Last gasp of summer fun in the Modesto region

Next weekend marks the unofficial finale to summer – and, luckily, it’s a long one for most.

The Labor Day holiday allows for one final seasonal extravaganza before the trek toward fall. Unfortunately for many of us, the vacation budget is long spent and, combined with back-to-school shopping, our wallets are too blown out for a blowout.

But it doesn’t have to cost a lot (or anything) to fete the fleeting summer in the Valley and Mother Lode. Sure, many folks will pack up the trailer for their final camping trip of the year, and others will host family and friends in their backyards for a barbecue.

But still others will just want to get out and about to mark summer’s end – and there’s still plenty of fun to be had across the Modesto and Mother Lode regions:

Farmers Markets

Don’t worry, many of the region’s farmers markets continue through fall and even beyond, but a leisurely morning stroll amid booths filled with the final fruits and veggies of the summer harvest just feels like the right start for a Labor Day weekend, doesn’t it?

With farm fare at prices that cut out the middle man, it’s also the perfect way to gather fresh ingredients for your Labor Day grilling plans (try grilled stone fruit for your Labor Day barbecue dessert –yum!). Many communities have markets during weekday evenings, but Modesto and Turlock both have markets open for business on Saturday morning.

In Modesto, the downtown market runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 16th Street, between H and I streets.

Turlock has the Turlock Certified Farmers Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds.

Places to check out

Getting out and about doesn’t have to cost a lot or require great effort. Here are three inexpensive-to-free places to visit:

Great Valley Museum and Planetarium: If you haven’t stopped by this Modesto treasure, stop and ask yourself, “Why not?!”

It’s a great way to entertain the kids and you might just find what’s in there fascinating as well. Filled with information on the numerous native plants and wildlife, the museum offers plenty to see and learn with breathtaking native habitat displays, a discovery room, Science on a Sphere 3-D globe, an interactive periodic table, and more. On Saturdays, the museum’s planetarium is open for public shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The museum has Saturday hours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The museum and planetarium are on the Modesto Junior College West Campus, 2201 Blue Gum Ave. It’s a cheap way to entertain yourself and/or the whole family: parking is free on Saturdays with museum admission $3 to $5, $15 for a family of up to six; planetarium shows are $4 to $6.

Calaveras Big Trees State Park – Spend a day walking among the two groves of giant sequoias at this picturesque state park. There are campgrounds, picnic areas and miles of hiking, biking and cross country trails amid the massive natural wonders.

The park’s visitors center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday through Labor Day. There you can check out visual and hands-on exhibits about the park’s history and natural environment.

Columbia State Historic Park – It doesn’t cost a thing to walk through this living Gold Rush town, where you can see the largest collection of Gold Rush-era structures in the state. Visitors travel back in time and experience the 1850s while panning for gold, exploring exhibits, riding a stagecoach and learning about California history on guided tours.

Free town tours start at 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tours meet at the town’s museum and last about an hour. For more, see www.visitcolumbiacalifornia.com.

Water fun

An end-of-summer splash just might be in order and there are plenty of options in the region. It’s always important to note that water activities come with inherent dangers and life vests should be worn by everyone at every age, whether on a boat or in the water.

Rafting: The rafting season runs through the end of September on the Stanislaus River. Get professional guidance for this kind of adventure, whether for beginners or more experienced rafters. Excursions head out from Knights Ferry and from Orange Blossom Park in Oakdale. For reservations and more information, check out stanislausriver.com/rafting.

Reservoirs: Two popular county reservoirs also offer fun in the water.

Woodward Reservoir is on 26-Mile Road north of Oakdale. Recreation includes swimming, fishing, boating and water/jet skiing. Facilities at Woodward also include more than 100 campsites, concessions, picnic shelters and a radio control airplane field. www.stancounty.com/parks/reservoir.shtm.

On Reservoir Road off Highway 132 just east of Waterford, the Modesto Reservoir provides water for the Modesto Irrigation District. But the park also offers plenty of summer activities including camping, swimming, boating, fishing, picnic areas and an archery range. www.stancounty.com/parks/reservoir.shtm.

Festivals

A few community festivals are set for Labor Day Weekend. The first, a colorful balloon festival that’s also a benefit, might not be the cheapest option in the region, but it is one of the biggest.

Soaring Over Ripon – Sept. 2-4: Previously known as Color the Skies, this annual hot air balloon and kite festival features tethered balloon rides, a carnival and more. The carnival kicks off the events from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and also runs from 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday The bulk of the colorful festival runs 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday with the balloon rides beginning around 8 a.m. (depending on the weather). The 5K and 10K runs begin Saturday at 7:30 a.m. and the children’s fun runs begin at 9:30 a.m. Set for both days are live entertainment, kite shows, train rides, food and craft vendors and more. $20 presale, $30 at the event. Proceeds benefit the Ripon community and Valley Children’s hospitals. Soaring Over Ripon is held at Mistlin Sports Park, 1201 W. River Road, Ripon. www.riponchamber.org/chamber_foundation/color_the_skies.aspx.

Newman Fall Festival – Sept. 2-5: Newman says farewell to summer and hello to fall with its 46th community celebration. Events include a bake-off contest, bath tub races, kids zone, food booths, tournaments, arts and crafts, demonstrations and live music. A carnival opens Friday from noon to 11 p.m. and also runs 9 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the festival, to be held at Pioneer Park, 1250 Tulare St. in Newman, is free. For more, call 209-451-2815.

Labor Day Weekend Arts & Crafts Festival – Sept. 3-4: The Mother Lode town of Arnold holds its end-of-summer celebration among the pine trees. Beer and food to sample, booths filled with art as well as crafts, face painting and live music pepper the event both days. Performers include Modesto band Homegrown and juggling by Catch it Quick. The fest is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday on the grounds of Bristol’s Ranch House Cafe, 961 Highway 4 in Arnold. Admission is free.

This story was originally published August 26, 2016 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Last gasp of summer fun in the Modesto region."