Toilets Handicapped Toilets Wash Stations map not to actual scale
Yosemite Avenue
Avenue Maple
ARS
Show
24
YE
Trailer
Bike Patrol
FOOD COURT
a Mantec
GAMES
Avenue
KIDS ZONE PONY RIDES
I N F O
Sycamore
u See MAP, Page 6
George Perry & Son
ve nu e
u See MURALS, Page 3
Sponsored By
Center Street
Post Office
BEER GARDEN
MAIN STAGE
WATERMELON CONTESTS
Ma nte ca A
A look at what’s being offered in downtown
Saturday, June 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. * Sunday, June 6, 10 a.m
Library
&G AM ES
While downtown this weekend enjoy the art
24th MANTECA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CROSSROADS
FUN
A MAP TO STREET FAIR
W Fea ate tur r e
CHECK OUT THE MURALS
VENDORS
CAR SHOW - Located at 100 Block Main Street - Sunday Only
FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021
M A N T E C A • L AT H R O P • R I P O N • T U R L O C K • D E N A I R
•
H I L M A R
THE FUN IS BACK! CROSSROADS STREET FAIRE IS THIS WEEKEND Free downtown Manteca event features record number of vendors as well as sweet salute to Manteca’s watermelon By DENNIS WYATT The Bulletin
The Crossroads Street Faire is back. And it’s bigger than ever. It’s been 19 months since any traditional downtown street fair has been staged in the Northern San Joaquin Valley. The last in Manteca was 20 months ago when the 2019 Sunrise Kiwanis Pumpkin Fair took place on downtown streets. The last big festival was the Ripon Almond Blossom Festival the last weekend in February 2020. The lockdowns to deal with the pandemic, of course, triggered street fair cancellations as well as other large outdoor festivals and gatherings. R a p i d l y improving conditions aligned with a gamble the Manteca Chamber of Commerce made six months ago to switch from the traditional first weekend in April to this Saturday and Sunday, June 5-6, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., both days makes the Crossroads Street Faire the perfect opportunity to leave severe lockdowns behind, celebrate life, and get acquainted — or reacquainted — with downtown Manteca. First, things first: There are a record 262 vendor booth spaces taken. That includes around 100 artisans and crafters working on everything from metal to ceramics. There also are 40 food vendors that can cure your Lockeford Sausage withdrawal pains, provide a quick snack/meal, a cool drink or a sweet treat to those that sell specialty nuts, honey, and such for you to take home and enjoy later. Organizers have shared how craft/artisan vendors have told them they have built up a big inventory of handmade items during the pandemic meaning the selection will be better than normal. At the same time vendors that have never been a part of the Crossroads Street Faire have signed up due to the recent dearth of street fairs. Making the 24th staging of the Crossroads Street Faire even more sweet was a decision to take advantage of the early June date to wed it with a watermelon festival. Some of the sweetest watermelon in the planet comes out of the fields around Manteca. The reason is simple, as melon expert and broker Art Perry has shared over the years. Watermelons are a fruit like grapes. Just like grapes that do best in welldrained soil with hot weather during the day and cooling temperatures brought by Delta breezes overnight, watermelons also get sweeter under the same conditions. Of course, lots of watering helps too. It is why Manteca-based George Perry & Sons is the largest melon broker on the West Coast. Not only do almost 80 percent of the commercially grown pumpkins in California roll out of the fields of Manteca every fall but so does a good share of the watermelon crop. George Perry & Sons has stepped up to sponsor free watermelon games for kids. The list includes the traditional summer favorite — watermelon eating contests — along with watermelon rolling, and guessing the weight of watermelons for a chance to win a watermelon. There will also be a wealth of low-tech games such as bean bag tossing and more. While those games are free, there also
Bulletin file photo
The food court row is shown at a previous street fair along Sycamore Avenue.
will be small scale carnival rides for kids plus pony rides. It is all taking part at Library Park. There is a beer garden in Wilson Park behind the post office that will also feature live bands both days. And if you are itching to hit the road or the water after being cooped up with pandemic lockdowns for the last year plus, Manteca Trailer & RV along with boat dealers are staging an RV and boat show both days on Maple Avenue. There is also a car show Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street. The free street fair is also a great place to people watch or meet up with old friends.
Manteca Wellness Center is for everyone who has a mental health diagnosis, or, has self-identified stress, anxiety, depression. Services are available to adults 18 years & older.
Of course, current COVID-19 protocols need to be followed which primarily consists of wearing face masks. If you forget to bring one, they will be available for free at the chamber’s information booth. This is a good time to take a look at what stores and restaurants in the downtown area offer. While many are blocked off by booths, take a walk behind vendors and check out specialty retail stores, traditional and ethnic retailers, as well as restaurants. Don’t limit your browsing to the blocks where the street fair is taking place. Just on the edge and an easy walk are places like Super La Altena Market in the 200 block of East Yosemite that has an impres-
Mental Health Consumer & Family Member-Driven Services • Peer Support Groups & Classes • Peer Advocacy & Self-Advocacy • Peer Support • Computer Lab • One on One Peer Counseling (non-clinical) • Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) • All our services are FREE OF CHARGE!
sive, favorable, and reasonably priced fresh prepared foods counter. There is minimal seating — two small tables. But they have a huge following for takeout and you’ll see why after the first bite. This is also a time to appreciate the 30 plus murals made possible through the efforts of the Manteca Mural Society that grace downtown walls. They are even more impressive up close on foot than driving past them in a car. Also near perfect weather is in the forecast with light breezes and high temperatures brushing the low 90s. To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@ mantecabulletin.com
Manteca
ellness Center
609 West Center Street Manteca, CA 95337-4456 209/707-3767 A PLACE TO DISCOVER, RECOVER & GROW!!! A PROGRAM OF PEER RECOVERY SERVICES www.thewellnesscenterprs.org
You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.
RV & BO SHOW