July packed with summer fun in and out of the sun

Festivals and fairs abound across the Valley and Mother Lode as summer winds it way into July.

The Stanislaus County Fair in Turlock and the Mother Lode Fair in Sonora are among the biggest of the events coming up. A couple of large events still will take place this weekend, before June and its Graffiti Summer hit the rear-view mirror.

Of course Fourth of July blowouts soon will celebrate the nation’s independence, but we’ll run down those in this space next week. Meanwhile, there are street fairs, finger-licking-good barbecue fun, music events and more. Here’s a look at the larger events scheduled:

Hilmar Dairy Festival – Saturday, June 27: The annual bovine blowout features entertainment, art, activities, Little Milkman and Milkmaid contest, a car show, exhibits, vendors and fireworks. 5-10 p.m. Hilmar High football field, 7807 N. Lander Ave., Hilmar. Free. www.hilmarchamber.com.

Tuolumne Lumber Jubilee – Today-Sunday, June 25-28: The 66th annual event celebrates the logging industry with vendors, carnival, parade, games, music, arm-wrestling, ax-throwing competition, logging contests, tug-of-war, and more. 3-10 p.m. June 25, 3-11 p.m. June 26, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. June 27, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 28. Tuolumne Memorial Park, Tuolumne. Free; charge for carnival attractions. (209) 352-4698.

Sierra Nevada Arts & Crafts Festival – July 4-5: This annual event features more than 60 booths of fine crafts, art and gourmet foods to sample. Continuous shows of live country and swing music and juggling by Mark “Bonzai” Bunnell. Pancake breakfast 7:30-11 a.m. both days. Fire Department barbecue with live music Saturday evening after the festival at Cedar Center. The festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, is held on the grounds of Bristols Ranch House Café at 961 Highway 4, downtown Arnold. Free. (925) 372-8961.

Cortez Obon Festival – July 4: Japanese American festival featuring Obon dancing, cultural presentations, music and more. The farming community of Cortez was one of the original Japanese American settlements in the 1900s. 7 p.m. Cortez Buddhist Church, Cortez Avenue between Linwood and Santa Fe, Turlock. (209) 466-6701.

Mother Lode Fair – July 10-12: This year’s expo includes a demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls and monster trucks. Among the concert performers will be Tiffany Lorraine, Stephan Hogan, Shery and the Psychodelics, Harvest Gold Band and Uplands Drive. July 10-11, noon to to midnight; July 12, noon to 11 p.m. 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora. $10 admission, free age 5 and under; $15 for carnival wristband. $45 three-day pass includes drink and a meal. www.motherlodefair.org or (209) 532-7428.

Stanislaus County Fair – July 10-19: Annual county fair featuring agriculture exhibits, midway, entertainment, motor sports, rodeo and more. Entertainment includes Martina McBride, Colt Ford, Carrot Top, 3BallMTY, Eddie Money, America, Bret Michaels, Jerrod Niemann, Grand Funk Railroad, Banda Machos. Weekdays, 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to midnight. Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock. $5-$12 gate admission; some events have an additional cost. (209) 668-1333.

Bear Valley Music Festival – July 24-Aug. 9: 47th event features cellist Emil Miland, the Del Sol String Quartet, pianists Olga Kern and Sara Davis Buechner and more, presenting a variety of music styles. Also, a tribute to Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday, a tribute to Elton John, a “Night in Havana” gala, with wine, fine dining and Latin jazz, a tribute to The Kingston Trio and American folk music by T Sisters as featured “A Prairie Home Companion.” $15-$55. Bear Valley Village. www.bearvalleymusicfestival.org.

Blues and Bones Festival – July 24-25: Music festival and barbecue competition. Event features live music by Mike Hammer and the Nails, Val Starr and The Blues Rocket, Daniel Castro, Harlis Sweetwater, Jeramy Norris & The Dangerous Mood, Big Earl and the Cryin Shame and The Kyle Rowland Band. $10 July 24, 6-10 p.m.; $19.99, $29.99 July 25, noon to 10 p.m. Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 101 Frogtown Road, Angels Camp. www.bluesandbones.com.

Twain Harte Summer Art & Wine Festival – July 25-26: The 38th annual street festival features craft and graphic artists, wine, food and live entertainment. Car show and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Downtown Twain Harte. Free. (209) 533-3473 or www.fireonthemountain.com.

Wines in the Pines – July 25-26: Twain Harte Area Chamber of Commerce presents its annual event concurrent with the Art and Wine Festival. Wines, foods from local vendors, live music and more. $25 ticket includes commemorative glass. Noon-3 p.m. Meadow Plaza, 23000 Meadow Lane, Twain Harte. (209) 586-4482.

This story was originally published June 24, 2015 at 10:09 AM with the headline "July packed with summer fun in and out of the sun."