Nearby places

Choosing a venue and planning the trip from the foothills

The venues listed here cover a wide spread of sizes and settings, and the right choice often depends as much on the journey as on the show. For anyone based around Sonora or elsewhere in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, they fall roughly into three groups.

Close to home in Gold Country

Ironstone Amphitheatre sits on the Ironstone Vineyards estate near Murphys, which makes it the most local option on the list. It is an outdoor, seasonal venue, so evening temperatures in the foothills are worth planning for. Even after a warm day it can cool quickly once the sun drops, and a light layer is sensible. Murphys is also an easy place to turn a concert into a full day out, with tasting rooms and a walkable main street.

Valley venues within reach

Stockton Arena and the Modesto Centre Plaza are the nearer Central Valley choices. Both sit downtown, so allow time for parking near the venue on busy nights. Fresno's Save Mart Center, on the Fresno State campus, is a longer drive. It hosts large touring productions, and many people pair a visit there with an overnight stay.

The Sacramento area

Golden 1 Center and Sacramento Memorial Auditorium are both in downtown Sacramento. The first is a modern arena for big concerts and sports. The second is a historic hall better suited to smaller shows. The Harris Center in Folsom and Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln sit on the eastern and northern edges of the metro area. That can make them slightly easier to reach than downtown, depending on your route.

Practical tips

• Check each venue's official website for current bag policies, accessibility details and parking arrangements before you go, as these change between events.
• Buy tickets only through the venue or its authorised sellers.
• Mountain and valley roads can be slow at weekends and in bad weather, so build in extra driving time.
• Casino venues usually have age restrictions for some areas and events, so confirm these in advance.

For what's coming up at these and smaller local stages, browse the events guide. Ideas for making a day of it are in our days out section.