After 30 years, Modesto-area festival’s run is over. Here’s why
After 30 years, the Oakdale Chocolate Festival is no more.
The city’s Chamber of Commerce, which has put on the festival, postponed the event last year and has since decided to cancel it for good.
“The Oakdale Chamber of Commerce has agreed to a strategic transition from large-scale event planning to a resource-based organizational focus,” reads an emailed statement from chamber CEO Cher Bairos. “As part of this shift, we have decided to discontinue hosting the Oakdale Chocolate Festival, aligning with our commitment to better serve our members and community through enhanced resource allocation and support initiatives.”
Last year, the chamber told The Bee the event would be postponed from its regular May spot, possibly moved to the fall. But it never returned in 2023.
The chamber did hold an Oakdale Fall Festival last year to support downtown businesses, Bairos said, but it was not a replacement for the chocolate festival.
Bairos said that the chamber sent out a public survey and about 900 people responded. Responses included those questioning why a chocolate festival should be held with Hershey long gone and with not as much chocolate available at the event, she said.
Bairos said the chamber also held community meetings and the “consensus was (the festival) had run its course.”
At this point, no one else has stepped up to take over the event, she said.
The chamber started the fest in 1992 when a Hershey Company factory was located in the city, and then was called the Hershey Chocolate Festival. Hershey pulled out of Oakdale in 2008, according to Bee archives. A candy company that had been located in Oakland, moved into the former Hershey plant where it remains as Sconza Chocolates.
The Oakdale chamber continued the festival after Hershey left through 2022.
Several May festivals still coming up
There are plenty of other festivals planned for May, including some of the greater Modesto region’s most popular.
Those include Modesto Porchfest, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee and the Central Valley Brewfest.
Here’s a look at some of what’s planned:
CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION – May 3: The West Modesto Community Collaborative holds a Cinco de Mayo event with food, music and more. Guest speaker will be Cesar Alvarado-Gil, the chief campus counsel at UC Merced. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 601 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Modesto. Free, but seating is limited and must be reserved at 209-522-6902.
CINCO DE MAYO PARADE AND CELEBRATION – May 4: South Modesto Businesses United presents its annual parade on Crows Landing Road celebrating the “Day of the Battle of Puebla” from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. After, there will be a celebration at El Rematito, 3113 Crows Landing Road, from 2-6 p.m. Free. For more information or to participate in the parade, call 209-876-1921 or email smbuoficial@gmail.com, www.smbu.net.
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU – May 4: “Star Wars” and the film series’ connection to Modesto via Downey High graduate George Lucas is celebrated. There will be lightsaber battles, live music, vendors and more. 5-9 p.m. Tenth Street Plaza, Modesto. Free. www.modestoview.com.
CERES STREET FAIRE – May 4-5: Entertainment, car and RV shows, food vendors and more. New this year is a low-rider car and bicycle show May 5 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Festival hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Downtown Ceres. Free. www.ceresstreetfaire.org.
CAFE SHALOM – May 5: Celebration of Jewish food and culture with food, music, bake sale, gift shop and more. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Congregation Beth Shalom, 1705 Sherwood Ave., Modesto. $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $10 ages 4-10, free ages 3 and under. www.cbsmodesto.org.
CENTRAL VALLEY BREWFEST – May 11: More than 150 brews to sample, along with art and music. There will be a VIP wine sampling tent. Must be 21 or older to attend. Festival 1-5 p.m. with VIP entry at noon. Stanislaus County Fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway. $45 in advance, $55 at the door; VIP tickets $65, in advance only. Designated-driver tickets $25 in advance, $30 at the door. www.cvbrewfest.com.
MOTHER LODE ROUNDUP – May 11-12: Parade and rodeos sponsored by the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Posse. Parade Saturday at 10 a.m. in downtown Sonora. Saturday and Sunday rodeos at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds, 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora, beginning at 2 p.m. Kiddie Rodeo 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Rodeo tickets $10-$25; free age 6 and under. www.motherloderoundup.com.
CALAVERAS COUNTY FAIR AND JUMPING FROG JUBILEE – May 16-19: The fair also offers food, entertainment, destruction derby, livestock, vendors and more. A concert will be held 8 p.m. May 17 by country singer Ned Ledoux. 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. $12-$17; $35 carnival rides presale only. www.frogtown.org.
COLUMBIA DIGGINS 1852 — May 16-19: Columbia State Historic Park’s annual living-history event with 150 costumed volunteers. Visitors experience an 1850s mining camp re-created with period clothing and activities. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. $10 general, $2 ages 5-17. www.parks.ca.gov/Columbia.
MODESTO PORCHFEST — May 19: Stages will be set up throughout the La Loma, College and downtown neighborhoods with homeowners hosting local bands on porch, patio and driveway stages. Noon-5 p.m. Free, with tip jars available to benefit the musicians. www.modestoporchfest.com.
ARNOLD PEDDLERS FAIRE – May 25-26: The fair returns to the Mother Lode community of Arnold with more than 50 booths featuring antiques, collectibles, art, crafts, food and more. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Bristol’s Café parking lot, 961 Highway 4, Arnold. www.brotherspromotions.com.
