Entry No. 27 — the Sacramento file — filed under: planetarium
MOSAC (SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity) — Planetarium Laser Concerts
Inside a converted 1912 PG&E power station on the Sacramento River, the UC Davis Multiverse Theater dome swaps its usual solar-system shows for a 25,000-watt Dolby 5.1 laser concert series — full-dome lasers synced to classic rock, pop, and even a K-Pop Demon Hunters laser show, in what the museum bills as the closest thing to a live show outside an actual concert.
The story
In 1912, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company raised a massive concrete power station on the east bank of the Sacramento River to keep the city’s electric streetcars humming. Decades after the station went dark and spent years sitting as a graffitied shell visible off Interstate 5, it was gutted, scrubbed, and re-engineered into MOSAC. But if you walk past the hands-on climate exhibits and head deep into the modern north wing, you’ll find the real draw tucked inside a 46-foot hemispherical dome: the UC Davis Multiverse Theater.
By day, the theater runs standard educational planetarium fly-throughs of the solar system. By night, they crank up a custom 25,000-watt, 5.1 Dolby Surround system, tilt back 120 recliners, and flood the 360-degree overhead screen with high-powered laser arrays synced to music. The programming jumps everywhere from classic rock staples like Pink Floyd and Queen to full-dome pop shows and animated laser visualizers like *K-Pop Demon Hunters*, giving a mid-century planetarium laser show a high-definition modern reboot inside an industrial shell.
What it's like
You'll park in the lot off Jibboom Street, right between the river trail and the freeway overpass, and walk in under the preserved historic concrete power station façade. Inside the Multiverse Theater, the seats are steeply raked and tilted backward; aim for a row near the middle-back so you don't break your neck straining up at the zenith. The volume is loud enough to vibrate through the upholstery, and when the overhead lights kill down to pitch black, the full-dome lasers turn the dark room into a blinding geometric grid. Buy your dome show tickets in advance online—the laser nights frequently sell out, especially the niche animated or rock shows.
The move: Buy general admission plus a planetarium slot, wander the STEAM exhibits at dusk, then recline under the dome for a laser concert — pick a rock or pop night for maximum kitsch, or the animated K-Pop Demon Hunters laser show if you want something odder.
- 📍 Downtown Sacramento / Old Sacramento riverfront
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 400 Jibboom Street, Sacramento, CA 95811
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Sacramento Underground Tours (Sacramento History Museum) — Pair subterranean 1860s Sacramento flood history with a trip inside a 1912 riverfront power plant converted into a laser dome.
- Delta King — Grab a drink aboard a authentic 1927 wooden sternwheeler docked just half a mile down the riverfront path before sitting under the planetarium lasers.
- Hawthorne's Hideout — Follow up the loud, glowing geometric dome show with a quiet drink behind a hidden occult-style door in Old Sacramento.
Good to know
Where is MOSAC located?
It sits at 400 Jibboom Street along the Sacramento River waterfront, just north of Old Sacramento.
Are laser show tickets included with general admission?
No, planetarium and laser shows require an additional ticket on top of general museum admission or can be purchased separately depending on the event schedule.
What kind of laser shows do they play?
The lineup rotates through classic rock laser tributes (like Pink Floyd and Queen), pop artists, and themed laser features like the K-Pop Demon Hunters laser show.
Is parking available on site?
Yes, MOSAC has its own dedicated parking lot right outside the building off Jibboom Street for a flat daily rate.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visitsacramento.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20