Calendar
Fundraisers
Trees & Traditions
The Museum's annual Trees & Traditions fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, December 4th, 2026. We hope you'll save the date and join us for Trees & Traditions: Toyland to celebrate the season! Enjoy an evening filled with delicious hors d'oeuvres, festive drinks, live music, and, of course, holiday trees and traditions. Tickets will be on sale this fall.
All proceeds from Trees & Traditions benefit the Sutter County Museum Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and go directly toward programs that educate, inspire, and connect our community. Donations and sponsorships can help us:
- Commission local artists to create additional artworks for the Museum's entrance gallery.
- Fund buses for over 500 elementary students to visit the Museum for field trips.
- Host a hands-on, immersive exhibit next summer designed especially for kids and families.
Sponsorships are available now!
- $5,000 - Hot Wheels
- $2,500 - Care Bears
- $1,000 - Silly Putty
- $500 - Gumby
- $250 - Slinky
Please download the Sponsor Benefits & Commitment Form to see the exclusive benefits of becoming a sponsor and to donate toward Trees & Traditions. Please don't hesitate to contact us at 530.822.7141 or info@suttercountymuseum.org if you have any questions.
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors
Silly Putty
Law Office of Sukhdeep Gosal PC
Programs
Ribs & Relics
Saturday August 8th, 10am-2pm
Join us for Ribs & Relics at the Sutter County Museum – a fun celebration of history, food, and local treasures.
– Do you want to learn more about your family heirlooms? Now is your chance! Professional antiques appraiser Erin Dewell can evaluate your items on-site. Appraisals are just $5 per item (or 5 items for $20).
– Delicious barbecue ribs and sides will also be served from 12:00-2:00pm while supplies last for $15 a plate ($10 for kids under 12)! All proceeds support the Museum Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
– We’ll also have plenty of fun, free activities – lawn games, hands-on crafts to learn more about local and U.S. history, and a chance to win prizes!
The 2027 Calendar Photographers Reception
Friday August 28th, 5-7pm
Join us at the reception to debut the 2027 Sutter Buttes Region Calendar and celebrate this year’s photographers! The 2027 calendar features photography by: Daisy Aguilar, Jonathan Beth, Alexandra Craig, Easter Seals of Yuba City, Royce Fonseca, Leah Hutton, Jill Leff, Rae Lerche, Robert Lowe, Alan Paschal, Pattie Ransdell, Kathy Triolo, Melanie Truan, and Meghan Worrell.
Enjoy a first look at the exhibit, a chance to meet several of this year's photographers, and light refreshments. Calendars are typically a benefit exclusively for members of the Sutter Buttes Regional Land Trust, but limited quantities will be on sale in the Museum Gift Shop while supplies last!
Sutter County Museum Speaker Series:
Cultural Resources and Wildland Fire
Thursday September 24th, 5:30-7pm
Doors open @ 5:30 - Talk begins @ 5:45pm
How does an archaeologist review cultural heritage resources, protect sites during an active fire incident, and mitigate loss after a wildland fire? Nick Lashway is an archaeologist who has experience on projects in 15 states and has worked in the National Park Service and National Forest Service. Learn about cultural resource management during wildfires and how resource advisors work to protect California's cultural heritage when time is of the essence.
Abuelita’s Kitchen Potluck Reception
Friday September 25th, 5-7pm
Join us at a special opening reception to celebrate the Abuelita's Kitchen: Mexican Food Stories temporary exhibition. You are welcome to bring your own treasured family recipe and list of ingredients to share at the reception! Or simply come to enjoy the food and a first look at this intriguing exhibit. Enjoy a chance to view this interesting display, record your own recipes and food stories, and try an array of foods that tell their own histories.
Abuelita’s Kitchen Documentary Screening & Curator Talk
Saturday October 3rd, 12-1:15pm
Join us for a free documentary film screening and talk! Dr. Sarah Portnoy is a documentary filmmaker, food justice advocate, and a Food Studies professor at the University of Southern California. She produced the documentary Abuelita’s Kitchen: Mexican Food Stories and accompanying exhibit, which feature ten Mexican grandmothers in Southern California and their unique food histories. Enjoy a screening of the 27-minute documentary and learn more about the project and the research behind it in this fascinating talk.
La Cocina de mi Abuelita Proyección Documental y Plática
Sábado, 3 de octubre, 12-1:15pm
La Dra. Sarah Portnoy es documentalista, defensora de la justicia alimentaria y profesora de Estudios Alimentarios en la Universidad del Sur de California. Ella hizo el documental La Cocina de mi Abuelita: Historias Culinarias Mexicanas y la exposición complementaria, que presentan a diez abuelas mexicanas del sur de California y sus historias culinarias únicas. Disfrute de la proyección de este documental de 27 minutos y conozca más sobre el proyecto y la investigación que lo respalda en esta plática fascinante.
