Popular downtown Modesto fall festival won’t be held this year. What else is set

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Grab a pumpkin latte and get ready to make the rounds at the host of fall festivals planned throughout September in the Modesto and Mother Lode regions.

Although there’s plenty to enjoy all month, one annual popular event is taking a break. Sorry to all the greasy fried pork deliciousness lovers out there, but the Modesto Bacon Festival won’t be sizzling downtown this year.

Among the many that will return are the Family Fun Festival outside the Gallo Center for the Arts and annual celebrations of Greek, Chinese, American Indian and Assyrian cultures.

The free Wild Planet Day with live animals and family fun also will be back.

While most fall community celebrations are held in September, a few start in the final days of August.

Here’s a look at just some of the larger festivals planned:

NEWMAN FALL FESTIVAL — Aug. 29-31: Parade, carnival, entertainment, food and beverage booths, vendors and more are planned. Events start at 4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. Sunday. The parade Sunday begins at 11 a.m. on Main Street. The festival is at Pioneer Park, 1250 Tulare St., Newman. Free. newmanfallfestival.org.

CASTLE AIR MUSEUM OPEN COCKPIT DAY – Aug. 30: The former Air Force base will provide an up-close look at old military aircraft. The semiannual event also features food vendors and demonstrations by emergency agencies. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Castle Air Museum, 5050 Santa Fe Drive, Atwater. $25 general admission, $20 seniors, active or retired military, $15 ages 6-17, free ages 5 and under. Entry also is free via a promotion by Amtrak, which will have a shuttle bus between its Merced station and Castle. www.castleairmuseum.org.

AAPI CULTURAL FESTIVAL – Aug. 30: Presented by the Stanislaus Chinese Association, the fest will offer free cultural events for children from 4-4:45 p.m. Also planned are a dragon dance, performances and raffles. There will be a dinner from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Event 4-8 p.m. Modesto Centre Plaza, 1000 K St., Modesto. $40, $30 ages 12 and under. Text 209-602-0763. www.facebook.com/StanislausChineseAssociation.

SIERRA NEVADA ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL – Aug. 30-31: Booths will feature handcrafted items, arts and antiques, food and more. In addition, the Ebbetts Pass Volunteer Fire Department will sell craft beers and a variety of food. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Parking lot, 961 Highway 4, Arnold. Free. www.afterthegoldrushfestivals.com.

LOCAL AUTHOR FAIR – Sept. 6: Hosted by the Stanislaus County Library, the event offers a chance to meet local authors, purchase books and have their books signed. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Salida Library Community Room, 4835 Sisk Road. Free. www.stanlibrary.org.

ASSYRIAN FESTIVAL — Sept. 13-14: Expect food, cultural exhibits, live music, Assyrian dance groups, a kids zone with carnival rides and more. Noon-10 p.m. both days. Stanislaus County Fairground, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock. Free. www.cvassyrianfestival.com.

ACORN FESTIVAL – Sept. 13-14: The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians holds its annual celebration with traditional dancers, hand games tournament, vendors, Indian tacos and more. Shuttles from Black Oak Casino start at 8 a.m. both days. Tuolumne Rancheria, 19595 Mi-Wu St., Tuolumne. Free. 209-928-5300.

DENAIR FARM AND FAMILY FESTIVAL – Sept. 13: Food and craft vendors, farm equipment show, peddle tractor races, competitions and more are planned. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tractor parade begins at 9 a.m. on Main Street. Downtown Denair. Free. www.denairfestival.com.

WILD PLANET DAY – Sept. 20: Modesto Area Partners in Science presents the all-ages event with two live animal shows featuring Conservation Ambassadors’ Wild Things and Reptile Ron in separate rooms at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Beetle Lady will be in the Great Valley Museum lobby from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A varietal honey tasting, recommended for ages 9 and up only, will be at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. A live “Butterfly Experience” and release will be at 2 p.m. Dr. Al Chemist also will be on hand and there will be activities and display tables. Event is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Modesto Junior College West Campus Science Community Center, 2201 Blue Gum Ave. Free. www.mjc.edu/sem/maps.html.

49ER FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE TASTE OF TUOLUMNE – Sept. 20: There will be a parade on Main Street and a Taste of Tuolumne event, along with live music, a raffle, vendors, a kids zone and more. Events 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Main Street and Mary Laveroni Park, Groveland. Festival free; $1 per taste for Taste of Tuolumne. www.49erfestival.org.

GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL — Sept. 20-21: Event features a Greek dinner with takeout available and dine-in-only gyros. There will be homemade pastries, a marketplace, coffeehouse, live Greek music, more entertainment and church tours. Noon-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 313 Tokay Ave., Modesto. $22 presale, $25 at the door. www.goannunciation.org.

TURLOCK MELON CARNIVAL – Sept. 20-21: The long-past melon carnival returned in 2024 and will be back for its second revived year. There will be a Miss Melon Pageant and drone show on Saturday evening. On Sunday, a Kiddie Kaper Parade is planned at 11 a.m. with live entertainment, a carnival and more. 4-10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Main and Center streets, Turlock. turlockmeloncarnival.com.

EDIBLE EXTRAVAGANZA – Sept. 25: The Center for Human Services fundraiser offers an evening of food, drinks, live music, raffles and more. Dozens of the region’s food and beverage vendors will showcase their offerings. Proceeds support services in prevention, intervention, treatment, shelter and counseling. 6-9 p.m., VIP entry 5 p.m. Modesto Centre Plaza, 1001 K St, Modesto. $65, $120 VIP. www.edibleextravaganza.com.

BLUES AND BONES FESTIVAL – Sept. 27: This annual music festival and barbecue features live music by Jules Leyhe, The Blues Cartel Featuring Jeramy Norris, Chicken Bone Slim featuring Laura Chavez and Shane Dwight; an artist jam session is set for 8 p.m. Gates open 10:30 a.m. for VIP, 11 a.m. general admission. Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 101 Frogtown Road, Angels Camp. $49.50, $71.50 VIP. bluesandbones.com.

COYOTEFEST – Sept. 27: There will be a car show, vendors, coyote howl contests, food, live music and entertainment in Coulterville Park. A parade starts at 9:30 a.m. Event is 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Coulterville. Free. coyotefest.org.

IRONSTONE CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE – Sept. 27: This annual event showcases more than 300 antique and classic cars, as well as other vehicles. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Ironstone Vineyards, 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys. $30, free under age 14; $125 Patron’s Pavilion. ironstoneconcours.com.

GALLO CENTER FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL – Sept. 28: The Gallo Center joins with the city of Modesto to present the annual fest. Activities include dancing, chalk art, lawn games, exotic reptiles, face painting, balloon animals and prize giveaways. There will be food trucks selling hot dogs, frozen yogurt, ice cream and other treats. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Gallo Center Plaza and Modesto Rotary Music Garden, 1000 I St., Modesto. Free. www.galloarts.org.