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’!
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🎟️ Top Picks This Week
Sept 18 - Sept 24

Idina Menzel: 26/27 Season Opener
📅 Sat, Sep 19
📍 Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto
🎡 Live Music | Season Opener
👦 Kid-Friendly: All Ages
🎟️ Tickets & Info | $$

Downtown Tracy Wine Stroll
📅 Sat, Sep 19
📍 10th Street & Central Avenue, Tracy
🎡 Wine Tasting, Live Music | Downtown Stroll
👦 Kid-Friendly: 21+ Event
🎟️ Tickets & Info | $$

Fall Turlock Swap Meet
📅 Sun, Sep 20
📍 Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Turlock
🎡 Auto Swap Meet, Vendors | Outdoors
👦 Kid-Friendly: All Ages + 12 & Under Free
🎟️ Event Info | $
👀 Announcements
🍇 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.
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🎶 For Our Music Lovers
Music in the Plaza: Denise Choate (Free)
📍 Tenth Street Plaza, Modesto — Fri, Sep 18
🎟️ Event InfoAfter Hours: Silverback
📍 Jessie's Grove Winery, Lodi — Fri, Sep 18
🎟️ Tickets & InfoUnforgettable II: A Concert for Alzheimer and Dementia Support
📍 State Theatre, Modesto — Fri, Sep 18
🎟️ Tickets & InfoEdith Márquez: Eterna e Inolvidable
📍 Bob Hope Theatre, Stockton — Sat, Sep 19
🎟️ Tickets & InfoJam N Jive
📍 MJC Performing and Media Arts Center, Modesto — Sat, Sep 19
🎟️ Event InfoFlying Blind (Free)
📍 Dying Breed Brewing, Oakdale — Sat, Sep 19
🎟️ Event InfoStick Men: Let's THRAK Again
📍 Haggin Museum, Stockton — Sat, Sep 19
🎟️ Event InfoThird Coast Percussion
📍 Faye Spanos Hall, University of the Pacific, Stockton — Sun, Sep 20
🎟️ Tickets & InfoShe Calls Him Wilson (Free)
📍 Harmony Wynelands, Lodi — Sun, Sep 20
🎟️ Event InfoArt Garfunkel: What a Wonderful World
📍 Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto — Wed, Sep 23
🎟️ Tickets & Info
🌳 Outdoors, Activities & Family Fun
Lodi Grape Festival and Harvest Fair: Rodney Atkins
📍 Lodi Grape Festival Grounds, Lodi — Fri to Sun, Sep 18 to 20
🎟️ Tickets & InfoWorld of Outlaws: Dennis Roth Classic
📍 Stockton Dirt Track, Stockton — Fri and Sat, Sep 18 and 19
🎟️ Tickets & Info209 Slam Sesh: Turf Wars
📍 15712 Curry Ave, Lodi — Fri, Sep 18
🎟️ Tickets & InfoFamily Day at the Park (Free)
📍 Weber Point, Stockton — Sat, Sep 19
🎟️ Event InfoAstronomy in the Park (Free)
📍 Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park, Stockton — Sat, Sep 19
🎟️ Event InfoFall Turlock Swap Meet
📍 Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Turlock — Sun, Sep 20
🎟️ Event Info
🍷 Date Nights, Comedy & More
Rudy Ortiz
📍 Deaf Puppy Comedy Club, Manteca — Fri, Sep 18
🎟️ Tickets & InfoBonnie & Clyde
📍 Stockton Civic Theatre, Stockton — Fri to Sun & Thu, Sep 18 to 20
🎟️ Tickets & InfoHamlet
📍 CFTC Studio Theater, Lodi — Fri to Sun, Sep 18 to 20
🎟️ Tickets & InfoComedylicious: Season Finale
📍 Bare Ranch by Michael David Winery, Lodi — Sat, Sep 19
🎟️ Tickets & InfoMatcha & Mystery: A Live True Crime Podcast
📍 Reformed Pilates, Lodi — Sun, Sep 20 | 17+, photo ID required
🎟️ Tickets & Info
🔭 Look Ahead
A few major events worth getting on your calendar early:
GRANDfest
📍Downtown Tracy— Sat, Sep 26
🎟️ Event Info
A free outdoor concert and 20th-anniversary celebration with thousands expected downtown.Los Tigres del Norte
📍Adventist Health Arena, Stockton— 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
📍501 Manthey Rd, Lathrop— 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
📍Downtown Manteca— 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
📍Downtown Lodi— Sun, Oct 4
🎟️ Event Info
More than 450 vendors across 14 downtown blocks; arrive early because nearby parking fills quickly.Riverbank Cheese & Wine Festival
📍Downtown Riverbank— 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
📍Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto— Tue, Oct 20
🎟️ Tickets & Info
Four decades of British reggae in a seated hall, and a rare midweek marquee booking.The Expendables
📍Five Window Beer Co., Lodi— Sat, Oct 24
🎟️ Tickets & Info
A national touring act in a small Lodi brewery, rooms this size sell through fast.Fall Turlock Swap Meet
📍Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, Turlock— 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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