COMMUNITY EVENTS

JUN10 2023

MENAGERIE ODDITIES & CURIOSITIES MARKET

The extravagant, lauded and inimitable Menagerie Oddities Market, whose credo is, “This Ain’t Yer Grannies Craft Fair” comes to Amador County’s Preston Castle in Ione from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 10.

Calling all seekers of the strange and unusual; Be amazed by wondrous and incomparable things in California’s Gold Country. Witness the bizarre, mystifying, and unusual as the most paranormal building on the west coast hosts the most immersive, innovative, full sensory, multi-interdimensional, experiential, daring, interesting, magnificent and highly curated oddities and curiosities market west of the Mississippi.

On display will be 50 artisans, creators, and purveyors of the strange and unusual craftings, baubles, trinkets, ornaments, novelties, knickknacks, ephemera, elegant jewelry, clothing, accessories, medical and scientific specimens, antiques, photography, home decor, taxidermy, works of fine art, and other collectible oddities and curiosities created from components, parts, pieces, bugs, bones, items and elements hand-made, foraged and found.

General admission includes live entertainment, interactive presentations and poison exhibits by Dr. R. Snick, dazzling performances from Stilt Boy and the Renegade Circus, free face painting for the kids, ice cream, food trucks, full bar, and music.

For tickets and more information, visit bit.ly/ PrestonCastleOddities.

Festa Italiana

Get into the spirit of Italy at Festa Italiana from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11 at the Lodi Grape Festival Grounds. This grand event brings the community together with the finest food, activities and entertainment of the Italian culture.

Renowned Italian Tenor Pasquale Esposito will once again dazzle the audience as headliner on the Morada Produce Main Stage. Nino, d’Italiano, local opera singer Bianca Orsi, and the Trucco Band, and the Balliamo Italian Dancers will headline in the Pavilion while guests stroll and enjoy wine tasting.

Local entertainment will welcome festival attendees on the Benevenuti Stage, including Stockton Garage Combo, Opera Singer Kerri Scott, Louis Lodi, and the Nicolini Brothers on accordions. The Bambini Zone will delight little onesenjoying Sparkles and Ravioli the clowns, Rhymosaurs, and the Bambini Dancers who will also teach Italian Dance lessons. Strolling

JUN11 2023 through the venue will be the Funambulus

Italian Stilt Walkers who delight attendees of all ages.

Festa offers delicious Italian food from local Italian chefs, a Mercato Marketplace, cooking demonstrations, Italian art and history, bocce ball, salami toss, the automobili show, wine tasting, olive oil and local product tastings, and much more. The “Boss of the Sauce” contest is back, and the Pavilion will have an Italian history display.

Festa Italiana! is a familyfriendly event for all ages.

Tickets are $15 at the door, or $10 in advance online. Children 12 and under are admitted free with an adult.

Festa Ticket Locations: Gian’s Deli - 2112 Pacific Avenue, Stockton; SASS! Public Relations - 628 Lincoln Center, Stockton; Lodi Grape Festival Ground - 413 E. Lockeford Street, Lodi; Rinaldi’s Market - 4625 Duncan Road, Linden; the Fruit Bowl - 8767 E. Waterloo Road, Stockton. Please visit festaitaliana.com for further event information.

June24 2023

Downtown Tracy Artwalk

The Cultural Arts Division is hosting the 7th annual Downtown Tracy Artwalk 2023. The CAD is expanding their ongoing collaboration with the Tracy City Center Association for the upcoming Artwalk event series. The June 24 and July 22 events will be held in conjunction with the Farmers’ Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Sept. 16 event with the Wine Stroll from 5 p.m. to 7:30 pm.

The Artwalk is a free, self-guided and family friendly, public event featuring local visual and performing artists, vendors, and community organizations in and around the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in downtown Tracy. Selected participants are invited to display and sell art, offer activities, busk, network, promote services and collaborate with other artists, etc. at no cost.

JULY1

2023

Coulterville Banderitas Days

The Coulterville Banderitas Days celebrates and explores California history pre1849. Held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 1 to July 4, the celebrations will include Native American Grand Entry and Color Guard, traditional MiWuk and Aztec dancers, Native American Jewelers, food vendors and more.

The event will be at the Coulterville Community Park at 10313 Park Lane.

For more information call (209) 768-6856

JULY15

2023

Columbia Anniversary Dance Party

The Friends of the Columbia State Historic Park are celebrating the 77th year of Columbia State Historic Park with a big band street dance party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. July 15.

