The Details You Want

Between all of us on the organizing team, we have attended at least a hundred live events, and we like to think we know a bit about what information you need before coming to WordCamp so you’re properly prepared for the day.

If this is your first live event, trust us, the worst thing ever is to get to the event — where you’re going to be for the whole day — and not have something you need!

Between the organizers, attendees, sponsors, and speakers, we’ve got 200+ people to care for, and while we are doing our best to serve your needs, we also know that we do have some limitations and ask you to be understanding.

So please be sure to read this entire post, so you are prepared and have your personal needs met — it’s everything you need to know about WordCamp Sacramento.

Travel and Parking

There is ongoing construction on I-80 that can lead to delays, but there shouldn’t be any issues on Saturday morning.

WordCamp is being held at The Art Institute California — Sacramento: 2850 Gateway Oaks Dr #100, Sacramento, CA 95833. You can see a map on our Location page.

Now about the parking…

• We will have a sign with the WordCamp logo on it at the parking lot entrance.
• When you enter the parking lot, turn right at the fork, we’ll have another sign with the WordCamp logo and an arrow pointing you in the right direction.
• The Art Institute Building has the logo large at the top of it, we’ll have one more WordCamp logo sign in front of the building/door.
• Parking is free.

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Registration

Opening remarks start at 8:30 am, and registration opens bright and early at 7:15 am, giving you a full hour and 15 minutes to get registered, get the lay of the land, grab some coffee, chat it up with fellow WordPressers, and snag a seat.

• We will have two lines for registration in the Art Institute lobby, one for last names ending in A-L and one for last names ending in M-Z.
• At registration, you’ll get your name badge, t-shirt, and event program.
• Then you’ll head upstairs to Floor 2 for the event.

After registration is closed, the registration table will continue to be staffed. It’s the place you can go at any time with event questions or if you need help with anything.

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Food and Drink

The Art Institute is in a business park, so once you park, there isn’t a Starbucks or quick restaurant to walk to easily. Once you’re at the event, you’re at the event for the day.

Now we know some of you are big eaters, and we know some of you have special needs, so we’re giving you all the details about what is being provided at the event so you’ll know if you need to pack your own lunch, or bring some snacks in your backpack or bag.

THE MORNING:

Be sure you eat breakfast before you come to WordCamp — it’s the most important meal of the day! We will have coffee and bottled water, and some snacks like granola bars and pop tarts. We will not be providing breakfast.

LUNCH TIME:

We’re bringing in lunch from Chipotle and providing bottled water. If you love Chipotle, awesome! If you can make a build-your-own bar of choices work, great! If you’re not a Chipotle fan, or you have a special needs diet, you may want to bring your lunch.

THE AFTERNOON:

We’ll have snacks on hand for the afternoon and whatever bottled water is left, including individual packs of fruit snacks, cookies, crackers, Rice Krispie Treats, trail mix, and other goodies. If you can’t eat those snacks (or snacks like that) and you get hungry in the afternoon, please pack a few snacks.

DINNER TIME:

WordCamp ends at 5:45 pm and you’re on your own for dinner. This is the perfect opportunity to grab a few old and new WordPress friends and go to dinner together. But don’t wait until 5:45 to make those plans … start making your dinner plans at lunch or during the afternoon break.

Don’t have someone to go to dinner with? Just ask if you can tag along with another group (WordPressers are super nice), or hit up the event hashtag on Twitter (#wcsac) and say “who’s up for dinner?” — I’ll bet there is someone else looking for a dinner buddy!

AFTER PARTY:

We will provide a limited number of drink tickets for WordCamp attendees. The Saloon will have their entire menu available, but it’s BYOF (buy your own food) — heck you could just head straight to the Saloon after the event and have dinner there!

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The Sessions

WordCamp is delighted to be bringing you two complete tracks with 19 learning sessions focused on WordPress to choose from — a Beginner/User Track and an Advanced/Developer Track. You can stay in one track all day or you can bounce around to whatever session floats your boat.

All sessions will be video recorded and submitted to WordPress.tv.

