Block party Saturday on emerging R Street

A big crowd is expected to hit R Street in downtown Sacramento on Saturday for a block party celebrating the area as the artistic hub of the city.

The party will close down R Street between 11th and 13th streets, with most of the activity taking place in front of the Warehouse Artist Lofts apartment building and public market. The party runs from 3 to 8 p.m. and more than 2,400 people sent RSVPs for the event on Facebook.

Six local bands will perform, starting with Luanverse featuring Zoey B at 3 p.m. Beer tickets will be sold for $6 and beer will be provided by Oak Park Brewing, New Belgium and Berryessa Brewing Company. 1810 Gallery is putting on a live art production and food will be for sale from the El Matador taco truck and at a pop-up restaurant by South, a popular Southside Park establishment.

Sol Collective, Casa de Espanol and the Crocker Art Museum are running a kids art zone at 11th and R streets.

Another focus of the block party is a “makers mart,” featuring more than 30 local vendors selling handmade jewelry, housewares, clothing and other crafts.

Trisha Rhomberg, a co-owner of the Old Gold shop inside the WAL Public Market and the block party organizer, said the event is more than just a showcase of the artist lofts complex.

“There’s a new energy on this entire block,” she said. “This is a way for us to get exposure for all the cool stuff happening.”

In addition to Warehouse Artist Lofts, new businesses, bars and art galleries have opened along R Street in recent months.

This story was originally published October 1, 2015 at 12:22 PM.