Looking for ways to spend your sizzling summer days? Head down to Second Saturday, where local artists showcase their work, and food and festivities abound.

“Second Saturday is really entertaining because there is a variety of venues and events you can attend. It’s a bunch of different people hanging out, having fun,” sophomore Molly Tash said.

The exciting event occurs the second Saturday of every month throughout midtown.

However, “summer is the time when everyone comes,” Sugar Shack retailer Jenn Walker said.

From 6-9 p.m., people enjoy the new collections of local artists, listen to an eclectic mixture of bands, taste food from popular restaurants and experience the culture of people around them.

“My favorite part is seeing all the art and sometimes hearing good music. Sometimes there’s weird music, but other times there are good DJs,” senior Lauren Evans said.

Galleries stay open late into the evening for a special Sacramento art walk through midtown.

The most popular streets include K, J, and 20th. Everything is within walking distance.

I went to Second Saturday on May 10 with sophomores Caitlin McNally, Brigit Cvetich, Whitney Hillis and Tash, and junior Laura Schellhas.

We ate dinner at Hot Rod’s, a small gay-friendly diner on K Street.

“I go there all the time on Second Saturday. I like the music videos on the wall and the variety of people that are always eating there,” Tash said.

One hot spot we discovered was the parking lot behind Wells Fargo Bank, between K and 21st Streets, where we found an assortment of jewelry and art vendors.

“I love how cheap the stuff is. I saw these earrings just like the Betsey Johnson ones for only $5,” Evans said.

Art teacher Andy Cunningham showed 10 pieces of his semi-abstract art, ranging from $1750-4000. They were featured in a gallery on 22nd Street that Cunningham had rented for a month.

Cunningham served brownies and gingersnaps, while the SCDS fiddle group, (freshman Alex Graves, fifth graders Michael Fat, Isabella Tochterman, and Maxwell Shukuya, and Cunningham’s three children—fifth grader Skovran, third grader Aidan and first grader Garrison) played outside.

The fiddle group made $38 and donated it to the Rulindo School in Rwanda.

“The night was fantastic. There were lots of students and teachers from SCDS,” Cunningham said.

My friends and I then headed down 20th Street to visit other art galleries and listen to bands.

The West Sacramento indie rock band H. Letham, performed for their second time at the event. “I love that music is everywhere. It gives us a chance to learn from other bands,” lead singer Shaun Tapia said.

Most of the popular J-Street clothing boutiques like Sugar Shack, Krazy Mary’s, and Cuffs keep their doors open late into the night and feature DJs .

Jewelry is sold along the streets and in parking lots next to the galleries.

Vicky Breslin, with her bubbly personality, stood out from the crowd of jewelry vendors. It was her unique and fun charm bracelets that caught my eye. My favorite was made of Monopoly pieces and cost $75.

Breslin currently owns Animal Pharm in Colfax but previously owned the store Animal Krackers between Watt and Howe Avenues, where many of her customers were mothers of SCDS students, she said.

“I love all the people. There are lots of funky, young and hip people here,” Breslin said.