This weekend, the Sacramento Kings and the Sacramento Press will "paint the town purple" - and give citizen journalists the opportunity to talk to the players and preview the upcoming season themselves.

The Kings will be fanning out across the Sacramento area and making personal appearances to stir up excitement for a new season with a new coach.

On Friday, Tyreke Evans, Beno Udrih, Sergio Rodriguez and Kevin Martin will be among the players appearing everywhere from the Wells Fargo Bank on Capitol Mall to ARCO Arena, before the Star Wars in Concert event that same night.

On Saturday, Omri Casspi, Francisco Garcia, Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes will be among the players appearing at another four venues, including Old Sacramento in the afternoon and in Midtown for Second Saturday.

At the events, the players will be talking with fans and will take time to be interviewed by citizen journalists - who could be you. But you need to arrange this before the event. If you're interested in talking with one of the Kings, please contact us by the end of the work day on Thursday and we'll see about helping you arrange that. Reach us at  journalism@sacramentopress.com, and put "Kings" in the subject line.

Below are the times, venues and players on the Kings' "paint the town purple" schedule.

Sacramento Press readers also have a chance to win a seat in the Kings' Press Row during a pre-season game on Oct. 23. The winner will also get to invite three friends to sit in the stands during the Oct. 23 game. To enter the contest, the winner of which will be determined by a random drawing, just comment on any Kings-related story on Sacramento press and add the word "PURPLE" in the comment field between now and Oct. 12 at midnight. Winners will be notified on Oct. 13 by 10 a.m.

Winners will also receive four personalized Kings jerseys and a tour of ARCO Arena.

FRIDAY, Oct. 9

Location 1: Wells Fargo
Time: 5-6 p.m.
Players: Tyreke Evans, Lanny Smith
Address: 400 Capitol Mall, Sacramento

Location 2: Raley’s
Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Players: Beno Udrih, Kenny Thomas
Address: 8870 Madison Ave., Fair Oaks

Location 3: Star Wars In Concert
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Players: Sergio Rodriguez, Melvin Ely
Location: ARCO Arena

Location 4: Casa Roble vs. Folsom Varsity Football Game
Time: 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Players: Kevin Martin, Sean May
Address: 9151 Oak Ave., Orangevale, 95662

SATURDAY, Oct. 10

Location 1: Arden Fair Mall/Carl’s Jr. (in the food court)
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Players: Francisco Garcia, Andres Nocioni

Location 2: Old Sacramento
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Players: Omri Casspi, Donte’ Greene

Location 3: 2nd Saturday - Midtown
Time: 6-7 p.m.
Players: Spencer Hawes, Jon Brockman
Address: 2206 K Street, Sacramento

Location 4: 2nd Saturday - Midtown
Time: 7-8 p.m.
Players: Jason Thompson, Desmond Mason
Address: 2206 K Street, Sacramento