It's hot- you need ice cream!

It's supposed to be as hot as 103 this weekend- what a way to celebrate the beginning of summer in Sacramento! The coolest place to be in town tonight is the Crystal Midsummer Night's Dream and Ice Cream Fantasy at Fairytale Town. Head over there tonight from 6 to 9pm for all you can eat ice cream, food, beverages, crafts, entertainment and more.

Love the idea of all you can eat ice cream and want to do it again? The Sacramento Zoo's Ice Cream Safari is Saturday, July 26th from 4 to 8pm. This feast features all you can eat Baskin Robbins ice cream and Coke products, live entertainment and great bands, face painting and more fun for the whole family. Our favorite part of the Ice Cream Safari is the Giraffle- you can win some amazing and fun prizes all while supporting the zoo.

While we're on the all you can eat theme, adults will also enjoy the King of Feasts at the Zoo. Enjoy live music while dining on exquisite samples of delicious Sacramento food, dessert, wine and beer. Tickets are $50 for non-members and children are allowed but discouraged.

Things to do around town this weekend

The weather looks sunny and mild for the weekend, a perfect Sacramento spring. The pollen counts are still a little off the charts for me to imagine a weekend outside but if you're one of the few Sacramentans who is allergy free, we've got outside ideas for you too!

*UC Davis Picnic Day- Saturday. The parade ceremony begins at 9am. Kids events, cooking demonstrations, animal shows and so much more follow. If you've never been to Picnic Day, with or without kids, you really have to check it out. Parking can be difficult so plan ahead. Most events are free of charge and parking on campus is free for the day.

*Farm, Friends and Fairytales- Sunday. Take the kids to Fairytale town and celebrate California's agricultural history. Kids will make ice cream and see the process of food from the farm to your table.

*Meet Kevin Johnson- Land Park Block Party- Saturday, 2pm. Go find out for yourself if the hype is for real.

*Bodies Revealed- You've got two weeks to see the all the gore and strangeness before the exhibit moves on.

Entertainment and Events this weekend in Sacramento

So much to do this weekend, so little time! The sun is shining and it looks like spring in Sacramento. Turn off the TV and get out of your house and enjoy a little excitement around town.

*Things to do with kids*

Dr. Seuss Read-a-thon at Fairytale town, Saturday from 11am to 3pm. See Francie Dillon, play games, make crafts and read lots and lots of stories.

Arden Fair Kids Club Science Wizard, Saturday at 10am. Hit the mall and entertain the kids, then have lunch or sneak in some shopping for yourself.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, B Street Theatre, Saturday and Sunday, 1pm and 4pm. Introduce the kids to theatre the easy way- at B Street! The show is intended for kids 6 and up.

*Great Dates this weekend*

Food for Thought, Sacramento Public Library Foundation Authors on the Move series, Saturday at 5pm. A fundraiser, silent auction and dinner to benefit the library. Dave Bender will MC andnearly 40 popular authors from the area will be in attendance.

Blue Line Gallery Grand Opening Exibition, Roseville, through May 3rd. See the latest and greatest art gallery in Roseville. Showing Art and Illusion: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Foundation.

Picnic in a Park, anytime. The weather is perfect for a late afternoon picnic. Pack it at home or visit one of our favorite picnic-packing spots like Sellands, Corti Bros, Trader Joes, or just get cupcakes from Babycakes!


*Getting ready for spring*
Sacramento Home and Garden show, through Sunday. Do something about that mess of a backyard, plan a gorgeous outdoor kitchen, learn about sunrooms, SMUD energy conservation programs and much more. Plus your spouse will think you are making an effort and stop yelling at you to do something!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I love Christmas in Sacramento! The weather is just chilly enough to feel like winter but you won't freeze your tush off at any of the outdoor celebrations. You'll have lots of options of things to do so get out your mittens and get ready to celebrate. Here are just a few upcoming ideas:

*Fairytale Town Winter Wonderland Saturday, December 1st. Visit with Santa and his elves, do some art projects and listen to music all while enjoying Fairytale Town.

*Old Sacramento Heritage Holidays November 21st thru December 23rd. An assortment of activities including a holiday train ride, Christmas puppet show, Discovery Museum projects, historical reenactment and the Capitol City Yacht Club's lighted boat parade

*Ice Skate Downtown Plaza November thru January 21st. Your chance to pretend you are a kid again, or take the kids and show them how great you really are!

*Holiday Magic at the Zoo Saturday, December 8th. You had no idea an orangutan can open a present did you! All the animals at the zoo receive special gifts.

And that's just for the next week!

Things to do this weekend in Sacramento

The weather is just perfect and you can actually be outside for more than 2 minutes without cooking. They're saying it might rain on Saturday but who's afraid of "scattered showers" anyway?

For kids and families:

*Storytelling Series at Fairytale Town. At 12:30 and 2pm, enjoy stories, music and fun on the outdoor Mother Goose Stage.

*Junie B Jones at B Street Theatre. If your kids are slightly older (probably 5 and up) and will sit through a play, this is the one to see! B Street's family series will delight your entire family and you'll be happy to see kids shows in a real theatre setting too.

*The circus is in town! Ringling Brothers are at Arco all weekend.

*Mix 96 Kite Fest at Elk Grove Regional Park. Come to the free family festival (weather providing) and enjoy the professional kite flyers, live music, children's activities, and a Root Beer garden!

Things to do in and around town this weekend

The weather is heating up and finally looking like spring. It'll only last about 5 days if Sacramento weather follows true to form so you have one weekend to get out and do something!

Some highlights of fun family events around town:

*My personal favorite- The Capital City Caper fundraiser for FamiliesFirst! Our pirate themed team will be Lootin' for Charrrrity, so if you see us around town try not to laugh hysterically!

*Saturday, May 19th in Old Sac- celebrate the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean III from 12pm to 4pm with treasure hunts, a costumed Jack Sparrow and more, courtesy of Stage Nine.

*All weekend- Fairytale Town hosts the Annual Puppet Festival by Puppet Art Theatre, good for anyone under 8 or so...

* Raging Waters makes its debut at CalExpo in the old Waterworld location. Get out and hit the slides before the summer crowd takes over.

* Oh yeah, and if your kids didn't drag you last weekend, Day with Thomas is wrapping up in Woodland.

Get out Sacramento and enjoy the weather!