Airplanes, apricots and lumber? Yes, they all have something in common in Modesto area
Popular festivals and fairs return to the Modesto and Mother Lode regions in June, featuring airplanes, lumber, apricots, dairy and more.
The Juneteenth holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery, also will be observed with a Modesto celebration presented by the King-Kennedy Memorial Center.
All this is separate from the annual Graffiti Summer extravaganza in Modesto.
Here’s a look at some of what’s planned for June:
PATTERSON APRICOT FIESTA – June 3-5: Patterson celebrates with entertainment, food and beer booths, vendors, a kids area, an arm wrestling tournament and a corn hole tournament. On Saturday, there will be a parade downtown at 10 a.m. and fireworks at dusk. Festival activities begin 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. Downtown Patterson. apricotfiesta.com.
HILMAR DAIRY FESTIVAL – June 4: The Dairy industry is celebrated with a variety of activities, the Little Milkman and Milkmaid contests, vendors and fireworks. 5-10 p.m. Hilmar High football field, 7807 N. Lander Ave., Hilmar. Free. hilmarchamber.com.
MERCED COUNTY FAIR – June 8-12: Carnival rides, live concerts, grandstand shows, livestock exhibits, food and more. 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 3 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. Merced County Fairgrounds, 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. $10, free age 12 and under. 209-722-1506; mercedcountyfair.com.
CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH – June 18: The King-Kennedy Memorial Center’s Board of Directors presents celebration with food, vendors, live entertainment, games and more. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Graceada Park, 401 Needham St., Modesto. Free.
FATHER’S DAY FLY-IN – June 18-19: Children’s activities, live music, plane demonstrations, plane and car races, more. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday. Columbia Airport, 22365 S. Airport Road, Columbia. Free. fathersdayflyin.org.
TUOLUMNE LUMBER JUBILEE – June 24-26: The event celebrates the logging industry with vendors, food, kids activities, live music and more. There will be a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, as well as a car show, arm wrestling, kids activities, relays, games and more. Also, live music at 6 p.m. Saturday. Sunday includes logging events beginning at 11 a.m. and ending with a tug-of-war. Tuolumne Memorial Park, Tuolumne. Free. 209-206-6768.
MOTHER LODE FAIR – June 30-July 3: This year’s expo includes live entertainment, truck pulls on Friday and monster trucks on Sunday. Fair hours are 3-11 p.m. 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora. $10 admission, $5 age 6-12, free age 5 and under. $10 separate admission for monster trucks and truck pulls. www.motherlodefair.org.
