Aftershock, GoldenSky music festivals get 10-year deal for county’s Discovery Park
Sacramento County’s Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Tuesday a 10-year agreement with the live entertainment company behind Discovery Park music festivals including Aftershock and the GoldenSky Country Music Festival.
Danny Wimmer Presents LLC is a nationally recognized producer of live music festivals that launched Aftershock at Discovery Park in 2012, beginning its long-standing partnership with Sacramento County.
County officials said Aftershock generated an estimated $35 million in local economic impact in 2025, drawing more than 164,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 30 countries. GoldenSky generated an estimated $14.1 million in economic impact and attracted about 75,000 attendees in 2024.
This year, the festival is scheduled for Oct. 1-4 and features headliners including My Chemical Romance, Wu-Tang Clan and Queens of the Stone Age.
DWP expanded its relationship with the county through the debut of the GoldenSky Country Music Festival at Discovery Park in 2022. After a hiatus beginning in 2025, the festival is expected to return in 2027.
County officials said the agreement would allow DWP to expand its festival operations at Discovery Park, boosting economic activity for local businesses and generating additional revenue for park improvements and maintenance.
Representatives from Visit Sacramento, the Sacramento Hotel Association, Hilton Sacramento Arden West and the Sheraton Grand spoke in support of the agreement, citing increased revenue from festival-related tourism.
“The importance of Aftershock cannot be overstated,” Kari Miskit, chief operating officer of Visit Sacramento, said at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “By working to diversify what we can offer as a destination — that’s very important to us at Visit Sacramento — but at the same time, creating something that can grow here, that our residents can enjoy, is also of equal importance.”
Under the agreement, DWP may host up to three annual multi-day music festivals through Dec. 31, 2035. DWP would pay a permit fee of 95 cents per attendee, subject to a 3% annual increase, with an upfront payment based on projected attendance. Additional payments tied to actual attendance would be dedicated to park improvements.
The county’s Office of Economic Development would invest up to $300,000 for initial site improvements at Discovery Park. DWP would contribute up to $215,000, with those costs reimbursed through future fee offsets.
County officials said all festival-related costs incurred by the county, including maintenance and park ranger services, would be fully reimbursed by DWP.
“Beyond the direct financial return, the agreement strengthens local economic activity,” the recommended agenda action states. “It prioritizes the use of Sacramento County-based vendors and service providers, creates opportunities for local businesses to participate in a major regional event, and supports ongoing community programs.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 7:56 AM.
