Thousands of people attend surprise All-American Rejects pop-up concert

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CBS, KYMA) - Thousands of people packed downtown Sacramento Friday night, all for a surprise show that had fans changing their plans in a matter of hours.

"This morning, I woke up at 10 am. I was scrolling and then I saw a TikTok saying All-American Rejects are playing in Sacramento for free. I was like, 'Wait, I have to go," said Rocky Edralan, one of the concertgoers.

From TikToks to Instagram Reels, word spread fast, and so did the lines.

Hours before the gates opened, fans were already waiting for a chance to see the All-American Rejects. By showtime, the line was still wrapped around the block.

Some fans made it inside while others were left watching from the outside looking in, but no matter where they stood, the energy was impossible to miss.

Thousands of voices filled Downtown Sacramento, turning the surprise performance into one giant sing-along.

"There's just something about being in a crowd of people and everyone is swaying to the same beat as you, right? As you're all singing along to the exact same song and it's just like it's a big sense of community and just pure joy," said Mikayla, another concertgoer.

For organizers, the night was about more than the music. It was about bringing people downtown, supporting local businesses, and showcasing Sacramento.

"The goal of all of this is to benefit the district. That's why we're here doing this concert. That's why we've been doing it for 33 seasons...to really drive people down to the downtown core and encourage them to spend time, to invest emotionally, to visit our local businesses, bars, and restaurants afterward, and really make it a full-fledged downtown night."

Amelia Chew, Event Manager, Downtown Sacramento Partnership

If you missed this surprise performance, organizers say there's more to come.

"I don't know how much I can share, but there are more surprises this season. We're only in week five of nine, so we have four more big nights and some secret surprises coming here and there," Chew shared.

A night that filled the park, packed the streets, and proved one surprise social media post can turn into one of the biggest nights of the summer.

The All-American Rejects' surprise appearance was part of the City of Sacramento's annual Concerts in the Park. To learn more about Concerts in the Park, click here.