Saturday
Festival
Auburn Community Festival
What: Remember the old-fashioned times when townspeople worked hard to build the scariest scarecrow and grow the plumpest pumpkin? Those days are still here at the Auburn Community Festival. Giant-pumpkin growers will weigh their gems for thousands of dollars in prize money, cooks will prepare their favorite harvest-themed recipes, kids will line up for a costume parade, and things will remain, as they always have been, good and simple.
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Recreation Park, 123 Recreation Drive, Auburn
Cost: Free
Info: (530) 885-8461 or www.auburncommunityfestival.com
All Weekend
Comedy
Aisha Tyler
What: San Francisco comic Aisha Tyler is an Ivy League graduate – and it shows in her thoughtful, intelligent comedy. She's been described as a female Chris Rock – for what that's worth. Her act is raw, edgy and honest – and deals with subjects as varied as marriage, Hollywood's obsession with plastic surgery and her own obsession with video games.
When: 8 and 10 p.m. today and Saturday, 8 p.m. Sunday
Where: Punch Line Comedy Club, 2100 Arden Way, Sacramento
Cost: $22.50
Information: (916) 925-8500
Sunday
Cultural Festival
Jewish Food and Crafts Faire
What: Sacramento may not be able to stand up to larger metropolitan hubs in its selection of Jewish delis, but, at least once a year, you can get more than your fill of borscht, apple strudel and other traditional goodies at the Jewish Food and Crafts Faire. In addition to unique vendor items, books and cultural activities, attendees will be smart not to miss out on deli treats from Los Angeles' famed Canter's Delicatessen, a restaurant so good it provides reason enough for a road trip down south.
When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Congregation Beth Shalom, 4746 El Camino Ave., Carmichael
Cost: Free admission
Info: (916) 485-4478 or www.cbshalom.org
Sunday
Literary Event
Reader's Theatre: "An Interesting Mix"
What: Performed only twice a year at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City, Reader's Theatre is a refreshing experience in which voice actors perform staged readings of literary works. The audience in this show uses its imagination to provide sets, costumes and props. This fall's production, "An Interesting Mix," includes stories "Sitting on Top of The World" by T.C. Boyle, "Ugly Specter of Sexism" by Robertson Davies and "Thurber's Dogs– Josephine Has Her Day" by James Thurber. When: 4 p.m.
Where: Miners Foundry Cultural Center, 325 Spring St., Nevada City
Cost: $10
Info: (530) 265-5040 or www.minersfoundry.org
Saturday
Arts and Crafts
Sugar skull decorating class
What: Halloween is so 2009 – a much more ancient and conceptually interesting holiday can be found in El Día de los Muertos, which traces back to the Aztecs.
What better way to honor death and rebirth than by building your own sugar skull? This popular decoration adorns altars during Mexico's Day of the Dead holiday, and local dead headquarters Zanzibar Trading Co. will teach you how to perpetuate the tradition. Dress yours up with icing, foil, sequins and candy, then try not to eat it. Saturdays, through Oct. 31.
When: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (a 4 p.m. class will be available if other classes reach capacity); reservations and advance payment required
Where: Zanzibar Trading Co., 1731 L St., Sacramento
Cost: $5-$10
Info: (916) 443-2057 or www.zanzibartrading.com
Saturday
Classical music
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
What: In an ode to Sacramento Philharmonic Music Director Michael Morgan's 10th anniversary with the orchestra, the group will perform one of the most famous works of the Western classical repertoire: Symphony No. 9. Ludwig van Beethoven's final complete symphony, the Ninth marks the first occurrence of choral voices in a major symphony, and the Sacramento Opera Chorus, along with four soloists, will perform the masterpiece.
When: 8 p.m.
Where: Community Center Theater, 1301 L St., Sacramento
Cost: $16-$80
Info: (916) 808-5181 or www.sacphil.org
Saturday & Sunday Festival
17th Annual Folsom Renaissance Faire
What: "Shakespeare's Muse" is the theme of this year's Folsom Renaissance Faire, and coin-counting kings, lusty lords and loquacious ladies will materialize from the relatively colorless modern world to pay homage to Will and celebrate Elizabethan culture. Guests will enjoy nonstop music and merriment, turkey-leg feasts, comedy spectacles and a competition by the Knights of Avalon, a full-contact, armored jousting troupe. All the splendor of a great Dionysian party, plus electricity.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Folsom City Lions Park, 403 Stafford St., Folsom
Cost: $9-$14; free for kids under 6
Info: (415) 354-1773 or www.folsomfaire.com
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