Entertainment

6 Things To Do This Week in Modesto area


Fresno-raised Broadway star Audra McDonald returns to the Central Valley for a Gallo Center for the Arts show Sept. 5.
Fresno-raised Broadway star Audra McDonald returns to the Central Valley for a Gallo Center for the Arts show Sept. 5. Fresno Bee

Audra McDonald

Broadway icon Audra McDonald brings her concert tour to the Gallo Center for the Arts. This spring, McDonald became the winningest actor in Tony history with her sixth win for best featured actress in a musical or play. The Fresno-bred star got her start in community theater in the Central Valley. Her film “Ricki and the Flash” with Meryl Streep is in theaters now.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5

WHERE: Rogers Theater, Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $39-$89

CALL: 209-338-2100

ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

Newman Fall Festival

The 45th annual Newman Fall Festival celebrates the town’s heritage with kids games, live entertainment, food and craft vendors, volleyball and softball tournaments, and more. The “An Evening Under the Stars” wine and cheese event will run from 7 to 10 p.m. today, Sept. 4. Parade starts at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, down Main Street.

WHEN: Festival 3 to 11 p.m. today, Sept. 4; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday; softball tournament 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7

WHERE: Pioneer Park, 1358 R St., Newman (softball tournament at Barrington Field)

ADMISSION: Free (Evening Under the Stars $30, softball entry fee $75 per team)

CALL: 209-451-2815

ONLINE: www.facebook.com/NewmanFallFestival

Strawberry Music Festival

After a two-year absence, the Strawberry Music Festival returns to Tuolumne County. After being displaced by the Rim Fire in 2013 and denied a permit to return in 2014, the Labor Day weekend event moves to Westside property, the site of an old lumber company. Headliners include Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the California Honeydrops and the Wood Brothers.

WHEN: Evening headliners 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. today-Saturday, Sept. 4-5; 4:15 to 8:15 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6

WHERE: Westside, 17807 Tuolumne Road, Tuolumne

TICKETS: Evening passes $40, day passes $60, multi-day passes $160-$200

CALL: 209-984-8630

ONLINE: www.strawberrymusic.com

Color The Skies

The 10th annual Color the Skies Hot Air Balloon and Kite Festival returns to the region. The two-day celebration will include 5K and 10K runs, live entertainment, food and more. Hot-air balloon rides begin at 8 a.m. both days. Carnival kicks off 5 to 10 p.m. today, Sept. 4 ,and runs through the weekend. Proceeds benefit the Ripon community and Valley Children’s Hospital.

WHEN: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 5-6

WHERE: Mistlin Sports Park, Ripon

ADMISSION: Free; carnival tickets $20 presale, $30 gate

CALL: 209-599-7519

ONLINE: www.riponchamber.org

Cedar Center Arts & Crafts Festival

Enjoy all the offerings at the 43rd annual Cedar Center Arts & Crafts Festival. The event features original arts and crafts in all media, gourmet foods, face painting and more. Live music by area favorites Home Grown. The Ebbetts Pass Lion’s Clubs hosts the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast both days starting at 7:30 a.m.

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 5-6

WHERE: Cedar Center, 1225 Oak Circle, Arnold

ADMISSION: Free; pancake breakfast $6

CALL: 925-372-8961

ONLINE: www.afterthegoldrushfestivals.com

“Blues in the Night”

The Stage 3 Theatre Company production of “Blues in the Night” gets an encore performance at the Gallo Center. In July, the Sonora community theater troupe staged the song-filled musical about three women dating the same cheating man. The show features more than two dozen blues and jazz numbers.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. today, Sept. 4 and 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5

WHERE: Foster Theater, Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto

TICKETS: $15-$25

CALL: 209- 338-2100

ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 10:39 AM with the headline "6 Things To Do This Week in Modesto area."

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