From jumping frogs to street fairs, it’s here
All year in the Lodi, Delta and Mother Lode areas, events, festivals and venues offer a nearly endless variety of live entertainment reflecting the rich diversity of the region.
From large venues like Hutchins Street Square to small coffee houses, live entertainment is flourishing in the Lodi-area. From blues to jazz to classic rock, whatever your taste is, it can be heard somewhere in San Joaquin County and surrounding areas.
Here is where live entertainment can be found:
Lodi area
Hutchins Street Square, 125 N. Hutchins St. Musicals, concerts, plays and special celebrity performances year-round.
Nighttime Live — Live cabaret Friday night concert series showcases local and regional music talent in a nightclub-style atmosphere throughout January to March. For more information, call 367-5442.
The Back Bay, 100 N. Cherokee Lane. Piano music 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Free admission. For more information, call 334-3565.
Casablanca, 20 W. Elm St. Piano music 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Free admission. For more information, call 339-9825.
Field of Beans Coffee House, 720 W. Lodi Ave. Intermittent musical attractions. For more information, call 368-1141.
Garry’s Lounge, 13 S. School St. Live music. Free admission. For more information, call 333-9794.
Golden Acorn Restaurant, 809 Crystal Way, Galt. Jazz 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Free admission. For more information, call 745-2330.
It’s a Grind Coffee House, 10420 Twin Cities Road, Galt. Intermittent. For more information, call 744-9770.
Jessie’s Grove Winery, 1973 W. Turner Road. Groovin’ in the Grove summer concerts, Saturdays. Barbecue, live music and wine tasting. For more information, call (877) 888-8448.
Mojo’s, 114 N. Sacramento St. Live blues and jazz music Thrusdays and some Sundays. For more information, call 365-6947.
Movie City, 27 W. Elm St., Lodi. Live blues and jazz music 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays. For more information, call 365-1043.
Rosewood Bar & Grill, 28 S. School St. Live music 7 to 11 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. Free admission. For more information, call 369-0470.
Round House Tavern, 104 E. Lodi Ave. Live new age and classic rock music on Saturdays. Free admission. For more information, call 333-6060Wine & Roses, 2505 W. Turner Road. Piano music 6 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Free admission. For more information, call 334-6988.
The Delta
Hotel Del Rio, 209 2nd St. (Highway 160), Isleton. Live blues music at 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call (916) 777-6033.
Sunset Bar & Grill, Tower Park Marina, Terminous. Live music 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays. Free admission. For more information, call 369-1041, ext. 235.
Moore’s Riverboat, 106 W. Brannan Island Road, Isleton. Live music at 8:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Blues jam 4 to 7 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call (916) 777-4884.
Festivals in Lodi and surrounding areas
May
Strawberry Festival, May 22-23, Galt. Arts and crafts, strawberry products, Strawberry Festival Fun Run, live entertainment, carnival rides and Kids Fun Zone. For more information, call 744-2199.
Pacific Rim Street Festival: The 12th anniversary of the Pacific Rim Street Festival kicks off in Old Sacramento with a grand collection of Asian martial-arts demonstration, acrobats, authors and plenty of Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Indian, Korean, Chinese and Thai foods. For more information, call (916) 558-3912.
Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee, held over Memorial Day weekend (this year it’s May 28 to 31), this is one of the most important jazz festivals in the country. Spread out over scores of venues in the historical Old Sacramento area, jazz buffs will get fill of everything from progressive to Dixieland. Regional and national jazz musicians by the hundreds convene at this annual event. Food vendors abound. Lodging available. For more information, call (916) 372-5277.
June
Art on the Square, June 5, Hutchins Street Square, Lodi. Annual art, music and wine festival where local artists display their creativity among food, music and fun. Wine tasting, hands-on workshops and food vendors. For more information, call 367-5442.
Al the Wop’s Chili Cookoff, June 7 makes the fourth time for this annual event held in the roped-off streets of historic town of Locke.
Sausage & Wine Festival, June 13, Downtown Lodi. Italian street festival featuring craft vendors, live entertainment, freshly prepared Italian cuisine, wine tasting from 20 wineries, car show and lots of sausage. For more information, call 369-8052.
Crawdad Festival, June 19-20 in Isleton. All things Cajun at this crustacean event, including live music, entertainment and a ton of crawdads. Food vendors, crafts, art and games. For more information, call (916) 777-5880 or visit the Web site at www.isleton.coc.org.
