New event to be held night before Riverbank Cheese & Wine fest. See what’s planned

Ignore the warm Central Valley forecast. It’s fall, people, and we’re about to pull into October.

That means a lot of fresh fun and festivals for the month in the Modesto and Mother Lode regions.

New this year is a prelude to the popular Riverbank Cheese & Wine Festival — Taste of Riverbank, held the evening before the city’s annual celebration.

There’s also a new event, the Modesto Latin Music & Dance Festival. Planned are six hours of performances by local musicians, DJs and dancers at Graceada Park, according to the festival website. Plus, you can join the action on a dance floor. And, of course, there will be Latin food.

October also brings the International Heritage Festival and All Hallows Faire. Here’s a look at just some of what’s coming up in the Modesto and Mother Lode regions:

INTERNATIONAL HERITAGE FESTIVAL – Oct. 4: Enjoy international food, music, dance, children’s crafts and more at this annual event celebrating diverse heritages. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. with opening ceremonies at 11 a.m. Graceada Park, 401 Needham St., Modesto. Free. 209-809-4741.

CALAVERAS GRAPE STOMP & GOLD RUSH STREET FAIRE – Oct. 4: Calaveras County celebrates its wine industry with grape stomp competitions, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The Gold Rush Street Faire has vendors, arts and crafts, food, live music and more from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Grape stomp at Murphys Community Park, street fair on Main Street in Murphys. calaveraswines.org.

STANISLAUS ARTIST OPEN STUDIO TOUR – Oct. 4-5: This fall version of the annual spring studio tour offers the public a chance to visit artists in their studios or shared spaces in Modesto and Turlock. Art will be available for sale. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. See various locations at www.stanislausaos.com.

EGYPTIAN FESTIVAL – Oct. 4-5: Egyptian food and desserts, a bazaar, activities for kids, live entertainment, cultural performances and more highlight this event. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, 315 Orange Ave., Ripon. Free. www.stmarkripon.org.

MESOPOTAMIAN FOOD FESTIVAL – Oct. 5: This cultural event features dancing, pastries and other food, live music, a kids zone and more. Noon-8 p.m. St. Matthew Assyrian-Chaldean Catholic Church, 3005 Sixth St., Ceres. Free. 209-494-8168.

SONORA BACH FESTIVAL – Oct. 5-25: A lineup of concerts and events for lovers of baroque and classical music includes a youth concert Oct. 5, 3 p.m.; salon concert Oct. 12, 3 p.m.; locals concert Oct. 19, 3 p.m.; and Bach’s Brunch on Oct. 25, 12:30 p.m. Locations, ticket prices and times vary. Details at www.sonorabach.org.

TASTE OF RIVERBANK – Oct. 10: A prelude to the Riverbank Cheese & Wine Festival, this new event features food and drinks from restaurants throughout the city. Proceeds support Riverbank’s Soroptimist International and chamber of commerce. Ages 21 and older only. 6-8:30 p.m. Riverbank Community Center Park, 3600 Santa Fe St. $35 at www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-riverbank-tickets-1543020879989.

RIVERBANK CHEESE & WINE FESTIVAL – Oct. 11: Enjoy wine tastings, local cheeses, entertainment, food, vendors and more. Wine and cheese tastings noon-5:30 p.m. at Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe St. Festival is in downtown Riverbank, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free for expo; wine tastings $30 per session, on sale until Oct. 10. riverbankcheeseandwine.com.

LATIN MUSIC & DANCE FESTIVAL – Oct. 11: A day of Latin music and dance is planned for this first-time all-ages festival in Modesto. There will be live performances, a dance floor, vendors, Latin food and more. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mancini Bowl at Graceada Park, 401 Needham St., Modesto. $23.18 general, $39.19 VIP. modestodance.com/latin-dance-festival.

CENTRAL VALLEY ANIMATORS FILM FESTIVAL – Oct. 11: This festival will showcase the best in animation from Central Valley artists, age 17 and older. Awards will be presented. 2-4 p.m. Carnegie Arts Center, 250 N. Broadway, Turlock. Free. www.carnegieartsturlock.org.

FALLING LEAF BOUTIQUE & PANTRY – Oct. 11: There will be handcrafted items, an outdoor cafe and more. Proceeds benefit Modesto Junior College and California State Stanislaus food pantries and the Food Initiative of Greater Stanislaus. 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall, First United Methodist Church Modesto, 850 16th St. fumc@firstumcmodesto.org.

HARVEST FESTIFALL – Oct. 11-12: Crafts, food, demonstrations, music and more will be offered at Columbia State Historic Park. Nearly 50 vendors, dressed in 1850s attire, will display their handmade arts and crafts for sale. There will be demonstrations by the Mother Lode Weavers & Spinners, face painting and entertainment. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Main Street, Columbia. www.columbiacalifornia.com.

ALL HALLOWS FAIRE – Oct. 25-26: This annual large festival includes live music, craft vendors, wine tastings (Saturday 1-5 p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m.), realms, a pumpkin patch, costume contest, food, drink and more. 1:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Calaveras County Fairgrounds, parking entry at 101 Frog Town Road, Angels Camp. $15-$40 Saturday, free to children 5 and under; $22-$27 Sunday; free to age 12 and under. www.allhallowsfaire.com.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS MOLE FESTIVAL – Nov. 1: Sample Mexican mole sauce and celebrate Dia De Los Muertos. There will be street food, local artisan and business vendors, a mole contest, live entertainment, an altar, Catrina contest, kids activities and more. 4-9 p.m. 711 I St., Modesto. Free. www.facebook.com/events/16852300521846990.