Happy Thursday, Valley Hoppers!

Idina Menzel opens the Gallo Center's season in Modesto. Rodney Atkins headlines the Grape Festival in Lodi. The World of Outlaws end their entire national season at the Stockton Dirt Track. And Family Day at the Park takes over Weber Point for free, like it has for twenty nine years.

That is all one day. Pick your lane early and buy before you drive out.

A few quick callouts:

  • The Grape Festival wraps Sunday!

  • Idina Menzel is a season opener. These tend to sellout fast.

  • Sunday is the soft landing if Saturday is too much, and Art Garfunkel lands in Modesto on Wednesday.

    Happy Hoppin’!
    🐰

🎟️ Top Picks This Week

Sept 18 - Sept 24

Idina Menzel: 26/27 Season Opener
πŸ“… Sat, Sep 19
πŸ“ Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto
🎑 Live Music | Season Opener
πŸ‘¦ Kid-Friendly: All Ages
🎟️ Tickets & Info | $$

Downtown Tracy Wine Stroll
πŸ“… Sat, Sep 19
πŸ“ 10th Street & Central Avenue, Tracy
🎑 Wine Tasting, Live Music | Downtown Stroll
πŸ‘¦ Kid-Friendly: 21+ Event
🎟️ Tickets & Info | $$

Fall Turlock Swap Meet
πŸ“… Sun, Sep 20
πŸ“ Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Turlock
🎑 Auto Swap Meet, Vendors | Outdoors
πŸ‘¦ Kid-Friendly: All Ages + 12 & Under Free
🎟️ Event Info | $

πŸ‘€ Announcements

πŸ‡ Heading to the Lodi Grape Festival? Kids 16 and under get in free Thursday, everyone gets in free Friday before 5 p.m., and admission is just $2 before 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with two canned-food donations. See every way to save at the festival.

🫢

🎢 For Our Music Lovers

  • Music in the Plaza: Denise Choate (Free)
    πŸ“ Tenth Street Plaza, Modesto β€” Fri, Sep 18
    🎟️ Event Info

  • After Hours: Silverback
    πŸ“ Jessie's Grove Winery, Lodi β€” Fri, Sep 18
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • Unforgettable II: A Concert for Alzheimer and Dementia Support
    πŸ“ State Theatre, Modesto β€” Fri, Sep 18
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • Edith MΓ‘rquez: Eterna e Inolvidable
    πŸ“ Bob Hope Theatre, Stockton β€” Sat, Sep 19
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • Jam N Jive
    πŸ“ MJC Performing and Media Arts Center, Modesto β€” Sat, Sep 19
    🎟️ Event Info

  • Flying Blind (Free)
    πŸ“ Dying Breed Brewing, Oakdale β€” Sat, Sep 19
    🎟️ Event Info

  • Stick Men: Let's THRAK Again
    πŸ“ Haggin Museum, Stockton β€” Sat, Sep 19
    🎟️ Event Info

  • Third Coast Percussion
    πŸ“ Faye Spanos Hall, University of the Pacific, Stockton β€” Sun, Sep 20
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • She Calls Him Wilson (Free)
    πŸ“ Harmony Wynelands, Lodi β€” Sun, Sep 20
    🎟️ Event Info

  • Art Garfunkel: What a Wonderful World
    πŸ“ Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto β€” Wed, Sep 23
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

🌳 Outdoors, Activities & Family Fun

  • Lodi Grape Festival and Harvest Fair: Rodney Atkins
    πŸ“ Lodi Grape Festival Grounds, Lodi β€” Fri to Sun, Sep 18 to 20
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • World of Outlaws: Dennis Roth Classic
    πŸ“ Stockton Dirt Track, Stockton β€” Fri and Sat, Sep 18 and 19
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • 209 Slam Sesh: Turf Wars
    πŸ“ 15712 Curry Ave, Lodi β€” Fri, Sep 18
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • Family Day at the Park (Free)
    πŸ“ Weber Point, Stockton β€” Sat, Sep 19
    🎟️ Event Info

  • Astronomy in the Park (Free)
    πŸ“ Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park, Stockton β€” Sat, Sep 19
    🎟️ Event Info

  • Fall Turlock Swap Meet
    πŸ“ Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Turlock β€” Sun, Sep 20
    🎟️ Event Info

🍷 Date Nights, Comedy & More

  • Rudy Ortiz
    πŸ“ Deaf Puppy Comedy Club, Manteca β€” Fri, Sep 18
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • Bonnie & Clyde
    πŸ“ Stockton Civic Theatre, Stockton β€” Fri to Sun & Thu, Sep 18 to 20
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • Hamlet
    πŸ“ CFTC Studio Theater, Lodi β€” Fri to Sun, Sep 18 to 20
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • Comedylicious: Season Finale
    πŸ“ Bare Ranch by Michael David Winery, Lodi β€” Sat, Sep 19
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

  • Matcha & Mystery: A Live True Crime Podcast
    πŸ“ Reformed Pilates, Lodi β€” Sun, Sep 20 | 17+, photo ID required
    🎟️ Tickets & Info

πŸ”­ Look Ahead

A few major events worth getting on your calendar early:

  • GRANDfest
    πŸ“Downtown Tracyβ€” Sat, Sep 26
    🎟️ Event Info
    A free outdoor concert and 20th-anniversary celebration with thousands expected downtown.

  • Los Tigres del Norte
    πŸ“Adventist Health Arena, Stocktonβ€” Sat, Sep 26
    🎟️ Tickets & Info
    The biggest arena booking of the fall and one of the most enduring names in regional Mexican music; downtown parking will be gone early.

  • Dell'Osso Family Farm Pumpkin Maze
    πŸ“501 Manthey Rd, Lathropβ€” Daily, Oct 2–31
    🎟️ Tickets & Info
    More than twenty attractions including the corn maze, haunted castle, hayride and pig races; go on a weekday if you would rather skip the lines.

  • Manteca Pumpkin Fair
    πŸ“Downtown Mantecaβ€” Sat–Sun, Oct 3–4
    🎟️ Event Info
    Large free street festival with vendors, live music, a kids zone and a car show; allow time for parking.

  • Lodi Street Faire
    πŸ“Downtown Lodiβ€” Sun, Oct 4
    🎟️ Event Info
    More than 450 vendors across 14 downtown blocks; arrive early because nearby parking fills quickly.

  • Riverbank Cheese & Wine Festival
    πŸ“Downtown Riverbankβ€” Sat, Oct 10
    🎟️ Event Info
    The 49th annual, newly condensed from two days into one, so the whole thing lands on a single Saturday; the street expo is free and the tasting is ticketed separately.

  • UB40: The Unstoppable Tour
    πŸ“Gallo Center for the Arts, Modestoβ€” Tue, Oct 20
    🎟️ Tickets & Info
    Four decades of British reggae in a seated hall, and a rare midweek marquee booking.

  • The Expendables
    πŸ“Five Window Beer Co., Lodiβ€” Sat, Oct 24
    🎟️ Tickets & Info
    A national touring act in a small Lodi brewery, rooms this size sell through fast.

  • Fall Turlock Swap Meet
    πŸ“Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Turlockβ€” Sun, Nov 1
    🎟️ Event Info
    The next date in the quarterly series after this week's; kids under twelve get in free.

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