Calaveras Wine Association’s Passport Weekend, June 18-20. This annual fund-raising event for the association’s high school scholarship programs includes wine tasting a variety of programs at participating wineries. There is an art and wine auction at Ironstone Vineyards plus a dinner hosted by Stevenot Winery, both in Murphys. Advance reservations a must. Call, 736-6722 or (800) 255-3764, ext. 25 or visit online at www.calaveraswines.org.
Obon Festival, will be held June 26-27 at the Buddhist Church of Lodi. Japanese food, music, Taiko drums, drafts and more. For more information, call 368-5589.
Downtown Farmers Market and Festival, every Thursday from June to September on School Street between Oak & Elm streets in downtown Lodi. An old-fashioned farmers market featuring fresh vegetables, fruits and other items, including crafts, all sold from smartly decorated booths lining the streets of the historic downtown section of Lodi. For more information, call 369-8052, or visit the downtown Lodi Web site.
Mondavi Summerfest, June 26-Aug. 14. Annual celebration of summer, wine and music presented by the Napa Valley Symphony League held at Robert Mondavi’s famed Woodbridge Winery. For more information, call 365-2839.
July
Celebrate America, July 3, Hutchins Street Square’s west lawn, 125 S. Hutchins St. Annual pre-July 4 event in which citizens pay homage to their country. For more information, call the Hutchins Street Square box office, 339-8119 or 367-5442.
Oooh! Aahhh! Festival, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 4, Lodi Lake, at Mills Avenue and Turner Road Lodi’s annual, old-fashioned picnic and spectacular fireworks celebration marking the birthday of the United States. For more information, call 368-4626.
Garlic Festival, late July, Gilroy. Seven million cloves is be served on Gourmet Alley at the annual event. For more information, call (408) 842-6436.
Bethel Island 50’s Bash Car & Motorcycle Show, July 17-18. Saturday, July 17 is the car show and Sunday, July 18 is the motorcycle show. Activities include live music, catfish races, food and vendor booths. For additional information call (916) 684-3220.
August
California Dry Bean Festival, Aug. 7-8, Tracy. Two-day event with emphasis on beans. Children’s area, car show, motorcycle show, arts and crafts, food, plus the bean-tasting pavilion and chili cook-off. For more information, call 835-2131, or visit online at www.tracychamber.org California State Fair, Aug. 20-Sept. 6 at the California Exposition grounds in Sacramento. The 151st annual event will have everything from wine judging to horse racing, from a midway to cooking contest to plenty of live entertainment. For more information, call (916) 263-3010 or visit online at www.bigfun.orgBoardStock 2004, Aug. 28-29 in Stockton. This annual event — which draws some 10,000 people — runs for the ninth time with events including the world wake surfing championships as well as professional freestyle motorcross, skydiving, live music. For additional information call 943-1987 or visit online at www.boardstock.com.
September
Lodi Grape Festival and Harvest Fair, Sept. 16-19, Grape Festival Grounds, Lodi. This year’s theme: “It’s a Jungle Out There.” An annual Kiddies Parade will be held in downtown Lodi at noon Sept. 18 in conjunction with the festival. For more information, contact the Grape Festival office at 369-2771, or visit the Grape Festival Web site at www.grapefestival.com.
Rodeo on the River, Sept. 11-12, Western championship rodeo in Isleton on Jackson Slough Road. Bull riding, bronc riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing, team roping, etc. Event includes Junior Pro Rodie finals. For additional infomation, call (916) 777-5880..
Master Gardener Fall Festival, Sept. 19, Utica Park, Angels Camp. Formerly known as the Zucchini Festival. Features food, educational seminars, crafts and live entertainment. For more information, call 754-6477.
October
Lodi Street Faire, Oct. 2, Downtown Lodi. Also on the first Sunday in May. Held along the closed streets of historic downtown Lodi, this all-day event features antique and craft dealers from all over Northern California along with many food booths. For more information, call 368-8992.
Rio Vista Bass Festival, Oct. 8-10 in Rio Vista. The derby has been running for more than 50 years and includes a Main Street parade, carnival, food booths, car shows, live entertainment, fireworks display and, of course, the fishing derby. For additional information, call (707) 374-2700.
Salmon Festival, Oct. 16, Lodi Lake. Exhibits, barbecue, food vendors, arts, crafts, entertainment, ceremonial dance and celebration. For more information, call 333-6890.
Downtown Lodi Safe-Halloween, Oct 31. Trick-or-treating at participating Downtown Lodi business locations followed by a Halloween Costume Contest & Parade on School and Oak streets. For more information, call 368-8992.
