Arts & Culture in Elk Grove

Elk Grove is home to an expanding and diverse arts and culture scene where visitors and locals alike can admire exhibitions at local art galleries and enjoy live music performances.

The city also offers multicultural community events and seasonal festivals that celebrate creativity and heritage. Throughout Elk Grove, inspiring public art installations can be discovered in parks, plazas, and along city streets, adding a vibrant artistic touch to every neighborhood.

Explore the galleries, performances, and public art that make Elk Grove a hub for arts and culture.

An Art Enthusiast’s Guide to Elk Grove

Fascinating public art is around every corner in Elk Grove with talented painters, photographers, and visionaries making their mark on our city.

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Museums, Art Galleries & Workshops

HISTORY

Travel back in time and learn about Elk Grove’s history and heritage at the Elk Grove Historical Society on the northwest corner of Elk Grove Park. Known as Heritage Park, the Society’s grounds include several historic buildings that offer glimpses into Elk Grove’s past, including an old style blacksmith shop, school and the Elk Grove House & Stage Stop Museum — an early hotel that welcomed stagecoach travelers in the 1850s.

ARTS

The Elk Grove Fine Arts Center is an anchor of Elk Grove’s arts experience and welcomes visitors to view a rotating series of exhibitions, participate in art workshops, and attend free First Saturday art receptions each month. Art enthusiasts can also explore one of the other art galleries found throughout Elk Grove, such as The Annie Peony Fine Arts Gallery, or try their hand at creating one-of-a-kind works during paint and sip classes, like those hosted at Pinot’s Palette or at area breweries or restaurants.

MUSIC

Looking to embrace your inner rock star? Elk Grove’s music schools, New Songs Music and School of Rock Elk Grove, invite aspiring musicians of all ages to attend educational workshops and hone their skills on a variety of instruments and music styles. Children pursuing a future in Broadway can take the stage at Musical Mayhem Productions, who hosts performance workshops and classes year-round.

Public Art

Elk Grove’s investment in the arts extends far beyond the walls of area galleries and into the surrounding community. A walk or drive around Elk Grove will reveal interesting, photo-worthy pieces of public art, including many creative interpretations of the fauna found throughout the region — such as wolves, horses and the city’s namesake elk.

Nearly a dozen works can be found around District56 and along their Avenue of the Arts, including contemporary sculptures, paintings and murals. One of the most striking pieces is The Cloud Fountain by Napa-based artist Gordon Huether — a 24-foot-tall sculpture with wave-like patterns that appears to animate as you pass by.

Over 30 additional pieces of art can be found inside Elk Grove’s municipal buildings. Guide your Elk Grove art tour with the help of an interactive map, presented by the Elk Grove Arts Commission and City of Elk Grove.

Live Music & Multicultural Events

Elk Grove’s events calendar is packed with live music performances, multicultural markets, and family-friendly festivals.

Old Town Plaza in Historic Elk Grove is home to various makers markets throughout the year, such as Thiftathon. Larger festivals include the two-day Elk Grove Music Festival and beloved Dickens Street Faire.

The Illumination Festival at District56 kicks off the holiday season and showcases how holidays are celebrated by different cultures around the globe. Other cultural events include the Lunar New Year Festival at Elk Grove Park.

Live music and performances can also be enjoyed throughout the year at local restaurants, and wineries and breweries. View Elk Grove's events calendar here.