What is happening in Elk Grove this week, September 30, 2025
 Giant Pumpkins, Giant Fun! The Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival is back at Elk Grove Park this weekend , October 4 and 5, with all the autumn magic you know and love! Watch as massive pumpkins tip the scales in the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off, then cheer on the daring paddlers in the Pumpkin Regatta. Between thrilling contests, tasty food, live entertainment, and family fun around every corner, it’s a weekend you won’t want to miss. Learn more at CosumnesCSD.gov/GPF. |
 Shelter Next Steps: Survey Specifies the Site Selection Criteria The City of Elk Grove is developing a permanent homeless shelter and is seeking community input to help ensure it is thoughtfully designed, well-integrated, and reflective of local values. Take our short survey to rank which criteria you think is most important as we locate the permanent shelter in Elk Grove. Your feedback will help ensure this project aligns with community needs, concerns, and values. Take the Survey. We’ll use this feedback when sharing the final site criteria to the City Council at a future date. The results from the survey will help shape the criteria used to analyze the site options that we’ll share in early 2026. |
 Should the Future of Main Street Have a Relaxed Vibe? The Historic Main Street Special Planning Area (SPA) is getting a refresh and we need your input to help guide the way! As part of the planning update, the project team has created six different “personas” inspired by downtowns across the state. This week we’re diving into the Relaxed Persona. That might feature farm-to-fork dining spots, local shops and services, and spaces that celebrate our history. With low-scale architecture, wide sidewalks, and plenty of spots to rest, this persona is about slowing down and staying awhile. Picture a place like Downtown Winters or Main Street Hanford. Curious what this could look like in Elk Grove? Explore all six personas and share your feedback online. |
 Stop the Sparks: Recycle Batteries Safely Your toothbrush, your vacuum, even your e-reader—they all have a secret: hidden lithium batteries. It’s easy to toss out an old gadget without a second thought, but lithium batteries don’t belong in the trash. When they’re crushed or damaged, they can spark, smolder, and even cause fires in garbage trucks and landfills. The good news? Safe disposal is simple. Protect your home, your community, and our waste crews by recycling batteries and battery-embedded devices at Elk Grove’s Special Waste Collection Center. It’s quick, free, and hassle-free. Join the Cosumnes Fire Department and the City’s Public Works Department in observing National Fire Prevention Week by skipping the sparks and recycling the right way. Special Waste Collection Center 9255 Disposal Lane Open Sunday–Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
 Have Coffee with a Cop It’s National Coffee with a Cop Day this Wednesday, October 1. Stop in at 18 Grams (9677 East Stockton Blvd.) between the hours of 7 and 10 a.m. to hoist a caffeinated cup to our community with the people who work so hard to protect and serve it. |
 Celebrating Cultural Connections Join the City of Elk Grove’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission in celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and its culturally rich history of activism and change during Cultural Connections: Elk Grove Out Loud on Monday, October 6 at District56 starting at 6:30 p.m. This exciting evening will include community members sharing their stories and entertaining performances showcasing the vibrancy of the community. Everyone is welcome! |
City Calendar
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
10/02 Planning Commission Meeting (6 p.m.)
10/04 Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival (10 a.m.)
10/04 Creative Space Market (10 a.m.)
10/04 First Saturday Art Reception (4 p.m.)
10/05 Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival (10 a.m.)
10/05 International Peace Festival (2 p.m.)
10/06 Cultural Connections: Elk Grove Out Loud (6:30 p.m.)
