)
Art and Entertainment
.jpg)
Dr. Karma Waltonen
Teacher, Writer, Atwood Scholar
Karma Waltonen is the former President of the Margaret Atwood Society and is the current editor-in-chief of its journal, Margaret Atwood Studies.
Dr. Karma, as her students call her, teaches a variety of writing courses at UC Davis, including Writing in Social Justice. She also teaches specialty courses on Doctor Who, The Simpsons, Atwood, and Writing and Performing Stand-Up Comedy.
She won the 2015 Academic Federation Excellence in Teaching Award, and her most recent textbook, Who's Your Source?, is about finding, evaluating, and ethically using sources. She wrote it with colleague Melissa Bender to fight for evidence-based knowledge in a post-truth world.
đź”— Visit Karma's website (dr-karma.com) and follow her on Instagram (@dr_karma_w).
đź“… Karma will present her poetry at the start of our main event on Sunday at noon, again at the closing of our main event, and at our Fundraising Reception.
đź“… Karma will present her poetry at the start of our main event on Sunday at noon, again at the closing of our main event, and at our Fundraising Reception.
.jpg)
Bongo Furys
Frank Zappa Cover Band
The Bongo Furys have been a part of the Sacramento music scene since 2005, leaning hard into the unique and sometimes risqué works of one of America's most provocative and irreverent modern composers, Frank Zappa.
Learn more about the Bongo Furys at thebongofurys.com or follow via Facebook.
đź“… The Bongo Furys will perform on Sunday in the mid-afternoon.
Karen Tsugawa
Live Painting
Karen Tsugawa is a Japanese-Chinese artist and graphic designer based in Roseville, CA. She often combines her mixed Asian American background with her love for tactile artmaking practices. Her work focuses on the themes of resilience within AAPI communities in various cities that have historically been redeveloped, cultural patterns and textiles, and promoting accessibility in the creation of public art.
Karen's current public artwork showcases personal and historical ties to the Japanese American communities in various cities within Sacramento County. She also participates in local events promoting both Japanese American history in Sacramento, as well supporting AAPI business owners and organizations.
She has also exhibited work and held workshops in various national and international spaces including: Chung 24 Gallery in San Francisco, Oklahoma State Museum of Art, Chopstick Alley Art in San José, City as Nature Festival in Osaka, San José Museum of Art, and the University of Costa Rica. Follow Karen on Instagram (@karen_tsugawa). 📅 Karen will be live-painting on Sunday near our interactive art canopy.
Karen's current public artwork showcases personal and historical ties to the Japanese American communities in various cities within Sacramento County. She also participates in local events promoting both Japanese American history in Sacramento, as well supporting AAPI business owners and organizations.
She has also exhibited work and held workshops in various national and international spaces including: Chung 24 Gallery in San Francisco, Oklahoma State Museum of Art, Chopstick Alley Art in San José, City as Nature Festival in Osaka, San José Museum of Art, and the University of Costa Rica. Follow Karen on Instagram (@karen_tsugawa). 📅 Karen will be live-painting on Sunday near our interactive art canopy.
Andy Swan
Performing as Uncle Sam
It all began when Andy's oldest brother, George, taught him how to juggle back in 1966. At first Andy would visit the circuses just to see the jugglers, but once he saw what else the circus had to offer he fell in love. After high school he went off to join the DeWayne Bros. Circus in Oregon. During his year with them he learned just about everything there was to learn about circus life.
Andy will delight children and adults with juggling, balloon animals, magic, and all kinds of good-natured fun. Learn more about Andy from his website (sbcircus.com). đź“… Andy will be delighting our guests on Sunday in the afternoon, on the move through the crowd and exhibitor area.
Andy will delight children and adults with juggling, balloon animals, magic, and all kinds of good-natured fun. Learn more about Andy from his website (sbcircus.com). đź“… Andy will be delighting our guests on Sunday in the afternoon, on the move through the crowd and exhibitor area.
Pacing
Singer, Songwriter
Pacing is the songwriting and recording project of Katie McTigue whose writing style has been described as “tongue firmly planted in cheek” (Surviving the Golden Age) and “distinctively sardonic” (Various Small Flames). Listeners remark that her anxious, confessional lyrics are "a little too relatable."
Based in San Jose, CA, Pacing released her debut album in 2023, winning Best Folk Music by Bandcamp Daily, and cemented Pacing as a leader in a new wave of anti-folk music reminiscent of the early 2000s New York scene. Katie also co-hosts The Heavy Lemon Radio Hour on KPCR. Learn more about Pacing by following her on Instagram, X, and TikTok (@pacingmusic) and on YouTube. đź“… Pacing will be performing on Saturday at our Fundraiser Reception.
Based in San Jose, CA, Pacing released her debut album in 2023, winning Best Folk Music by Bandcamp Daily, and cemented Pacing as a leader in a new wave of anti-folk music reminiscent of the early 2000s New York scene. Katie also co-hosts The Heavy Lemon Radio Hour on KPCR. Learn more about Pacing by following her on Instagram, X, and TikTok (@pacingmusic) and on YouTube. đź“… Pacing will be performing on Saturday at our Fundraiser Reception.
Keith Lowell Jensen
Comedian, Writer
Keith is a storytelling comedian, writer, and provocateur whose humor blends sharp wit with heartfelt honesty. A former punk kid turned philosopher of the absurd, he mines life’s contradictions — religion, work, parenthood — for laughs that linger.
Author of Punching Nazis: And Other Good Ideas and performer behind acclaimed albums like Not for Rehire and Unclean, his comedy finds the humanity in rebellion. A vegan, atheist, and father, he speaks with warmth and irreverence to anyone who’s ever questioned authority (or themselves).
Smart, subversive, and always personal, Keith has been a repeating performer at California Freethought Day for nearly 15 years.
Learn more about Keith at KeithLowellJensen.com and follow him @keithlowell (Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube)
đź“… Keith will be performing on Saturday at our Fundraiser Reception.