Modesto CA area May festivals: meals, music, household enjoyable

May brings a few of the greatest and hottest spring festivals and celebrations within the better Modesto area.

The month’s promise of sunshine and hotter temperatures simply brings out one of the best, it appears.

However, one of many Modesto area’s hottest — the Skies the Limit Ceres Hot Air Balloon Festival — is taking a break for 2026, based on a submit on its Instagram page.

“Our team is taking 2026 as a planning and fundraising year so we can come back bigger, better, and more spectacular than ever for our community,” the submit says. “This beloved event means so much to Ceres and the Central Valley, and we’re already hard at work preparing for an amazing comeback.”

The submit guarantees a Skies the Limit return in 2027.

There stays a number of festivals and occasions deliberate for May celebrating cultures, meals, music (together with the big-draw Modesto Porchfest), recreation, beer, apricots and – sure – even frogs.

Here’s a take a look at simply a few of what’s set:

MODESTO RECFEST – May 2: An all-ages celebration of out of doors recreation contains actions reminiscent of a youth fishing clinic, paddling, bicycle rides, mountain climbing, birdwatching, orienteering and disc golf. There can be gear demonstrations, guided adventures and academic workshops. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Gateway Park, 100 tenth St., Modesto. Free. 209-236-0330.

CINCO DE MAYO PARADE AND CELEBRATION – May 2: South Modesto Businesses United presents its annual parade on Crows Landing Road celebrating the “Day of the Battle of Puebla.” The parade is ready to start at 11 a.m. Free. For extra data or to take part within the parade, name 209-566-2300.

MODESTO TACO FEST – May 2: Get your fill as greater than 40 distributors participate within the pageant. Also deliberate for the day-into-evening occasion in downtown are Chihuahua races, ballet folklorico, luchadors, drinks, reside music and extra. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. I Street between eleventh and twelfth streets and on twelfth Street between J and I streets, Downtown Modesto. $20 advance. modestotacofest.com.

BITES & BEATS FESTIVAL – May 2: Hughson Arboretum & Gardens presents its fundraiser with meals distributors, music and extra. Big Earl and the Cryin’ Shame will carry out from 4-6 p.m., Ritmo Mix from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Participants ought to take chairs and/or blankets. 2490 Euclid Ave, Hughson. $25 per carload presale, $30 per carload on the gate. hughsonarboretum.org.

CERES STREET FAIRE – May 2-3: This 12 months’s truthful contains meals, leisure, automotive exhibits and distributors. A traditional automotive present can be held on Saturday, with a lowrider automotive present Sunday. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Downtown Ceres. Free. cereschamberofcommerce.org/events/ceres-street-faire-2.

CAFE SHALOM – May 3: A celebration of Jewish tradition with meals, music, a bake sale, reward store and extra. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Congregation Beth Shalom, 1705 Sherwood Ave., Modesto. $25 upfront, $30 on the door, $15 ages 4-10, free ages 3 and beneath. www.cbsmodesto.org.

MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU – May 4: Modesto native George Lucas’ “Star Wars” movie saga can be celebrated. Planned are a lightsaber battle at nightfall, the Death Star piñata, reside music by Horizon Point, film characters, distributors and extra. 5-9 p.m. Tenth Street Plaza, Modesto. Free.

CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION – May 5: The West Modesto Community Collaborative holds a Cinco de Mayo luncheon to honor the tradition and contributions of farmworker and immigrant communities. Planned are music, tacos, aguas frescas and a scholar panel. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 529 California Ave, Modesto. $30. westmodestocollaborative.com.

CENTRAL VALLEY BREWFEST – May 9: More than 150 brews to pattern, together with distributors and music. There can be a VIP wine sampling tent from noon-1 p.m. Must be 21 or older to attend the pageant, which runs 1-5 p.m. Stanislaus County Fairground, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock. $45 upfront, $55 on the door, if nonetheless out there; VIP tickets $65, advance solely. Designated-driver tickets $30 upfront, $35 on the door. www.cvbrewfest.com.

MODESTO GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE & CRAFT FAIR – May 9: The occasion will function member-grown flowers, annuals, perennials, greens and succulents on the market, together with greater than 20 cubicles of handcrafted presents and meals. Plant sale 10 a.m.-2 p.m., craft truthful 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Modesto Covenant Church, 913 Floyd Ave., Modesto. Free. www.modestogardenclub.org.

MOTHER LODE ROUNDUP – May 9-10: Parade and rodeos sponsored by the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Posse. Parade Saturday at 10 a.m. alongside Washington Street in Sonora. Saturday and Sunday rodeos on the Mother Lode Fairgrounds, 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora. Rodeo tickets $28.49; $11.40 ages 4-12. www.motherloderoundup.com.

COLUMBIA DIGGINS 1852 – May 14-17: Columbia State Historic Park’s annual living-history occasion options greater than 150 costumed volunteers. Visitors expertise an 1852 mining camp re-created with interval clothes and actions. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. every day. $10, free for ages 17 and beneath. Diggins Tent Town (close to the primary parking zone). www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24249.

CALAVERAS COUNTY FAIR AND JUMPING FROG JUBILEE – May 14-17: Frogs will hop once more at this annual fest, which additionally provides a carnival, meals, leisure, rodeo, destruction derby, livestock, distributors and extra. Festival hours 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; 8 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday; 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday. Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 2465 Gun Club Road, Angels Camp. $13-$18. www.frogtown.org.

MODESTO PORCHFEST — May 17: Huge neighborhood live performance with levels arrange all through the La Loma, College and downtown neighborhoods. Homeowners host native bands and artists on porches, patios and driveways. Noon-5 p.m. Free, with tip jars out there to learn the musicians. www.modestoporchfest.com.

CASTLE AIR MUSEUM SPRING OPEN COCKPIT DAY – May 23: The former Air Force base will present an up-close take a look at outdated navy plane, together with a newly restored B-52 Stratofortress. The semiannual occasion additionally options meals distributors, a beer backyard, demonstrations by emergency companies and extra. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Castle Air Museum, 5050 Santa Fe Drive, Atwater. $25 normal admission, $20 seniors, lively or retired navy, $15 ages 6-17, free ages 5 and beneath. www.castleairmuseum.org.

ARNOLD PEDDLERS FAIRE – May 23-24: The Mother Lode neighborhood truthful returns with distributors, artwork, garden video games and extra. The Ebbetts Pass Fire Department will promote regionally brewed beer. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Bristol’s Café parking zone, 961 Highway 4, Arnold. gocalaveras.com/events/46th-annual-arnold-spring-peddlers-faire.

PATTERSON APRICOT FIESTA – May 29-31: The annual celebration contains leisure, meals and beer cubicles, a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, craft and industrial distributors, a youngsters space, an arm-wrestling match, a cornhole match, a automotive present and fireworks. Festival hours to be decided. Downtown Patterson. Free. apricotfiesta.com.

BIKE N’ TRIKE – May 30: The Modesto Children’s Museum will maintain a neighborhood trip starting at 8:30 a.m. on the venue and ending at Roosevelt Park. There can be a celebration on the park with meals, music and actions. Registration is $16.90. modestochildrensmuseum.org/bikentrike.