November
Sandhill Crane Festival, Nov. 5-7, Hutchins Street Square, Lodi. Nature tours, wildlife demos, music, dance, birds of prey, workshops, art show, storytelling, hands-on exhibits. For more information, call 367-7840.
December
Parade of Lights, date to be announced. Lodi’s spectacular Christmas parade featuring a series of spectacularly lighted floats that wind their way through historic downtown Lodi. For more information, call 369-8052.
Festival of Trees, date to be announced. Annual celebration by the San Joaquin County Historical Society saluting the brilliance of wonderfully decorated Christmas trees staged at the county museum in Micke Grove Regional Park near Lodi. For more information, call 331-2055.
Winter Wine Wander, Dec. 4-5 and 11-12. Includes wine tasting, food, gifts, live entertainment, etc. at participating wineries. For additional information call the Lodi Appellation Winery Association at (888) 700-LODI or visit online at www.lodiwines.com.
February 2005
Valentine Wine & Chocolate Weekend, Feb 12-13 in Lodi. The two day event pairs the premium wines of the Lodi Appelation with the most delectable of chocolates — a perfect combination for a Valentine Day weekend. For more information, call 368-4793 or go online at www.Lodiwine.com.
Isleton Spam Festival, Set for Feb. 20 in the small Delta town of Isleton, this “spamtacular” even takes place at the Hotel Del Rio and features the venable canned food in a highly creative cooking contest where “presentation, uniqueness and taste” can make a winner. For more information, call (916) 777-6033 or 777-5880 or e-mail inquiries to online@hoteldelrio.com.
March 2005
Lodi Spring Wine Show, March 25-26, Grape Pavilion on the Lodi Grape Festival grounds. Annual event features wine tasting with more than 40 wineries from throughout Northern California, hors d’oeuvres, music and entertainment. For more information, call 369-2771 or visit online at www.grapefestival.com.
Calaveras Celtic Faire, an annual gathering of the clans featuring traditional Scotish, Irish and Celtic crafts, food, enterainment and games will take place March 12-13 at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds in Angels Camp. For more information, see www.calaverascelticfaire.com.
April 2005
Asparagus Festival, last weekend in April, downtown Stockton. All things asparagus at the annual event, plus live music, arts and crafts, contests and entertainment. For more information, call 644-3740.
May 2005
Lodi Street Faire, the first Sunday in May (May 1, 2005) and then again on the first Sunday in October (Oct. 2, 2005). One of the largest craft, antique and collectible shows in Northern California, the event takes place along the closed streets of historic Downtown Lodi. This all-day event (8 a.m.-4 p.m.) features antique and craft dealers from all over Northern California along with many food booths. For more information, call 368-8992.
Clements-Lockeford Street Faire, in early May. Conducted along Highway 88/Jack Tone Road in the historic community of Lockeford, this events brings together many antique and collectible dealers from across the region. For more information, call 727-3142.
The Tower Park DeltaFest and Boat Show, in May. This event draws more than 10,000 visitors to ride boats, listen to live music from several bands and watch fashion shows, is held each May.
Delta Loop Fest, May 7 on Andrus Island. The event involves at all marinas in the Delta Loop and offers free feeds, wine tasting, live music, horseshoe tournament, bikini contest, kids activities, flea markets, boat displays, fishing seminars and raffles. For more information, call (916) 777-6161.
Springtime on the Farm, held yearly in early May at Micke Grove Regional Park. For more information, call 331-2055.
Celebration on Central, traditionally held in on May 15 on Lodi’s Central Avenue between Lodi Avenue and Pine Street. This multi-cultural event features entertainment, booths and food. For more information, call 333-6700.
Vines to Wine, held in mid-May. This annual celebration marking the importance of wine to the Lodi area economy and lifestyle sponsored by the Lodi Appellation Winery Association. Weekend begins with dinner at the popular Wine & Roses restaurant and inn, and continues with wine tasting, food pairings, live musical entertainment, wine education and winery bingo. For more information, call 365-0621.
Chocolate Festival, traditionally held on the third weekend in May(in 2005, it will be May 21-22) in the town of Oakdale. If you’re a lover of chocolate, then this is the place for you. There’s chocolate tasting, arts and crafts, food, entertainment and children’s activities. For more information, call 847-2244.
Jumping Frog Julbilee, held every May in the old mining town of Angels Camp (May 19-22 in 2005), this joyous celebration harkens back to the days of the rough-and-wooly days of the Gold Rush as chronicled by Mark Twain in his classic shortstory “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Highlight of the festival is the annual frog jumping contest to see which amphibian can jump the farthest. For additional information, call 736-2561.