Step back into the 1940s when the park was founded. Put on your dancing shoes to boogie down to the music of Rod Harris and his Orchestra. The event is free, though VIP tables for four are available for purchase. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

For more information or to purchase a table visit friendsofcolumbiashp.com

Cohen Hospice House

While most hospice care is provided in the home, there may be times when symptoms require an advanced level of care. The Community Hospice Alexander Cohen

• General Inpatient Care (GIP)providing comprehensive round-the-clock services to address individualized medication and treatment needs.

• Respite Care - a brief stay for patients when their caregiver has reached exhaustion and requires a short-term respite from caregiving at home.

By VIRGINIA STILL

County fairs are more than a tradition in the 209, they are a celebration of the agricultural heritage of the area. Fairs are also a place where family, friends and community members gather to make lasting memories. There are several fairs that will be held in the 209 this June and July including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Tuolumne, and Amador counties, serving up the fried food, exhibits, livestock competitions, games, carnival rides, concerts, and a whole lot of fun.

THE SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY FAIR will kick off the summer fair amusement from June 2-4 at the San Joaquin County fairgrounds, 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton.

The Grandstand events will feature Friday Night Tuff Trucks and Quad Racing free with fair admission and for an additional fee the Saturday Delta Dirt Drags, and on Sunday the Hispanic Rodeo.

There will be live music each night with a variety of genres including country, rock, top 40, and on Sunday Hispanic Heritage sponsored by VMG.

New this year to the San Joaquin County Fair is a Car Show on Friday sponsored by Impalas Magazine and a Truck Show on Sunday sponsored by Panella Trucking LLC. They will also have exhibits and contests displaying local art and horticulture.

For tickets and more information visit www. sanjoaquinfair.com.

THE MERCED COUNTY

FAIR invites everyone to come celebrate the fun June 7-11.

“Get your calendars out and be sure to mark down all the days you want to be at the 2023 Merced County Fair,” said Teresa Burrola, CEO Merced County Fair. “We’ve got five nights of concerts and shows, plus your favorite fair foods, carnival rides, exhibits, livestock, community performances, the beloved tractor parade and so much more. We look forward to seeing our community out at their Merced County Fair, June 7-11.”

“We Care Wednesday” kicks off the Merced Fair on June 7 with Seniors 62 and better gaining free entry. They can enjoy a special Seniors’ Lifestyle Expo from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. near the Martin Luther King Jr. Way gate.

The free Outdoor Theatre Concert Series presented by Coors Light has a variety of entertainers like George Michael Reborn on Wednesday, June 7; Smash Mouth on Thursday, June 8; Lonestar on

Friday, June 9; Purple Madness: A Tribute to Prince on Saturday, June 10; and Banda Machos wrapping up the festivities on Sunday, June 11 that is free with the paid fair admission.

The Grandstand will host a variety of festivities that begins at 7 p.m. each night like the guest favorite Valley Tractor Pullers’ Tractor Pull on Friday, Destruction Derby on Saturday and new this year to the Fair is the Merced Speedway Go-Kart Racing on Thursday, June 8. The Alaskan Pig Races returns this year along with a variety of activities like the Petting Zoo, Pony

WE’VE GOT FIVE NIGHTS OF CONCERTS AND SHOWS, PLUS YOUR FAVORITE FAIR FOODS, CARNIVAL RIDES, EXHIBITS, LIVESTOCK, COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES, THE BELOVED TRACTOR PARADE AND SO MUCH MORE.

— Teresa Burrola, CEO Merced County Fair

Rides, Power Jump, and Water Balls. There will be an assortment of edible delights like Sharky’s, Pepe’s Mariscos, Kettle Corn, Funnel Cake, and new to the lineup Backyard BBQ bringing chicken, ribs, and a giant turkey leg.

The spectacular rides like the Mega Flip, Giant Wheel, Zipper, State Fair Slide, Tilt a Whirl will be available along with some new rides like the Wacky Shack Funhouse, Super Shot Drop Tower, and the Puppy Roll.

For tickets, times, and more information visit mercedcountyfair.com.

THE 2023 MOTHER LODE

FAIR, 220 Southgate Drive in Sonora, runs from June 29 to July 2 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day.

They have lots of great entertainment lined up including Buck Ford on Thursday; 60s Summer of Love Tribute Band on Friday; Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, ZZ Top Tribute Band on Saturday; and country music artist Jennifer Grant on Sunday. The daily strolling acts are Violin on Fire, Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein, Safari Sam and Oscar Ostrich, and The Roaming Hillbilly.

