Stockton Restaurant Week, Disney on Ice's Frozen & Encanto: 10 things to do in winter 2024

Angelaydet Rocha, The Stockton Record
Updated ·5 min read
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Enjoy the new year by attending new events and creating new memories through lived experiences.

The new year is full of them from the ongoing Stockton Lantern Festival to the annual Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend or the Stockton Brick Convention Lego Fan Expo.

Here are 10 events you don't want to miss this winter.

Stockton Lantern Festival

Hundreds of brightly colored, enchanted and whimsical lanterns greet visitors during a sneak peek opening of the Stockton Lantern Festival at the Stockton Ballpark in downtown Stockton on Nov. 20, 2023. The festival opens on Nov. 24 and runs through Jan. 14, 2024.
Hundreds of brightly colored, enchanted and whimsical lanterns greet visitors during a sneak peek opening of the Stockton Lantern Festival at the Stockton Ballpark in downtown Stockton on Nov. 20, 2023. The festival opens on Nov. 24 and runs through Jan. 14, 2024.

The Stockton Lantern Festival continues in downtown Stockton through January 14. The Stockton Ballpark transformed into Koda's Journey to the Magic Forest with over 20,000 LED lights.

"Follow the footsteps of an 8-year-old boy named Koda to take on an exciting adventure to the deep woods of Caballococha, Peru," the Stockton Live website states. "The lines of reality and imagination start to blur as you weave through the forest."

Tickets are now on sale on Ticketmaster starting at $20 for adults and $16 for children ages 2 to 12. Prices are lower from Monday through Thursday. On Friday through Sunday, ticket prices are $25 for adults and $21 for children.

  • Location: Stockton Ballpark, 404 W. Fremont St. in Stockton

  • Hours: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 14

  • Information: stocktonlive.com

Stockton Restaurant Week

Go Falafel Greek Food, located on the Miracle Mile at 236 W Alpine Avenue, will be participating in the 2022 Stockton Restaurant Week from Jan. 14 to Jan. 23.
Go Falafel Greek Food, located on the Miracle Mile at 236 W Alpine Avenue, will be participating in the 2022 Stockton Restaurant Week from Jan. 14 to Jan. 23.

Stockton Restaurant Week is back on Jan. 19 through Jan. 28.

The 10-day dining extravaganza is presented by Visit Stockton. This dining experience is an opportunity for local restaurants to showcase "their most popular dishes and/or newly curated dishes at a unique fixed-price," the Visit Stockton website states.

Participants have the opportunity to win a $50 gift card when they enter the Stockton Restaurant Week Gift Card contest.

  • Location: Various participating restaurants in Stockton

  • Dates: Jan. 19 through Jan. 28

  • Information: visitstockton.org

Disney on Ice presents Frozen & Encanto at the Adventist Health Arena

Alexe Gilles as Elsa from "Frozen" in the Disney on Ice show "Dream Big" DISNEY, FELD ENTERTAINMENT
Alexe Gilles as Elsa from "Frozen" in the Disney on Ice show "Dream Big" DISNEY, FELD ENTERTAINMENT

The Adventist Health Arena in Stockton will be transforming into "Disney on Ice presents Frozen & Encanto" at the Adventist Health Arena in February.

Tickets start at $20.

  • Location: Adventist Health Arena, 248 W. Fremont St. in Stockton

  • Hours: times vary, Feb. 1 through Feb. 4

  • Information: stocktonlive.com

Lodi Wine and Chocolate Weekend

Wine is poured at the wine tasting area at the annual Grape Festival in Lodi.
Wine is poured at the wine tasting area at the annual Grape Festival in Lodi.

The annual Lodi Wine & Chocolate Weekend is back for its 27th year. This is the perfect spot for handcrafted Lodi wines and chocolates to accompany your wine. This is a self-guided tour with more than 30 local wineries participating.

This is a 21+ event with different experiences over three days.

Stockton Brick Convention Lego Fan Expo

Botanical legos are seen, made by Amado Canlas Pinlac, at the Brick Convention at Greenville Shrine Club on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. Pinlac travels with the convention, showing his Lego work around the country.
Botanical legos are seen, made by Amado Canlas Pinlac, at the Brick Convention at Greenville Shrine Club on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. Pinlac travels with the convention, showing his Lego work around the country.

