We came for the first time on NYE night & could tell that some homes were not as decked out/lit up…read moreanymore & the experience was not full impact. However, there were hardly any cars, so we could do a slow, easy drive. It was still magical with lots of lights throughout this neighborhood. The standout feature was that the streets were lined with continuous strings of white lights that swagged down the participating areas, creating lit paths to follow. It was impressive! There were definitely some houses that went above, while others were more simple, but all delightful to see. Here & there, Christmas trees were in the middle of a court or roundabout. We aren't familiar with the neighborhood & lost track of how we meandered through, so next year we'll try to figure out a good route. We'll definitely plan to come back earlier during the next holiday season to enjoy the full experience.

Rockmont Lights in Natomas is all they say it is and more!…read more My friend, daughter and I wanted to check out Christmas lights last night and decided to check out Rockmont Lights instead of fighting the Fab 40's crowd. It was a first time for all of us and we weren't sure what to expect. We arrived around 7:30pm and it was already pretty busy, but we found some parking on a nearby street. Most of the streets surrounding Java Court were festively decked out and flooded with people - we made our way over to Java Court and I was so surprised to see a massive Christmas tree in the center of the court. There was Santa and The Grinch happily taking photos with families and a couple of fire pits that people were warming up by! They were handing out candy canes to passing cars and I believe they were even selling hot cocoa in front of a few houses! You can drive around the area, but I highly recommend walking it to fully experience the magic that Rockmont Lights has to offer! Make sure you bundle up though! Rockmont Lights definitely gives Dovewood Court and even some streets in the Fab 40's a run for its money! We will be visiting every year now and making it a new tradition!

UC Davis Picnic Day, Davis…read more (4/18/2026- UC Davis Picnic Day) First time here and had a great time! Although the lines are long for majority of the exhibitions, it was worth checking out! Upon arrival, I missed the parade so I could line up for the petting zoo, see some cows, watching some chicks being hatch and see some snakes. There were some animals we missed because of the long lines everywhere! It was hot as expected, there were many food trucks options available for everyone to enjoy! There were several Halal food vendors too! Highly recommended to come here but make sure you bring a hat and a fan, it's super hot! Stay hydrated too! Would come back next year!!

We had an amazing time--everything was truly wonderful. The entire day was thoughtfully organized,…read moremaking it easy for everyone to relax and enjoy. It was very family-friendly, with great activities that kept the children engaged and happy throughout. We had so much fun and created some really special memories. We'll definitely be coming back next year. Thank you to everyone who made this event possible--we truly appreciate all the effort and care that went into making it such a great experience.

Hot Saturday around the Quad! The whole festival is so laid…read moreback :) music, plenty of craft spots, good food. Highly recommend you check out Re-Awaken Glass! (Forgot to ask for the lady's name) my wife bought 2 super cute pair of earrings!

If you want meat, do not go here…read more It's okay. Been trying to revive itself since COVID and it's almost there. Same geodesic dome as every year. Not so hippie...some vendors are accepting wireless payments even. And they've done away with the "rent" for plates and utensils. You just get them now and are shockingly (not really) expected to return them. You know, like civil people and stuff. "Now that I live in Davis again" blah blah blah it hasn't changed one bit. Gimme a break. It's okay as a once a year takeover of the quad but no one is really all that disappointed when it's gone. All the vendors really want to do is make a buck off of you. Yay capitalism. It is nothing more. There is nothing that says "bE KinD" to the planet anymore like there used to be. It's a new Davis and it's fairly sad. Way to go.

