GoldenSky to return in 2027, CIM to double in size, tourism officials say
Tourism officials announced Wednesday that the Sacramento GoldenSky Festival will return in 2027, after cancellations in 2025 and 2026, and the California International Marathon will be able to double in capacity.
Organizers had called off the GoldenSky Festival due to a crowded country music festival market nationally, and difficulty securing headlining acts at prices that would allow for affordable ticket prices.
GoldenSky debuted in 2022 as a two-day festival produced by Danny Wimmer Presents in partnership with Visit Sacramento. It expanded to three days in 2024 and drew about 75,000 attendees over the October weekend, according to previous Bee reporting.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said the festival would return for three years, in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
“Our hard work has paid off,” he said.
Officials made the announcement at Visit Sacramento’s annual “State of Tourism” event, where they simultaneously announced the expansion of the marathon.
The California International Marathon registers 10,000 athletes annually, said Visit Sacramento CEO Mike Testa, and the waitlist is cut off at 6,000 people.
McCarty said that Union Pacific has agreed to run its train through the center of the city later in the day, allowing the marathon to grow its capacity.