Please know that WordPress.tv is managed by volunteers who are required to review every video in full before posting it ot the site. With almost one hundred WordCamps each year, with anywhere from 20-60+ speakers/sessions at each one, it can get backed up. So please understand it may take a while for the videos to get posted.

OPENING/CLOSING REMARKS:

The WordCamp Sessions will be happening in two rooms — one for the Beginner/User Track and one for the Advanced/Developer Track. Both the opening remarks to kick off the day, and the closing remarks to finish us up will be held in the large room (where the beginner track will be held).

BEGINNER/USER TRACK:

The Beginner/User Track will be held in the largest room. There is a PA system and three large screens across the room, so no matter where you sit, you’ll be able to see the slides and hear the speakers.

ADVANCED/DEVELOPER TRACK:

The Advanced/Developer Track will be held in a smaller room, just past the Beginner/User Track room. This room will also have a PA system, so no matter where you sit, you’ll be able to hear the speakers and see the slides. This track will also be LIVESTREAMED FOR FREE so those at home can watch the sessions too!

QUESTIONS:

At the end of each session in both tracks, there will be a small amount of time for you to ask questions. If time runs out and you still have questions, the speakers will head over to the Happiness Room right after their session and be available to chat with you more.

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Happiness Room

The Happiness Room is where much of the magic (and happiness) at WordCamp happens. Why? Because it’s where the sponsors, swag, coffee, and food will be all day!

Plus, we’ll have volunteers on hand all day to help you with WordPress. Yep. That’s right. At any time of the day (except lunch because they’ll be eating), experts will be ready to answer your WordPress questions, give plugin suggestions, point you toward helpful tools, and help you troubleshoot problems. So come on in, pull up a chair and get help with your WordPress site on the spot.

You can even stay there all day to get help tricking out your site — but I’m sure you want to want to see some of the amazing sessions too.

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Tweet It Up & Use Social Media

Show your love for WordPress and WordCamp and use the event hashtag #wcsac.

We will have wifi available at The Art Institute for everyone to use, so help us get Sacramento WordPress on the map and elevate our local WordPress community by sharing the event on social media.

• Tweet about things you’re learning, the speakers, the sessions, people you’ve met, and more (@WC_Sacramento).
• Share things you loved from the sessions or publish them to Facebook.
• Take photos with other WordPressers and tag everyone in it on Instagram.
• Share posts about the event on LinkedIn.
• Live blog the sessions you attend and share them on Twitter with the hashtag.
• After the event is over, write recaps of the sessions or the entire event and share them on Twitter with the hashtag — we’ll promote your posts through our social channels and post links to your blog on the WordCamp site!

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The After Party

The official WordCamp Sacramento 2015 After Party is happening at 7:00 pm in historic Old Town Sacramento at The River City Saloon: 916 2nd St, Sacramento, CA 95814. You can see a map on our Location page.

Remember, you can always head over to the Saloon right after WordCamp and enjoy dinner there so you don’t have to move your car twice — How easy is that?

Or if you go elsewhere for a quick dinner and are still hungry at the after party, you’re welcome to order food, as the full River City Saloon menu — appetizers, deli style sandwiches and Old West Sarsaparilla — is available until closing time. We just won’t be buying your food.

Here are some key after party details:

• We’ll have limited drink tickets for WordCamp attendees.
• From 7:00-9:00 pm the Saloon is open to everyone
• Beginning at 9:00 pm, the Saloon becomes 21+
• If it’s your thing, karaoke starts at 9:00 pm
• While this is the official after party for WordCamp, EVERYONE IS INVITED. The Saloon is open to the public and any other WordPressers who want to come hang out too

Two hour metered street parking is available throughout Old Sacramento until 8:00 p.m. After, street parking is free but on a Saturday night, you may never find a spot.

So we recommend you take advantage of one of the two public parking garages:

• Old Sacramento Garage, entrance on I Street between 3rd and 2nd.
• Tower Bridge Garage, entrance on Capitol Blvd at Neasham Circle near the Tower Bridge (across from the Embassy Suites).