Drop-In Research Hours
Fridays - 2-4pm
September 4th, October 2nd, November 6th
Museum staff and volunteers are available for drop-in research hours on the first Fridays of fall months. If you're looking to find sources for your local history or family research, we can work with you to find books, documents, material in the Museum collection, or online resources to help!
Children's Programs
Our children's programs are educational in nature, with a lot of fun thrown in! Many feature local presenters, instructional time, and a craft or activity related to the topic. Regular programs include family movie nights, storytimes, and outdoor art and nature activities in the Artisan Community Garden.
Sensory-Friendly Day at the Museum with Family SOUP
Monday August 3rd
10-11am for ages 0-5 and their families
11:30am-12:30pm for ages 6-18 and their families
Visit our temporary Hello From Japan exhibit during a sensory-friendly session with Family SOUP! Family SOUP staff will be here to provide support and resources for those with extra sensory needs. The event is free, but registration is required here due to limited space. For more information, please contact Leanne at leanne@familysoup.org or 530-751-1925 ext. 110.
Education
The Sutter County Museum provides several opportunities for free educational visits and presentations! We offer field trips tailored to your grade level(s), tours for community groups and adult organizations, and offsite presentations. All educational programs are provided free of charge and include a trained and experienced educator to lead your visit or presentation.
Please complete the Educational Program Request Form (below) to schedule your group visit. You are welcome to call the Museum at 530.822.7141 if you have questions about educational programs or need additional information before completing the Educational Program Request Form.
School Field Trips
If you are a teacher and would like to bring your class to the Museum, please contact us at least 2 weeks in advance. We may not be able to accommodate requests made on shorter notice, and space can fill up quickly!
Trained Museum educators can tailor tours to your students' grade level(s) and focus on topics that meet state educational standards. These include local history, Native Californians (Nisenan), agriculture, John Sutter, the Gold Rush, and Yuba-Sutter's multicultural communities. Please note any special requests on the Educational Program Request Form.
School tours are available Wednesdays-Fridays between 9am-1pm from March-May & September-November. A maximum of 2 classes per day is recommended for the best educational experience at the Sutter County Museum.
Bus Grants for a Sutter County Museum Field Trip
The Sutter County Museum is pleased to offer Bus Grants for the 26-27 school year! Bus Grants are provided this year thanks to the Sutter County Museum Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Bus Grants will be offered this school year until all available funds are expended.
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible for a Bus Grant during the 26-27 school year, your class/group must:
- Have students currently in Grades K - 5
To request a Bus Grant, please fill out the Bus Grant Request Form (below). After completing this form, a Museum staff member will be in touch with you within 5 business days to notify you about the status of your Bus Grant Request.
Group Tours (non-school groups)
Our experienced educators can provide free 30-minute to 1-hour guided tours of the Museum. Tours can be tailored to fit your group's interests. Please fill out the Educational Program Request Form and note any special requests or focus that you would like for your group tour.
Offsite Presentations
Museum staff members are available for offsite presentations. Many requestors are community groups and service clubs. Presentations can be tailored to fit your group's interests, and there is no charge for this service. Please complete the Educational Program Request Form at least one month in advance of the proposed event date.
Educational Museum Kits
The Sutter County Museum's educational kits are designed to bring the Museum to your classroom! Kits contain five lesson plans for activities aligned with California state content standards. Each kit includes a teacher's guide, adaptable lesson plans, a flash drive and Google Drive with digital resources, and materials for hands-on activities. Educators using the kit may need to provide simple classroom materials such as paper, pencils, coloring supplies, and scissors.
Activities are flexible, and educators can adjust the format based on the ages, abilities, and interests of their students. The goal is to incorporate fun, hands-on learning experiences while meeting state education standards.
Funding for this project was provided by the Specified General Fund for the Museum Grant Program under the California Cultural and Historical Endowment.
Kit Topics:
- Flood and Natural Disaster Kit - 3rd Grade
- Nisenan Kit - 4th Grade
- Gold Rush and Westward Expansion Kit - 4th Grade
Rental Information:
Kit rentals are offered for a two-week period. They can be picked up and dropped off at the Museum during public hours of operation.
To reserve an Educational Kit, please fill out the Educational Kit Request Form (below).
After completing this form, a Museum staff member will contact you within 5 business days to coordinate your reservation.