The Bohart Museum of Entomology opens on a Saturday afternoon for a free open house focused on UC Davis graduate and undergraduate student research. See the insect collections and live insects and arachnids, and talk with the students who study them. The museum's pages list 1–4pm and 1–4:30pm. Campus parking is free on weekends.
North Area Recovery Station HHW Drop-Off Facility · Sacramento
Sacramento County's household hazardous waste facility puts usable dropped-off products out for anyone to take free. New items go out at the top of each hour from 9am to 3pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. First come, first served, and availability isn't guaranteed.
Loaves & Fishes' Dining Room on North C Street serves a warm, nutritious midday meal to up to 800 adults a day, 364 days a year (closed Thanksgiving). Weekdays 11:30am to 1pm, weekends 11am to 12:30pm. The campus also has Friendship Park with breakfast, coffee, showers and survival supplies for adults experiencing homelessness.
Verified Oct 28 · sacloaves.org
Catch: Adults only (families are served at Maryhouse)
ServicesFree (worth about $25)For people who qualify
Maryhouse at Loaves & Fishes is a no-barrier daytime drop-in center for women and families experiencing homelessness. Hot breakfast 8–8:45am for single women, families and single fathers with children; survival supplies, diapers and menstrual supplies 9am–1:45pm; private showers and resource counseling. Open Monday to Friday 7am to 2pm (1pm on Wednesdays).
Verified Oct 28 · sacloaves.org
Catch: For women and families experiencing homelessness
Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat 8:30am–4pm (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day)
North Area Recovery Station HHW Drop-Off Facility · Sacramento
Sacramento County residents can drop off household hazardous waste free for safe disposal at the North Area Recovery Station: paint, cleaners, loose batteries and other products with caution labels. Open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8:30am to 4pm. Products with built-in batteries go to the e-waste program instead.
Daily; parking lot 7am–3pm, raceways close about 2pm
Nimbus Fish Hatchery · Sacramento
The state's Nimbus Fish Hatchery on the American River is free to visit, and November through February is peak season, when salmon and steelhead come up the fish ladder to be spawned. The visitor center building is closed until further notice; the hatchery lot is open 7am to 3pm and the raceways close around 2pm. Hours change with staffing and weather, so check the hatchery's Facebook page or call (916) 358-2884.
Sacramento's Historic City Cemetery is open to visitors every day, 7am to 5pm November through March and 7am to 7pm April through October. Wander the gardens and the graves of Gold Rush pioneers on your own; guided tours are ticketed separately.
The City of Roseville's Utility Exploration Center is an interactive science center about energy, water and recycling. September through May it's open Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday 10am–4pm and Thursday–Friday 12–4pm (closed Sunday and Monday).
Sundays and Wednesdays at 1pm (Nov–Mar); at 11am (Apr–Oct)
Capitol Park (meet at 13th Street and Capitol Avenue) · Sacramento
Docents lead free walking tours of Capitol Park, the 40-acre garden around the State Capitol, with trees from around the world, the World Peace Rose Garden and the park's memorials. Winter tours (November–March) start at 1pm on Sundays and Wednesdays; April–October they start at 11am. Meet inside the park at 13th Street and Capitol Avenue. Registering online is recommended but walk-ups are welcome; tours are postponed in bad weather.
Wednesday–Saturday, 10am–5pm (fall 2026 hours through Dec. 5)
Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art · Davis
UC Davis's contemporary art museum is free for everyone, with no tickets or reservations needed. Fall hours (through Dec. 5, 2026) are Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. It's closed on university holidays, including Nov. 11, Nov. 26 and for a special event Nov. 14, but open the day after Thanksgiving. Campus parking is paid on weekdays and free on weekends.
The UC Davis Arboretum's demonstration gardens, redwood grove and waterway trails along Putah Creek are free to visit, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Families and leashed dogs are welcome. Campus visitor parking is paid on weekdays and free on weekends and holidays.
The State Capitol in downtown Sacramento is a free museum on weekdays, 9am to 5pm. Free guided tours run on the hour from 10am to 4pm, up to 35 people each, first come, first served: sign up at the information desk in the first-floor rotunda. Self-guided brochures are available in six languages. Expect a metal detector and bag check at the entrance; the building is closed on weekends and most holidays.
Verified Oct 28 · capitolmuseum.ca.gov
No catch
Classes & fitnessFree (worth about $1500)Eligibility applies
Sacramento Public Library's Career Online High School lets adults earn an accredited high school diploma plus an entry-level career certificate, 100% online, at no cost. You get up to 18 months, an academic coach, and can transfer earlier high school credits. Plan on 8–10 hours a week. Start with the library's 'Are You Ready?' survey and a two-week prerequisite course.
Verified Oct 28 · saclibrary.org
Catch: Ages 19+ and Sacramento County residents only · Library card required · Must pass a 2-week prerequisite course
ServicesFree (worth about $200)For people who qualify
Legal Services of Northern California (Sacramento, Auburn and Woodland offices)
Legal Services of Northern California provides free civil legal representation to low-income clients, with local offices in Sacramento (Sacramento County), Auburn (Placer and El Dorado counties) and Woodland (Yolo County). It helps with evictions and housing, Medi-Cal and health care, CalFresh, CalWORKs, unemployment and other benefits. Adults 60+ can get free advice through its Senior Legal Services program.
Verified Oct 28 · lsnc.net
Catch: Low-income clients only
Classes & fitnessFree (worth about $40)Eligibility applies
Sacramento Public Library pairs adults with trained volunteer tutors for free one-on-one help with reading, writing and math, from beginner level up to GED/HiSET prep, including English language learning. Free books and learning materials are included and schedules are flexible. No ID is needed.
Verified Oct 28 · saclibrary.org
Catch: Sacramento County residents only · Ages 18+ (or 16+ and not enrolled in high school) · Commit to at least 1 hour a week for 6 months
Folsom Public Library lends the California State Library Parks Pass year-round. It covers vehicle day-use entry (one car, up to nine people) at more than 200 state parks, including nearby Folsom Lake State Recreation Area and Folsom Powerhouse. Loans last three weeks with up to three renewals; express passes are three weeks with no renewals. It doesn't cover per-person fees or tours.
Verified Oct 28 · library.folsom.ca.us
Catch: Library card required · Vehicle day-use only: not per-person fees, tours or off-highway vehicle parks
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