged.\u00a0<\/p>\n