Thousands flock to downtown Sacramento for City of Trees Parade, Mardi Gras Festival

Decked out in purple, green and yellow, thousands of people Saturday lined Capitol Mall in downtown Sacramento for the third City of Trees Parade and Mardi Gras Festival.

The Curiosity Collaborative, a nonprofit group that focuses on diversity initiatives, hosted the event in the middle of downtown for a celebration of community. Lead organizer Wes Samms said the festival is “a celebration of any place, people or culture.”

“We’re putting this on because we love Sacramento and we believe that Sacramento simply hasn’t celebrated itself enough in the past,” Samms said.

The City of Trees Parade, separated into two waves, featured some 1,500 performers from about 53 different groups, Samms said.

Marching bands, dancers and charming furry friends headed down Capitol Mall in style, whether on foot, floats or in decorated cars.

For Samms, he wanted the city to feel proud and feel the joy of the many different talents local to Sacramento.

“The City of Trees Parade is about Sacramento celebrating itself,” Samms said. “Our city is so diverse and has so many amazing things happening in and around it. We want to just put all that stuff on display and give Sacramentans a reason to feel proud and inspired to live in Sacramento.”

Samms, 39, moved to Sacramento in 2012 after living in New Orleans for eight years.

The Curiosity Collaborative held its first City of Trees Parade and Mardi Gras Festival in 2022. It was well-attended, drawing nearly 12,000 people.