Most Modesto, Mother Lode region festivals make changes or cancel due to coronavirus
Usually filled with end-of-summer community and cultural celebrations, September will see most of those events altered this year by the coronavirus pandemic.
Some of the annual festivals and fairs in the Modesto and Mother Lode regions will go virtual, many have been canceled – but at least one will go on as normal.
The Labor Day Weekend Outdoor Peddler’s Market will be held in Arnold on Sept. 5-6. The event features 55 booths of antiques and collectibles, arts and crafts, vintage jewelry and more, as well as food booths. Masks must be worn and social distancing practiced.
According to organizer Kim Patillo, they “were encouraged by locals, businesses, the county” to hold the market.
This is the second such event held in Arnold this summer despite the pandemic. The Sierra Nevada Peddler’s Market held in July was a success, which helped lead to the decision to hold the Labor Day weekend event, Patillo said.
The town is in Calaveras County, which is currently on the red tier, the third of Gov. Newsom’s four-tiered coronavirus guidelines for reopening.
Differences this year include no alcohol sales and no live music, she said, along with the mask and social distancing orders, sanitizing stations and extra cleaning.
The Outdoor Peddler’s Market is planned for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 6 on the grounds of Bristols Ranch House, 961 Highway 4, in Arnold. Call 925-372-8961 for information.
Modesto’s Edible Extravaganza, however, will be enjoyed by patrons at their homes instead of in a crowded downtown. This year called Edible Extravaganza at Home, the event is a fundraiser for the Center for Human Services and will offer virtual vendor booths, live music and raffles.
A coupon book will be sold in advance for $50 with discounts to more than 20 local restaurants, bakeries, breweries and eateries that can be used through September 2021. A VIP package also will be available for $100 and includes delivery to homes of a charcuterie box by Greens on Tenth and one coupon book.
On Sept. 7. vendors will show virtual booths on website edibleextravaganza.com. On Sept. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m., there will be a program, including a livestream of bands performing, along with raffles.
“Because it’s a signature event in Modesto, we wanted to keep the momentum going,” said Christina Meyers, development coordinator for the center.
For more, see www.centerforhumanservices.org or call 209-526-1476.
More events shift plans
Modesto Architecture and Design Week, also known as Madweek, will be held virtually, according to a press release from festival co-founder Bob Barzan.
“Everyone, anywhere in the world can safely view the collection of exceptional videos, take a virtual tour, or participate in an online house history workshop,” the release said.
Videos and activities will be available Sept. 12-20 at modestoartmuseum.org/madweek.
“Going virtual is great way to hold the festival for 2020 in light of the coronavirus,” Barzan said in the release.
The architecture and design movie night will be on the website with more than a dozen short movies from several countries. The history workshop will help people find the earliest documents for their Modesto properties and there will be options for both virtual and real time architecture tours, according to the release.
The Greek Food Festival will be held Sept. 19-20, “but with a twist,” according to the website for the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, which puts on the event.
Called Festi-Go, the festival will be take-out only with tickets being pre-sold online at the church office for a take-out dinner and baklava. Food will be available noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 19 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 20 at the church, 313 Tokay Ave., Modesto. Pre-sale tickets are $16; $18 during the take-out event. See www.goannunciation.org or call 209-522-7694.
The Calaveras Grape Stomp this year has been deemed the “Virtual Grape Stomp: Backyard Edition.” It’s set to take place Sunday, Sept. 27, with stomp teams of two competing in their backyards via Zoom, according to a press release. The event, put on by the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance, will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more, see www.calaveraswines.org.
Festivals planned but no details yet
According to the website for the 49er Festival, Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, the event will be virtual this year, although no date or details were listed as of Friday afternoon. Held usually in Groveland, the website, www.49erfestival.blogspot.com, said to check back for information on the revamped event.
The Modesto Pride event “will take place virtually this year, to keep our community safe and healthy,” according to the Central Valley Pride Center website. No details or date were listed as of Friday afternoon, but people were directed to register to receive updates at centralvalleypridecenter.org.
Organizers have not yet decided whether the Egyptian Festival will be held this year at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Ripon, according to Gabrial Gouda, who does marketing for the event.
The Oakdale Chocolate Festival had rescheduled its May date to September, but the festival now has been canceled for the year, according to a call to the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce.
Among the events noted as canceled on websites or Facebook pages are the Newman Fall Festival, Mariposa County Fair, the Denair Farm and Family Festival, the Angels Camp Blues and Bones Festival and the Fiddle & Bango Contest and Chili Cook-Off (the “Bango” misspelling dates back to when the event began).
The Acorn Festival also has been canceled, according to the Tuolumne Me-Wuk Tribal Council. Canceled as well is the Assyrian Festival, normally held at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, according to Adrenna Alkhas, fair marketing and communication director.
