California Park & Recreation Conference - CPRS 2027
Event Date
March 2–5, 2027
Location
Sacramento, CA
Expected Exhibitors
238
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe CPRS CONNECTIONS Conference & Expo is the annual gathering of the California Park & Recreation Society, bringing together park and recreation professionals from across California and beyond for four days of education, networking, and celebration. The CONNECTIONS Conference & Expo is the largest gathering for parks and recreation professionals in California and ranks as the third largest event of its kind in the United States.
The program is built for professionals across a wide variety of roles in the field. Each year the conference offers approximately 100 educational sessions across a wide range of topics led by industry experts, optional intensive sessions at the beginning of the week for a deeper dive with CPRS sections, a comprehensive exhibit hall featuring over 200 organizations and solution providers, and opportunities for networking, collaboration, and professional growth.
More than a conference, CONNECTIONS is a welcoming space where professionals come together to learn from one another, share experiences, and grow, leaving inspired with new insights, meaningful connections, and practical tools to make a lasting impact in their communities. The 2027 edition takes place March 2–5 in downtown Sacramento.
Show Highlights
- ~100 educational sessions led by industry experts across a wide range of parks and recreation topics.
- Section Intensives – optional pre-conference deep-dive sessions held at the start of the week with CPRS sections.
- Exhibit Hall – a comprehensive exhibit hall featuring over 200 organizations and solution providers.
- Welcome Reception – the Wednesday night Welcome Reception sponsored by Playcore.
- Awards & recognition – events and celebrations that recognize excellence across the profession, including the CPRS Best of the Best Awards.
- Leadership development – networking events and the Leadership Launch event for emerging professionals.
- New for 2027: CEUs are included in the price of registration and for qualifying intensives, so a separate purchase is not required.
Attendance
Figures from the most recent (2026) edition of the conference:
- Total attendees: 1,568 (full plus daily registrations).
- Tours and intensive sessions: 591 participants.
- Exhibitors: 238 companies.
- Education sessions: 98 sessions from Wednesday through Friday, with 150+ presenters.
- Conference app users: 1,388.
- Leadership Launch event: 140 attendees.
- CPRS Best of the Best Awards: 52 awards celebrated.
Registration
Registration is completed online through the CPRS website. Using the "Register Here" link, you can register yourself, someone else, or multiple contacts in one transaction.
Full registration covers all regular conference educational sessions beginning Wednesday morning and ending with the closing keynote speaker midday on Friday. It does not include pre-conference events, such as Section Intensives on Tuesday. Full registration also covers the Wednesday–Friday program and includes the Wednesday night Welcome Reception.
Pricing tiers (per the official site):
- CPRS Member: $530 early bird / $635 regular / $740 late / $795 onsite
- Non-Member: $725 early bird / $830 regular / $935 late / $990 onsite
- Student Member: $110 early bird / $140 regular / $200 late / $220 onsite
- Active Retiree: $175 early bird / $210 regular / $250 late / $275 onsite
- Single-day (Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday) member and non-member passes are also available.
Key deadlines: Early Bird pricing runs through 11/10/2026 and Regular pricing through 1/20/2027. Conference registration is being accepted through February 25, 2027; after this date, all registration will need to be processed onsite.
History
The CONNECTIONS Conference & Expo is the annual conference of the California Park & Recreation Society (CPRS), a statewide professional association based in Sacramento. It is the largest gathering for parks and recreation professionals in California and ranks as the third largest event of its kind in the United States. The event rotates among California convention cities each year. Recent and upcoming editions include the 2027 conference at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento and the 2028 conference at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. Future conference dates and locations include the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center on March 2–5, 2027, and the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center on March 7–10, 2028.
Exhibitors
Exhibitor Information
Detailed exhibitor list is being compiled. Check back soon or visit the official show website for the most current information.
Last updated: September 5, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2027 CPRS CONNECTIONS Conference & Expo?
The conference takes place March 2–5, 2027 at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, 1400 J Street, in downtown Sacramento, California.
Who should attend the CONNECTIONS Conference?
It is designed for parks and recreation professionals across a wide variety of roles. It is the largest gathering of its kind in California and ranks as the third largest event of its kind in the United States, drawing attendees from across the state and beyond.
How do I register and what does registration cost?
Registration is completed online through the CPRS website, where you can register yourself or multiple people in one transaction. Full registration ranges from $530 (CPRS member early bird) to $795 onsite, with non-member, student, retiree, and single-day rates also available. Registration is accepted through February 25, 2027, after which it must be processed onsite.
What is included in full conference registration?
Full registration covers all regular educational sessions from Wednesday morning through the closing keynote midday on Friday and includes the Wednesday night Welcome Reception. It does not include pre-conference Section Intensives held on Tuesday. New for 2027, CEUs are included in the price of registration.
What can attendees expect at the event?
Attendees can expect roughly 100 educational sessions led by industry experts, optional intensive sessions, and an exhibit hall with over 200 organizations and solution providers. The event also features networking, leadership development, and celebrations recognizing excellence in the profession.
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