Today in Sacramento: Here’s what you need to know for Friday

Blood drive offers free tickets to fair

People can receive a free ticket to the California State Fair at the “Día de Donar Sangre” blood drive from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento. BloodSource and Univision 19 are sponsoring the event, which offers free parking for participants. The blood drive takes place in buildings C and D and is accessible through Blue Gate, off Challenge Way and Exposition Boulevard. Donors will also receive a 2016 Día de Donar Sangre T-shirt and MyBloodSource Rewards. Go to www.bloodsource.org for more information.

French Film Festival begins

The 15th annual Sacramento French Film Festival begins a nine-day run Friday at Sacramento’s Crest Theatre and Esquire Imax Theatre. “Fatima” will be screened at 7 p.m. Friday at the Crest, 1013 K St. After the film, there will also be an opening reception in the Silver Room of the Grand Capitol Plaza Ballroom, 1025 Ninth St. For a complete schedule and more information, go to http://sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org.

Downtown concert at plaza

Downtown Sacramento’s free Concert in the Park series continues from 5 to 9 p.m. at Cesar Chavez Plaza, 910 I St. Friday’s scheduled performers are Vokab Kompany, Who Cares, The Good Samaritans, The Scratch Outs and CrookOne. Go to godowntownsac.com for more information.

Current, ex-pro athletes compete for charity

Current and former professional athletes will take part in the eighth annual Maddbacker Celebrity Basketball Game, which begins at 6:30 p.m. at Sleep Train Arena, 1 Sports Parkway, Sacramento. Among the notables scheduled to participate are Brandon Marshall, Terrell Owens, Mark Cuban, Matt Barnes and Seneca Wallace. Proceeds from the game benefit the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Sacramento Chapter, which supports outreach efforts for youth football programs. Go to http://maddbacker.com for more information.

Things to do

• A Free Family Swim Night is offered from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lincoln Village Community Pool, 3450 Routier Road, Rancho Cordova. There will be music and an Aqua Challenge obstacle course. Go to www.cityofranchocordova.org and click on “Calendar” for more information.

Local sports

• Sacramento River Cats vs. El Paso Chihuahuas, 7:05 p.m., Raley Field

This story was originally published June 16, 2016 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Today in Sacramento: Here’s what you need to know for Friday."