Livestock shows happen daily and the Junior Livestock Auction starts Saturday, July 1 at 4 p.m. The carnival is Paul Maurer Shows.

The Mother Lode Fair will have Truck & Tractor Pulls on Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m., and two Monster Truck Shows on Sunday, with the first one at 4 p.m. and the second show at 7 p.m. There is an additional arena ticket purchase required of $10 for Truck & Tractor Pulls and $12 for the Monster Trucks.

For more information, visit www. motherlodefair.org. Ticket prices are available on the website along with presale tickets.

LIVESTOCK SHOWS HAPPEN

DAILY AND THE JUNIOR LIVESTOCK AUCTION STARTS SATURDAY, JULY 1 AT 4 P.M.

Life Happens At The Stanislaus

COUNTY FAIR, 900 N. Broadway in Turlock, from July 7-16.

There will be a nightly concert series starting at 8:30 p.m. with a variety of artists like country stars Parmalee on Friday, July 7 and Ashley McBryde on Saturday, July 15; R&B artist Genuwine on Thursday, July 8; Latin artist El Dasa on Sunday, July 9; Plain White Tees on Monday, July 10; and Blue Oyster Cult on Friday, July 14 to name a few.

With Tractor Pulls, TPA Portuguese Bloodless Bullfights, Destruction Derby, and Monster Trucks there is something for everyone at the Stanislaus County Fair. They will have livestock competitions, strolling performers, carnival rides, fair food and more. The 2023 Fair Theme is “ZINFANDEL AND ZINNIAS” for the Amador County Fair, 18621 Sherwood St., Plymouth, which will run from July 27 to July 30.

There will be carnival rides, Destruction Derby, live music, fair food, and special days like Kids Day, Seniors Day, Cattlemen’s Day, and Junior Livestock Auction Day.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit amadorcountyfair.com. ●

By MARG JACKSON

Summer is just around the corner and along with family vacations, lazy days at the lake and no homework for the kids, residents in and around the 209 can put a few Fourth of July reworks displays on their ‘to do’ list.

While many communities do allow the state Fire Marshal-approved Safe and Sane reworks for personal use, the attraction of a full-blown aerial display of color and the booming sounds that reverberate through the night air can’t be denied.

Here are just a few of the scheduled shows to help celebrate Independence Day for 2023.

Don Pedro Lake

Returning a er a hiatus in 2022, the Don Pedro reworks show will be staged on July 1. Lasting approximately 30 minutes, the professional show is done over the water and the best way to access it is from Fleming Meadows, at 11500 Bonds Flat Road, La Grange.

ere is a $40 fee per vehicle to get in to Don Pedro and, if you bring a vessel for the lake, there is an extra $20 charge. Many take advantage of the day to enjoy boating on the lake before settling in for the nighttime show, which starts about 9:30 p.m.

More information is available by contacting the Lake Don Pedro Visitors Center at 209-8522396 or visiting their Facebook page, at DonPedroLake. e show, ‘Fireworks on the Water’ is presented by the Don Pedro Recreation Agency. Parking is limited so they recommend arriving early.

Woodward Reservoir

Head out to Woodward Reservoir, 14528 26-Mile Road, north of Oakdale, for a July 1 show. e reworks traditionally begin about 9 p.m., so plan to get there early and settle in for the display. Cost is $25 per vehicle and the reworks are presented over the water at Woodward. More information is available by calling 209-847-3304 or at stancountyparks.com.

Ironstone Vineyards

Plan to make a day of it on July 1 as Ironstone Vineyards puts on its Independence Day Celebration from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., at 1894 6 Mile Road, Murphys.

e gates will open at 2 p.m. and it is cash only admission; cost is $20 for adults, $10 for those 6 to 12, those ve and under are admitted free. No outside food or beverages, no coolers. ere will be family fun including bounce houses, jugglers, face painting and a rock wall, live music by Shane Dwight, e Poison Oakies and Justice Ramos along with food, wine and beer for sale. Lawn chairs are permitted. e festivities will be topped o by a fantastic reworks display. Call Ironstone at 209-728-1251 for more information or visit ironstonevineyards.com/ reworks

Bass Lake

On July 4 Bass Lake will put on its 2023 Light Up e Sky event, with a boat parade at 7 p.m. and reworks at dusk. ere is no admission fee; the boat parade starts near the entrance to Willow Cove followed by reworks about 9 p.m. is is the biggest reworks show in Madera County and is sponsored by the Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce. ●