Jousting knights and Highland games? It’s time to get back out in the Modesto region
It’s time to say farewell to the winter doldrums and get back out and about in the greater Modesto region.
February and March bring just a few of the traditional community and cultural celebrations coming up in the area for 2025. They include heralding blossoms in Ripon, the annual Celtic celebration in the Mother Lode and a festival of camellias in Modesto.
Here’s a look at some of what’s planned:
Multi-Cultural Children’s Festival/ Chinese New Year Celebration — Feb. 1: An event will be held by the city of Modesto to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. The celebration welcomes the year of the snake. There will be cultural performances, Chinese calligraphy, music, demonstrations, activities and more. 2-5 p.m. Free. Modesto Senior Center, 211 Bodem St. 209-577-5344.
MoSt Poetry Festival — Feb. 1: The Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center holds its annual event. This year features Michael Meyerhofer, who will offer the workshop “Pulling Up the Floorboards: Two Radical Approaches to Revising Poems.” Meet fellow poets and write poems. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Carnegie Arts Center, 250 N. Broadway, Turlock. $40 includes breakfast and a light lunch. www.mostpoetry.org.
Ripon Almond Blossom Festival — Feb. 20-23: The annual celebration heralds spring with food, a carnival, a parade, vendor booths and more. The parade will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in downtown Ripon. Festival events are 4:30-10 p.m. Thursday, 2-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at Mistlin Sports Park, 1201 River Road, Ripon. Free. riponchamber.org.
Calaveras Celtic Faire — March 7-9: The fair celebrates the cultures of Celtic nations and will feature jousting, live music, Scottish Highland games, living history, a marketplace, food and more. Some events are on specific days only. Festival is 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 2465 Gun Club Road, Angels Camp. $10-$64, presale online. calaverascelticfaire.com.
Camellia Society of Modesto Show — March 8-9: The annual event will show off award-winning blooms at the Modesto Junior College West Campus. New this year, is a raffle for various prizes. Open to the public 2-5 p.m. March 8 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 9. Mary Stuart Rogers Student Learning Center, 2201 Blue Gum Ave. Free. camelliasocietyofmodesto.org.
Murphys Irish Day — March 15: The historic Gold Rush town honors its Irish heritage with booths, food, art, wine, entertainment and more. A parade on Main Street begins at 11 a.m. The festival runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Main Street, Murphys. visitmurphys.com/murphys-irish-day.
Festival On The Green — March 15: Turlock Unified School District hosts an annual all-day music festival to showcase its music students. Performances are scheduled throughout the day. There also will be vendor and informational booths. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Pitman High School, 2525 W. Christoffersen Parkway, Turlock. www.turlock.k12.ca.us/information/festival-on-the-green.
This story was originally published January 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM.
