Why Sacramento Should Be on Your Radar for Conferences and Events

PCMA Northern California’s LEAP Conference for event professionals came to Sacramento!

I was so excited to explore Sacramento as an event destination during the conference. Even though I live somewhat locally, I jumped at the chance to experience it with fresh eyes.

And I’m so glad I did. Not only was the event absolutely worth it, but I walked away with a deeper appreciation for Sacramento. I was genuinely surprised by all the goodness this city has to offer.

• “In Sacramento it is fiery summer always, and you can gather roses, and eat strawberries and ice cream, and wear white linen clothes, and pant and perspire, at eight or nine o’clock in the morning, and then take the cars, and at noon put on your furs and your skates, and go skimming over frozen Donner Lake… There is transition for you! Where will you find another like it in the western hemisphere?” – a quote from Mark Twain, emphasizing Sacramento’s unique climate. 

Here are my top takeaways.

Hyatt Regency, Sheraton Grand, and the Convention Center

Visit Sacramento often works closely with the Hyatt, Sheraton and the Convention Center to offer a seamless meeting package. These core venues are located just steps apart. These three properties are literally steps away from each other—no buses, no complicated transfers, no lost attendees trying to figure out where to go next. As an event planner, that kind of simplicity is everything.

The hotels’ proximity to the Convention Center, flexibility of space, and overall functionality make planning attendee flow so easy. It’s easy for attendees to move between venues, sessions, and receptions without needing transportation.

I kept hearing one word over and over again from people: “This city is so walkable!”

And as Mr. Sacramento Jeff Dougherty and (hmmm Mrs. Sacramento?) Betsy Longmire from Visit Sacramento pointed out, Downtown Sacramento is on a numbered and lettered street grid system.  Numbered streets run north-south, lettered streets run east – west, making it such an easy downtown to navigate.

• Hyatt Regency Sacramento: Contemporary hotel, spacious rooms, flexible meeting space. Sleek, modern, and directly across from the State Capitol. The rooms are spacious and bright, and the hotel’s event space is flexible and polished, perfect for everything from large general sessions to more intimate breakout meetings. Bonus: the outdoor terrace space overlooking the Capitol is a great spot for evening receptions or coffee breaks in the sunshine.

• Sheraton Grand Sacramento: Housed in a historic Public Market building, with great flow. This one’s got character. I loved how the lobby felt both grand and cozy, and the flow from lobby to meeting spaces was seamless. It also connects well with the Convention Center for groups that are spreading their event footprint.

• SAFE Credit Union Convention Center: Bright, spacious, and genuinely easy to navigate. The interiors feel fresh and welcoming (they’re newly remodeled), and yes—the food was actually good.

  Together, these venues create a flexible event package. Add in Sacramento’s unbeatable walkability, and you’ve got a downtown that’s tailor-made for events.

A Warm Welcome at Cafeteria 15L

Our first evening kicked off with a reception at Cafeteria 15L, a fun spot with a spacious outdoor patio. I’ve been to this restaurant quite a few times – it too is steps away from the meeting spaces, making it a great option for offsite receptions or group dinners.

Evening at the A’s Game, Hosted by Visit Sacramento

One of the best parts of any conference isn’t just what happens inside the meeting rooms—it’s what happens after. And this evening was no exception.

Visit Sacramento hosted a night out at the ballpark. We caught an A’s game—yes, in Sacramento! If you haven’t heard, the A’s are making a temporary home in Sacramento while their new stadium in Las Vegas is under construction. They’re be playing at Sutter Health Park, just across the river in West Sacramento.

It was the kind of night that reminded me why I love this industry. Yes, we’re here for the learning and strategy—but the relationships we build over shared experiences? That’s where the magic is.

I connected with so many amazing PCMA folks in a setting that encouraged conversation and camaraderie.

Midtown

Saturday morning kicked off with a walking tour of Sacramento’s Midtown Farmers Market and nearby public art, guided by the Dawnie Andrak of Local Roots Food Tours.  Dawnie was so knowledgeable, and her love of Sacramento really shined through. Along the way we stopped at Mulvaney’s B&L to pick up Patrick Mulvaney. If you know Sacramento, you know Patrick is a local icon and a passionate advocate for community, sustainability, and all things farm-to-fork.

The market was HUGE! Local produce, handmade goods, neighbors chatting with vendors.

Danny pointed out murals and public art as we walked, while Patrick told stories about Sacramento’s evolution into a farm-to-fork capital. It was clear that Sacramento’s has heart, history, and a whole lot of people who love their city.

We ended the tour with brunch at Mulvaney’s B&L. Every dish celebrated Sacramento’s farm-to-fork identity: seasonal, colorful, and full of flavor. It felt like you were being invited into a community, not just a restaurant.

For planners looking to add depth and meaning to their event programs, experiences like this authentic, memorable, and deeply tied to what makes Sacramento special.

We capped it all off with brunch at Mulvaney’s B&L, which fully embraced Sacramento’s farm-to-fork identity. The food was beautiful and delicious, thhe setting was charming, the food was seasonal and vibrant, and the whole experience felt rooted in the community.

Sacramento takes its “farm-to-fork” identity seriously. For event planners, that means menus can be built around what’s fresh, local, and sustainable. You’re not limited to generic banquet food. You can work with chefs and caterers who prioritize relationships with local farmers and growers, and who are excited to create menus that feel personal and regional.

It’s a big win for attendee experience.

Key Takeaways

Sacramento is:

• Walkable and well-connected – thanks to its easy-to-navigate grid system

• Culturally rich – full of opportunities to layer in local art, community, and flavor

• Event-ready – with strong infrastructure, flexible venues, and thoughtful local partners

• Proudly farm-to-fork – where fresh, local food isn’t a trend—it’s a way of life

Whether you’re planning a conference, retreat, or citywide, Sacramento deserves a look.

Thank you Visit Sacramento for ALLLLL the tidbits, facts, fun, outings, and all around great time in Sacramento!

Want to plan an event in Sacramento? Reach out – I’m all in. I walked away with new connections, real venue inspiration, and a whole new appreciation for a city that’s right in my own backyard.