A new convention will be in town this February in Stockton.

The Stockton Brick Convention Lego Fan Expo will be at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. This two-day experience will be the perfect event for those who love anything LEGO.

There will be play areas, games, and meet-and-greets with LEGO artists, vendors and LEGO accessories.

"A portion of the proceeds from each Brick Convention is donated to Creations for Charity," the Brick Convention website states.

  • Location: San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton

  • Dates: Saturday, Feb. 3 and Sunday, Feb. 4

  • Information: brickconvention.com

Sopas de Amor at the Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery

The Latin Soul band performs at the Mexican Heritage Center's 4th annual De Los Muertos Street Fiesta in downtown Stockton on Oct. 28, 2023. The event, at the intersection of Market and Sutter streets, celebrates Mexican culture and remembers past ancestors. Altars, or offends were on display as well as the car show. A Catrina pageant accompanied musical acts as well as food and crafts vendors.

On Tuesday, Feb. 9 the Annual Sopas de Amor event will take place at the Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery.

With 15 unique soups made by local restaurants highlighting different regions of Mexico. The evening will also include entertainment, art sales and raffles.

Tickets are $40 per person in support of the Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery.

  • Location: Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery, 111 S. Sutter St. in Stockton

  • Hours: 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9

  • Information: mexicanheritagecenter.org/

Ripon Almond Blossom Festival

Miss Almond Blossom princesses ride in the annual Almond Blossom Festival parade in downtown Ripon on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The parade is the centerpiece of the 4-day festival.
Miss Almond Blossom princesses ride in the annual Almond Blossom Festival parade in downtown Ripon on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. The parade is the centerpiece of the 4-day festival.

The annual Ripon Almond Blossom Festival will take place Feb. 22 through Feb. 25 this year. From a queen coronation to carnival fun. This is a family-friendly event in Ripon presented by the Chamber of Commerce.

There will also be a parade and a 1 mile and 8k races.

Stocktoncon Winter

Ben Clark of Sacramento, left, dressed as Endgame Thor and his sister Kaycee Clark dressed as She-Hulk at StocktonCon Winter at the Stockton Arena in downtown Stockton on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. This is the fifth year for Stockton's winter celebration of pop culture. StocktonCon Summer will return to the arena for its 11th year on July 8-9, 2023.
Ben Clark of Sacramento, left, dressed as Endgame Thor and his sister Kaycee Clark dressed as She-Hulk at StocktonCon Winter at the Stockton Arena in downtown Stockton on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. This is the fifth year for Stockton's winter celebration of pop culture. StocktonCon Summer will return to the arena for its 11th year on July 8-9, 2023.

Stocktoncon Winter is back another season with artists, exhibitors, special guests and vendors. Dress in your best cosplay and head over to the Adventist Health Arena for a two-day event.

Online pre-sale tickets start at $15 for one day and $20 for two days, plus fees. Children 12 years old and under enter for free with a paying adult.

  • Location: Adventist Health Arena, 248 W. Fremont St. in Stockton

  • Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Feb. 25

  • Information: stocktoncon.com/

Annual Quilt and Fiber Arts Show

Dee Nietschke, left, and Shannon Petersen with Project Linus gives free quilts to newly adopted brothers John,13, left, and Jeremiah, 10, Nunez at the 24th annual Adoption Saturday at the county courthouse in downtown Stockton on Nov. 18, 2023. 20 families adopted children during the event.
Dee Nietschke, left, and Shannon Petersen with Project Linus gives free quilts to newly adopted brothers John,13, left, and Jeremiah, 10, Nunez at the 24th annual Adoption Saturday at the county courthouse in downtown Stockton on Nov. 18, 2023. 20 families adopted children during the event.

The Manteca Quilters present the annual Quilt and Fiber Arts Show. A two-day event with "more than 100 quilts, soft dolls, and wearable arts exhibits."

There will be a cafe, vendors and raffle baskets.

Jurassic Quest at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds

Jurassic Quest is a "Dino event" with "life-size dinosaurs" and "stationary dinosaur rides." This is a two-day event at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.

  • Location: San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, 1658 .S Airport Way in Stockton

  • Hours: noon to 8 p.m. Friday, March 22, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 23 and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 24

  • Information: tickets.jurassicquest.com

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Restaurant Week. Disney on Ice, 8 other events to do in 2024