Sacramento Rainbow Festival

The Rainbow Festival is the late-summer street party in Lavender Heights, the gay district around 20th and K streets in Midtown Sacramento. It is a separate event from Sacramento Pride in June. Terry Sidie founded it. He also opened Faces, the city's first gay nightclub, at that corner in 1985. Proceeds go to local nonprofits.

It's one day on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, with the block fenced off. There's an outdoor stage, food, a market of LGBTQ artists and businesses, and parties in the neighbourhood bars afterwards. The 2025 bill included David Archuleta and Kristine W, with early-bird tickets at $10 and general admission at $15.

The 38th festival ran on 6 September 2026 with tighter security. The 2027 date hadn't been announced when we checked.