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A pumpkin you paint, a pumpkin you pick out of a pool, or a bag of candy downtown: the weekend of October 16–18, 2026 gives families a head start on Halloween. There’s live music, too, with Stan State’s fall choral concert Friday night. The main decision comes early—Friday’s two Turlock events overlap.
Here are four picks from our community events calendar, plus a Monday-night concert worth putting on the calendar now. All times are Pacific.
- Friday, 7–8 p.m.: Free pumpkin painting at the Carnegie Arts Center.
- Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Stan State’s Fall Choral Concert.
- Saturday, noon–3 p.m.: Pool of Pumpkins in Patterson.
- Sunday, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.: Downtown Trunk-or-Treat at Central Park.
Friday: A Free Pumpkin Party at the Carnegie
The Carnegie’s Family Friday Pumpkin Party runs October 16, 7–8 p.m. Families will paint and decorate pumpkins and have a pumpkin treat. The center provides one small pumpkin per person while supplies last, and admission is free. Turlock Dental Care sponsors the Family Friday program.
Go to 250 N. Broadway, Turlock. Parking is available along North Broadway and in nearby lots; accessible spaces are behind the center on Florence Street.
For more about the exhibitions on view, see our Carnegie preview.
Friday: Hear the Fall Choral Concert at Stan State
Stan State’s Fall Choral Concert begins Friday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. in Snider Music Recital Hall. General admission is $12; students, seniors and military members with ID pay $8. Buy or reserve seats through the Music Department’s ticket page. At-door sales generally start 30 minutes before the performance.
The campus address is 1 University Circle, Turlock. Use the university’s Music Building location page to find the hall within the Arts Building complex. Snider is a 312-seat hall; the campus map also links to its floor plan.
This conflicts with the Pumpkin Party: the concert starts halfway through Carnegie’s 7–8 p.m. event. Pick the evening you want rather than expecting to attend both in full.
Saturday: Pick a Pumpkin from the Pool in Patterson
Patterson’s Pool of Pumpkins takes the pumpkin-patch idea into the aquatic center. The city advertises a floating patch and treats on Saturday, October 17, noon–3 p.m.
The important price detail is that admission and pumpkins are separate: $1 per entry and $4 per pumpkin. Four entries and two pumpkins would total $12.
The Patterson Aquatic Center is at 1025 W. Las Palmas Avenue, Patterson. For facility questions, call the aquatics team at 209-895-8188.
Sunday: Downtown Trunk-or-Treat Before Lunch
Alegria Performing Arts Academy’s Downtown Trunk-or-Treat is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Central Park, 115 S. Golden State Boulevard, Turlock. The Chamber’s listing promises games, candy and performances.
The listing does not state an admission price; Alegria is the event contact at 925-980-5683.
Since you’re already downtown, you can follow it with lunch. Our Shopping & Dining guide links to local restaurant pages, menus and directions.
One More Date: Monday Night Jazz
The Fall Jazz Concert follows on Monday, October 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Snider Music Recital Hall. Regular admission is again $12, or $8 for students, seniors and military with ID. Use the same ticket service for reservations.
For additional dates, open the Local Turlock Events Calendar. Each listing has its organizer link and directions, and the calendar can be filtered by category or venue.