Summer isn't quite Summer without a beer festival. Of course the same could be said of every other…read moreseason too. Which is why I had already gone to 4 other beer festivals this year before checking out the Davis Bike and Brew Fest with a fellow beer nerd friend. Being a brewfest veteran, there were quite a few things I noticed that the organizers of this brewfest got right. 1st of all, there was value. Ticket prices were reasonable for 4 1/2 hours of open beer tasting with a good selection of beer vendors to choose from. Additionally, lines for beer were short enough that it was possible to get beer faster than you could drink it. Outside fluids were not allowed in, but there was plenty of free, ice cold water for everyone. Davis' Central Park was a great place to hold the event. As good as it all was, there were a couple snags. There weren't enough porta-potties & the line to take a leak got to be pretty long at times. For food, some food truck/ food stand options were available but it would've been nice to have a couple more. 2013 was the 1st year for this event & hopefully not the last. Beer is big in Davis with UCD having 1 of the very few brewing schools in the entire World. For a town like this, the Davis Bike and Brew Fest is a natural fit.

Brew festivals are becoming an odd beast. First, you have major brew fests like California Beer…read moreFestival that charge a lot to get in, the crowds are equally large, and most of us never get our money's worth. Then there are small, local festivals that are cheaper but the selection of breweries and vendors is poor. Davis Bike and Brew Fest fits into neither of these categories or perhaps it is best said that it's a combination of both. The ticket price in presale is reasonable $25 and, since it takes place in early August as the highlight of the Davis Beer Week, the school is not in session and the crowds in 3 years that we attended have never been huge. The downside is, of course, the infamous Valley heat that doesn't spare anyone. Like previous two editions, this year was in triple digits again and damn, it was HOT. But the organizers did things right to make the best under the circumstances: - There was plenty of water - The time was 5PM-8PM. A lot of brew fests I've been to start early which is a bad idea - Enough port-a-potties. Might use a couple more but the wait wasn't too bad, if there was one. - There was a lot of seating and several food trucks and tents - The pours were appropriately sized for the heat and most of the breweries brought their lower alcohol beers, more suitable for the heat. - The crowds were civilized, I didn't see more than just few people wasted As for the selection of beers, Sacramento area was the best represented as expected. But surprisingly, plenty of San Diego was in the house as well. Unlimited pours of Alpine Hoppy Birthday (even if it's Green Flash brewed)? Hell yea! If there was an award for hidden gem, it goes to Boneshaker Brewery from Rocklin for their Blood Red Sky. At only 2.5% ABV and nice tartness, this blood orange Berliner Weisse style beer was delightful and a total surprise. And their brewer is a super-nice guy who took the time to answer all our questions with patience. Finally, if Chris White from White Labs is in attendance, this gives legitimacy to any brew festival. And Davis Bike and Brew fest was just the right balance between small and community and more commercial. There was something for everyone and at moments you could totally forget about the heat. Needless to say, we will be back. Even if the weather is the same again....

I came last year for the first time & wanted to come back for the 11th Annual Davis Cherry Blossom…read moreFestival. The festival was held on Sat. 5/30/26. It was held at Russell Field from 11-8pm. This is free to the public celebrating Asian American culture, arts, and the community. You have to pay for parking unless you find street parking. There were a number of vendors and a lot of different performances. Many performers are also UC Davis students sharing all their hard work and their passion. There weren't too many food vendors. I only saw a few food trucks maybe 4 or 5?Other performances included traditional taiko drumming & lion dancing. There was mochi pounding, origami, local bands, cultural dancers, and over 95 artists and vendors. I'll be back next year!

There's a feeling of solidarity about the "Tour of Cluck" that I really love. It's family…read morefriendly, proactive in terms of sustainability, education, raising your own hens and producing eggs and home gardening. You also get to see a little bit of a small town you thought you knew like the back of your hand but really didn't! The Farm to Fork and Farm to School is a worthy cause. . .I think this event might eventually rank up there with Picnic Day, Whole Earth, and July 4th in Community Park. It's about the city of Davis residents and not so wedded to the agenda of UCD and the students who pass through here. (Bless 'em. . .some of them stay!) It made me feel like a 'townie' in a good way! I invited five guests to meet at my house and bike to the event and we all had fun! Kudos to all involved! The pink arrows were helpful!