Entertainment

Your guide to Aftershock 2024 in Sacramento: Tickets, lineup, banned items and more

Are you ready to rock, Sacramento?

Popular musical festival Aftershock returns to the capital city this week with a packed concert lineup.

Advertised as the “ultimate destination for hard rock and heavy metal enthusiasts,” the four-day outdoor music festival features performances by more than 130 bands on five stages.

This year’s headliners include Slayer, Pantera, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Motley Crue.

Here’s what you need to know:

Wes Borland, guitarist with Limp Bizkit performs during Aftershock in 2023.
Wes Borland, guitarist with Limp Bizkit performs during Aftershock in 2023. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com

When is Aftershock 2024?

Returning for its 12th year, Aftershock runs from Thursday, Oct. 10, through Sunday, Oct. 13.

Gates open at 11 a.m. daily.

You can see the full festival schedule, including who is playing and when performances start, online.

Where is the Sacramento music festival?

Aftershock is at Discovery Park, 1000 Garden Highway in Sacramento; the county park is adjacent to Interstate 5 on the American River Parkway.

Parking isn’t available at the park for the all-ages festival, and no camping is allowed.

Instead, eventgoers are encouraged to use the Park & Ride Shuttle Program. They can park their cars at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., and take a shuttle to and from the park.

You have to pay to park.

Park & Ride shuttle passes cost about $42 per day, including fees, or $137 for all four days.

Other ways to get to Discovery Park include riding Sacramento Regional Transit buses and using taxis or rideshare apps.

You can also ride your bicycle to the park, which is along the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, and take advantage of the free bike valet service near the Jibboom Street entrance.

Sully Erna of Godsmack sings with pyrotechnics going off on stage during Aftershock in 2023.
Sully Erna of Godsmack sings with pyrotechnics going off on stage during Aftershock in 2023. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com

Who is playing at Aftershock?

Slayer and Pantera will headline Aftershock on Thursday.

Friday’s headliners are Slipknot and Five Finger Death Punch.

Over the weekend, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest headline Saturday’s concert lineup and Motley Crue and Disturbed headline on Sunday.

Other big-name acts performing at the 2024 festival include Evanescence, Rise Against, Staind, Mastodon, Anthrax, Tech N9ne and Insane Clown Posse.

Security prepare to grab crowd surfers as they are dumped in front of the stage during a performance at Aftershock in 2023.
Security prepare to grab crowd surfers as they are dumped in front of the stage during a performance at Aftershock in 2023. Lezlie Sterling lsterling@sacbee.com

What else is in store?

In addition to live music, organizers said, Aftershock offers a number of branded experiences.

BeatBox will offer party punch and a tattoo parlor at its BeatBus, organizers said, while Coors Light will host a bar and new photo booth.

Meanwhile, Tito’s Handmade Vodka will serve cocktails alongside a photo booth and airbrush tattoos, promoters said.

Avenged Sevenfold rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance performs at the Aftershock music festival in 2023.
Avenged Sevenfold rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance performs at the Aftershock music festival in 2023. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com

Are there still tickets?

Although some passes were already sold out as of Tuesday, you can still buy tickets for Aftershock online.

General admission for all four days ranges from $521 to $1,975, including fees.

Single-day tickets are also available for $189, fees included.

VIP tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday were sold out as of Tuesday, but you can buy VIP tickets for Sunday for about $312 to $323.

Aftershock also offers hotel packages, starting at $911 per person.

Incubus lead singer Brandon Boyd belts out on the first day of Aftershock music festival in 2023.
Incubus lead singer Brandon Boyd belts out on the first day of Aftershock music festival in 2023. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com

What can I bring into Discovery Park? What is banned?

Similar to other venues and festivals, there are rules about what you can and cannot bring to Discovery Park.

No large bags, backpacks, or duffle bags are allowed.

You can, however, bring the following:

  • Clear backpacks measuring 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches
  • Clear drawstring backs 16 inches by 13 inches
  • 1-gallon plastic storage bags
  • Clear tote bags that are 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches
  • Solid color or clear fanny packs that are 7.5 inches by 4.1 inches by 2.6 inches
  • Small bags and purses sized 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches
Attendees cheer as The Cult performs on the first day of Aftershock music festival in 2023.
Attendees cheer as The Cult performs on the first day of Aftershock music festival in 2023. Xavier Mascareñas xmascarenas@sacbee.com

Other prohibited items include outside food and drinks, as well as chairs, strollers, coolers and audio and video recording equipment.

No drugs, weapons, fireworks or explosives are allowed.

Don’t bring drones, laser pointers, confetti, balloons, beach balls, whistles, air horns, musical instruments or walkie-talkies either.

Pets should stay at home but service animals are OK.

Be sure to bring your credit or debit cards, because the festival is cashless.

Don’t want to carry around your stuff? You can rent a locker for $25 to $85.

This story was originally published October 8, 2024 at 12:00 PM.

Sarah Linn
The Tribune
Sarah Linn is an editor and reporter on the West Service Journalism Team, working with journalists in Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Merced and San Luis Obispo in California and Bellingham, Olympia and Tri-Cities in Washington, as well as Boise, Idaho. She previously served as the Local/Entertainment Editor of The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, working there for nearly two decades. A graduate of Oregon State University, she has earned multiple California journalism awards.
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