Sacramento doesn’t get many legitimate country music festivals. That’s what makes Country in the Park 2 worth circling on the calendar. On Friday, October 23, 2026, Heart Health Park at Cal Expo hosts a one-night outdoor festival with a real headliner, a full supporting lineup, and the kind of add-ons—mechanical bull, line dancing, food trucks—that turn a concert into an actual night out.
It’s put on by KNCI 105.1, Sacramento’s country station, which means it’s built for local fans who want a polished experience without driving to San Francisco or Los Angeles.
The Lineup
Bailey Zimmerman headlines. The 25-year-old from Illinois broke through with “Fall in Love” in 2022 and has spent the last few years building a catalog of hard-driving country-rock songs that work particularly well in an outdoor setting. His set is the main draw.
Opening acts fill out a solid card. Russell Dickerson, the Tennessee singer-songwriter behind “Yours” and “Every Little Thing,” has a devoted following in Northern California. Ian Munsick brings a Wyoming-bred sound that leans traditional, and Trey Pendley rounds out the bill. Between the four acts, music starts at 5:00 p.m. and runs through 10:30 p.m.—a proper evening festival rather than a show that wraps before dark.
Beyond the Music
Country in the Park 2 adds enough around the edges to keep the night interesting even between sets. The grounds include a mechanical bull, line dancing, food trucks, pop-up shops, and games. None of that is unusual for a festival of this type, but it does mean arriving at gate time (2:00 p.m.) makes sense if the full experience matters to you. Showing up at 5:00 is fine if you’re there for the headliner.
The Details
- Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
- Venue: Heart Health Park at Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815
- Gates open: 2:00 p.m.
- Music starts: 5:00 p.m.
- Music ends: by 10:30 p.m.
- General Admission: $70 plus service fees
- GA 4-Pack: $250 plus service fees (best value for groups)
- Y’All Access Pass (VIP): $180 plus service fees — includes pit access at the front of the stage, VIP lounge with bar and dedicated bathrooms
- Parking: $20 on-site
- Tickets: Available at citpfest.com
- Clear bag policy: In effect — plan accordingly before you pack
Tickets and What to Expect on Price
At $70 general admission, Country in the Park 2 sits in the middle of the range for a festival with a national headliner. Aftershock, Sacramento’s annual rock festival at the same venue, runs significantly higher for a day pass. For a single-night show with a lineup this deep, $70 is reasonable, especially with the group 4-pack bringing the per-person cost down to $62.50.
The VIP upgrade at $180 is worth considering for the pit access alone if Bailey Zimmerman is the reason you’re going. Seeing a high-energy country headliner from the front of the stage in an outdoor amphitheater is a different experience than mid-lawn. The lounge bar and private bathrooms are a bonus.
Getting There
Heart Health Park sits inside Cal Expo along the American River Parkway corridor, off Business 80. On-site parking is $20. Sacramento RT Light Rail serves the Cal Expo station on the Gold Line, making it a reasonable car-free option if you’re coming from Downtown, Midtown, or East Sacramento—though the walk from the station to Heart Health Park is about 10 minutes.
For a broader look at what else is happening around Sacramento this fall, the Sacramento fall festivals and markets guide covers the full calendar through the season.
Bottom Line
Country in the Park 2 is a well-organized, single-night festival built for Sacramento country fans who want a proper outdoor show without traveling out of town. Bailey Zimmerman is a legitimate headliner, the supporting lineup is strong, and the Cal Expo grounds handle this kind of event well. Buy tickets at citpfest.com. The 4-pack is the move for groups.
