A Sacramento Jewish community festival with a history spanning nearly five decades is back this Sunday, and it's bringing matzah ball soup, pastrami sandwiches and a bagel rivalry with it. The 49th Annual Sacramento Jewish Food Faire runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 8 at the Scottish Rite Center, 6151 H Street, with free admission and free parking for anyone who shows up.
What's On the Menu This Year
According to KCRA, the faire will serve up traditional Jewish foods including matzah ball soup, pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, and lox bagels. Beyond the food tables, organizers have packed the day with a makers market, live music, a wine garden, family-friendly activities and the now-anticipated Best Bagel competition. The outlet reported that Congregation Beth Shalom co-president and planning committee member Ella Rohde, along with fellow committee member Alexia Hughes, joined the station Friday morning to preview the event.
This isn't a new tradition dusting itself off for the cameras. The Sacramento Jewish Food Faire has been a fixture in the region for decades, and last year's edition was described by the Carmichael Times as a Carmichael-area event stretching back 47 years. That 2025 write-up detailed much the same spread Sacramentans can expect again this weekend — matzo ball soup, chopped liver, sliced meats, pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, bagels with lox, and vegetarian options, served either eat-in or take-home.
A Bigger Stage Than It Used To Have
A Bigger Stage Than It Used To Have The faire's current home at the Scottish Rite Center is itself a relatively recent upgrade. The Carmichael Times reported that the 48th annual fair had moved into a much larger venue than Congregation Beth Shalom, where it had usually taken place. That same report described a similar lineup of favorites — matzah ball soup, pastrami sandwiches, lox bagels, schmear and a lively wine garden — suggesting organizers have kept the format consistent even as the crowd outgrew its original space.
Organizers behind this year's event have also laid out some practical ground rules on the Sacramento Jewish Food Faire's official site. This year's gathering will be entirely in-person with no pre-ordering option, a change from past formats. Security will be on site and bags are subject to search at the entrance, and while the Scottish Rite Center does not allow pets, service animals are welcome.
The Bagel Rivalry Heats Up
The Best Bagel Contest wasn't always part of the festivities — the Carmichael Times reported that organizers added it as a new attraction during the 2025 festival. It has since become one of the event's bigger draws. Forgotten Bakery won the 2025 Sacramento Best Bagel Contest.
Forgotten Bakery's reputation extends beyond the faire itself. At the separate Sacramento Bagel Battle, a blind tasting competition, the bakery won Most Creative, Best Specialty and People's Choice honors for its breakfast sandwich, per a report from Abridged. That same tasting saw Better Half Bagel post the top score of the day, racking up 143 total points. The first-ever edition of that Bagel Battle, described as a subset of the Jewish Food Faire, pitted six of the region's top bagel makers against one another, and organizers told Abridged they hope to field at least 10 contestants next time around.
Whether this Sunday's Best Bagel competition at the faire mirrors that same lineup of contenders isn't detailed in the available event materials, but the stakes are clearly rising for Sacramento's bagel makers year over year. For now, the invitation from organizers is simple: show up between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., bring an appetite, and settle in for free admission, free parking and a full afternoon of Jewish food, music and community.
