Evening events ready to kick off in downtown Turlock

It will be a summer of downtown Turlock love as two new outdoor evening events kick off, promising food, entertainment, art and more.

Both events get a pre-summer start next month. The Main StrEAT Food Rally kicks off Friday, and will run every first Friday of the month through Sept. 4. Then, on May 14, the Thursday Art Around Town art walk will offer a chance for artists and galleries to show off their works each second Thursday of the month through Sept. 10.

“I think Turlock is ready to host these types of events because people are looking for things to do and downtown Turlock provides the perfect venue to do them,” Trina Walley, president of the Kiwanis Club of Turlock, said in an email. Kiwanis is sponsoring the Main StrEAT Food Rally.

Food vendors and music will be set up on East Main Street, from Thor to Palm streets, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Among the vendors peddling good eats will be Doc’s Q’in Pit Stop, Hardy Appetitez, Mariah’s Fair Treats, Dale’s Gourmet Kettle Popcorn and Hamlow Farms. In addition, Main Street Footers and Ann’s Fish & Chips are planning to keep their doors open during the event, Walley said.

The free, family-friendly events will have live music on the east end of the block, closest to Palm Street. This Friday’s music will be the Van Diemen’s Band and Red Pony.

The Kiwanis club is hosting the Main StrEAT Food Rally as a fundraiser for its foundation, as well as to provide an opportunity for other nonprofits to raise money, Walley said.

While the club will benefit through sponsorship and vendor fees, “we will host other nonprofits by providing a booth to them at the food rally,” she said. “Some examples, NMR Club of Turlock High School will have our nonprofit booth this Friday selling Jura’s Pizza by the slice to raise funds for autism awareness. Then ... Pitman Key Club will be collecting beginning reader books for (the) upcoming Kiwanis literacy fair in exchange for something sweet.”

The A Book for Cannoli booth will be open for people to donate books to the literacy program in exchange for cannoli, provided by Cobblestone Bakery of Modesto and Riverbank.

Beginning May 14, the second Thursday Art Around Town walks will highlight artists, galleries and other businesses in downtown Turlock.

“About a year ago, a group of committed art enthusiasts and downtown business owners started to discuss the possibility of an evening art walk,” Carnegie Arts Center Director Lisa McDermott said in an email. “The owners of First Street Gallery and some of us at the Carnegie had been thinking about it for much longer than that, but a nexus of galleries and related venues really took shape with the opening of the Art Space on Main (a California State University, Stanislaus, satellite gallery) and The Gallery Finesse within the past year or so. Knowing that we had at least five really great spots on a walking route made this feasible.”

During these evenings, people can stroll between several art galleries on and near Main Street to view and purchase art, as well as visit businesses that host artists or musicians. Most of the galleries will offer refreshments and more, McDermott said.

“Most of the businesses who are exhibiting local artists want to have them on site to promote their work and answer questions. The Carnegie will have music on our plaza, featuring the Sunshine Strummers ukulele group. Others venues are still lining up music,” she said. “We have the support of the university’s music and theater departments to develop lots of performance opportunities at the art walks coming up in July and September, as well.”

Similar monthly art walks have become traditions in Modesto and Merced.

“Modesto’s Art Walk and Merced’s Art Hop both were events that lots of us have appreciated over the years,” McDermott said. “Turlock also has a long history of Thursday night downtown shopping. It seemed natural to build on that tradition without directly competing with the galleries in Modesto. If Thursday becomes art night in the Central Valley, it would be great!”

Among the businesses to be open for the first Art Around Town evening are the Carnegie Arts Center, 250 N. Broadway; First Street Gallery & Frame Co., 226 N. First St.; Art Space on Main, 135 W. Main St.; The Gallery Finesse, 128 N. Center St.; The Community Art Gallery at Rex Klein Insurance Services, 132 S. Center St.; and Colossal Tattoo, 429 E. Main St. More businesses may join the walk; a full lineup is available on the event’s Facebook page, search for Art Around Town, Turlock.

This story was originally published April 29, 2015 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Evening events ready to kick off in downtown Turlock."