Local

Photos: See City of Trees parade bring Mardi Gras vibes to Sacramento

By José Luis Villegas and Hannah Ruhoff

The fifth annual City of Trees Parade brought a Mardi Gras feel to Sacramento on Saturday night.

More than 50 festive groups joined the parade on its route on Capitol Mall and through Old Sacramento.

“We have 100 volunteers that help us on the day of the event. We also have 61 different performance groups that are going to bring 1,300 performers to our parade,” parade organizer Wes Samms told The Sacramento Bee before the event.

“They’re preparing costumes. They’re preparing dance routines. They’re preparing music and practicing getting ready to come out. They have art vehicles that are ornately decorated and orchestrated and there is a lot of organizing and work that goes into it.”

Participants from the Con-nec-tion Dance Project toss beads to the crowd on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Participants from the Con-nec-tion Dance Project toss beads to the crowd on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Sphinx riders wave to the crowds of people on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Sphinx riders wave to the crowds of people on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Countess Stella and the krewe from Agricultural Aristocracy march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Countess Stella and the krewe from Agricultural Aristocracy march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
The C.K. McClatchy High School dance team marches down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
The C.K. McClatchy High School dance team marches down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Lady Sophia Sweet Potato and the krewe from the Agricultural Aristocracy march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Lady Sophia Sweet Potato and the krewe from the Agricultural Aristocracy march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
Julie Hersch cradles her dog Pliny as they watch performers on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Julie Hersch cradles her dog Pliny as they watch performers on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
The Sacramento Roper Romps, a group of costumed pub crawlers inspired by Helen Roper from "Three's Company,” march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
The Sacramento Roper Romps, a group of costumed pub crawlers inspired by Helen Roper from "Three's Company,” march on Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
A giant cat puppet parades down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
A giant cat puppet parades down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
The Teng Fei Lion Dancers interact with the crowd during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
The Teng Fei Lion Dancers interact with the crowd during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
The pet parade makes its way down Capitol Mall as a part of the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
The pet parade makes its way down Capitol Mall as a part of the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
The Grant High Drumline marches down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
The Grant High Drumline marches down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
The NOLACal Second Liners pass out beads during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
The NOLACal Second Liners pass out beads during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Ava Beauton, 5, of Sacramento watches bicyclists ride down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Ava Beauton, 5, of Sacramento watches bicyclists ride down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. JOSÉ LUIS VILLEGAS jvillegas@sacbee.com
A float dubbed the “HMS Sea Cow” rolls down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
A float dubbed the “HMS Sea Cow” rolls down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
Members of the Samba Da Terra make their way down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
Members of the Samba Da Terra make their way down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A Bike Party rider rolls down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
A Bike Party rider rolls down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A giant cuttlefish by Dust Works parades down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
A giant cuttlefish by Dust Works parades down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A giant rainbow float drives down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
A giant rainbow float drives down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A giant dragonfly is driven down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
A giant dragonfly is driven down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com
A train decorated with lights is driven down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
A train decorated with lights is driven down Capitol Mall during the City of Trees Parade in Sacramento on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. HANNAH RUHOFF hruhoff@sacbee.com

This story was originally published March 1, 2026 at 1:33 PM.

CORRECTION: A caption gave the incorrect name of the Samba Da Terra group.

Corrected Mar 3, 2026
Related Stories from Sacramento Bee
Profile Image of José Luis Villegas
José Luis Villegas
The Sacramento Bee
Award-winning visual journalist José Luis Villegas first joined The Bee in 1992. He has shared a general news Pulitzer Prize for Bay Area earthquake coverage, and teamed with Bee colleague Marcos Bretón for two books on Latino baseball players. 
Profile Image of Hannah Ruhoff
Hannah Ruhoff
The Sacramento Bee
916-321-1066
Hannah Ruhoff is the assistant visuals editor at The Sacramento Bee. Previously, she was a visual journalist at another McClatchy property, the Sun Herald in Biloxi, Miss. She is an Ohio University alumna and native of Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Get one year of unlimited digital access for $159.99
#ReadLocal

Only 44¢ per day

SUBSCRIBE NOW