What To Do This Weekend in Merced
and the Central Valley

Looking for things to do this weekend in Merced and the Central Valley? October 2 to 4, 2026 brings the corn maze opening at R.A.M. Farms in Turlock, the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Applegate Park in Merced, country headliner Marty Stuart at the Turlock Community Theatre, and a Friday night comedy show at The Merced Theatre. Add the Saturday farmers markets in Merced and Turlock, plus a UC Merced Bobcats soccer match on Sunday, and the first full weekend of October is packed across Merced County.

This weekend, October arrives with cooler mornings, longer shadows, and the seasonal shift from harvest festivals to pumpkin patches and corn mazes. Friday kicks off fall attractions in Turlock and a comedy night downtown. Saturday is the centerpiece: a charity walk in the park, two farmers markets, a costumed sip-and-stroll in downtown Turlock, and a country show under the theatre lights. Sunday leaves room for the corn maze, the Bobcats, and easy family stops in Atwater and the foothills. Missed last weekend? Check out our guide to September 25-27 for Hedwig's final performances, Star Trek II at The Merced Theatre, and the Kids Discovery gala.

Friday, October 2

Friday is opening day for fall in the valley: the R.A.M. Farms corn maze opens in Turlock, and downtown Merced gets a comedy night at The Merced Theatre.

R.A.M. Farms corn maze opens in Turlock

Fall's big opening lands Friday, October 2, when R.A.M. Farms at 716 N Daubenberger Rd in Turlock opens its corn maze and fall attractions for the season. The pumpkin patch has been open since September 25 and runs through October 31 with no entry or parking fee, so grabbing a pumpkin for the porch is free and easy. The corn maze is the headline: it runs 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sunday through Thursday, with maze tickets around $12 to $16 and Freaky Flashlight Nights at dusk on Friday and Saturday. It is a classic Central Valley fall evening under the stars.

"Inside the Teacher's Lounge" at The Merced Theatre

Downtown Merced starts the weekend with a laugh: The Merced Theatre at 301 W Main Street hosts Inside the Teacher's Lounge, a night of stand-up comedy, at 8:00 PM on Friday. The show plays in the restored 1929 movie palace, the Art Kamangar Center, which is worth the ticket on its own. Make it an evening out: grab dinner at Little Oven Pizza at 433 W Main Street or Five Ten Bistro at Bob Hart Square, then walk a few blocks to the show.

Saturday, October 3

Saturday is the biggest day of the weekend: a community walk at Applegate Park, two farmers markets, a costumed stroll in downtown Turlock, and a country headliner that evening. Plan your route and your walking shoes, because it is a full day.

Walk to End Alzheimer's at Applegate Park

Start Saturday with purpose at the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's, Merced County, on the morning of October 3 at Applegate Park in Merced, off the 2500 block of P Street. Free online registration opens at 8:00 AM, the opening program begins at 9:15 AM, and the walk steps off at 9:30 AM with the Promise Garden ceremony. It is hosted by the Alzheimer's Association's Northern California chapter, welcomes all ages and abilities, and takes in a leafy loop through one of Merced's best-loved parks.

Families can stretch the morning out: Applegate Park Zoo, in the same park at 25th and R streets, is open Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The zoo re-opened in July after a renovation that added a black bear exhibit and upgraded paths, and its roughly 75 rescued animals are mostly California natives, a perfect post-walk stop for young kids.

Merced Certified Farmers Market

After the walk, swing by the Merced Certified Farmers Market, which runs every Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 AM at the corner of 16th and Canal Street in downtown Merced. Early October brings pomegranates, winter squash, late peppers, and the first decorative pumpkins to the stands alongside the last of the summer produce and cut flowers. Grab the week's groceries, then head out for the rest of the day.

Turlock Certified Farmers Market

In downtown Turlock, the Turlock Certified Farmers Market runs Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Main Street between Palm and Center, operating seasonally through mid-December. Vendors bring produce, crafts, and hot food to the closed-off block, which makes it an easy browse if you are already on the east side of the county for the corn maze.

Witch Walk Sip & Stroll downtown Turlock

From 2:00 to 6:00 PM, the Witch Walk Sip & Stroll takes over downtown Turlock. Presented by the Downtown Turlock Small Business Owners Association and starting at Little Red Door, the ticketed event is a costumed stroll with sips through participating downtown shops, a playful way to kick off the spooky season while supporting local businesses. Costumes encouraged, tickets on Eventbrite.

Freaky Flashlight Nights and a country headliner in Turlock

When the sun drops, R.A.M. Farms' Freaky Flashlight Nights light up the corn maze at dusk, with the maze open until 10:00 PM for a flashlight walk through the fall field. Later, country music's Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives headline the Turlock Community Theatre at 1574 E Canal Dr on Saturday night. Event listings put the show in the 7:00 to 7:30 PM range, so check turlocktheatre.org for the confirmed start time and tickets before you go. It closes out a full Turlock day in style.

Sierra Art Trails in the Yosemite foothills

If an artsy drive sounds better than the crowds, the Sierra Art Trails Yosemite Foothills Open Studio Tour runs its first 2026 weekend October 2 through 4 (with a second weekend October 9 through 11), daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Fine art and crafts are sold directly from artists' studios across Mariposa County, and the studio-hopping route doubles as a scenic foothills drive up Highway 140. It is a good pick for a slower Saturday with gallery doors and golden oak country along the way.

Sunday, October 4

Sunday slows things down: one more day in the corn maze, a soccer match on the UC Merced campus, planes at Castle Air Museum in Atwater, and easy fishing and hiking in the foothills near McSwain and Merced.

One more day at R.A.M. Farms

The corn maze at R.A.M. Farms runs 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Sunday, and daylight hours tend to be calmer than the flashlight nights. Pick the pumpkins you scouted on Saturday, wander the maze again, and let the kids burn off energy in the fall air before the school week.

UC Merced Bobcats women's soccer at Bobcat Field

Cheer on the home team: the UC Merced Bobcats women's soccer host Cal State San Bernardino in a California Collegiate Athletic Association match at 2:00 PM Sunday at Bobcat Field on the UC Merced campus. It is a fun way to see the university side of Merced life, with plenty of campus parking and the whole afternoon ahead after the final whistle.

Castle Air Museum in Atwater

For an easy family stop, head north to Atwater, where Castle Air Museum at 5050 Santa Fe Drive is open Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The outdoor flightline of Cold War-era bombers, fighters, and transport aircraft is one of the largest on the West Coast, and walking among the planes is a short, memorable detour from Highway 99.

Lakes and foothill air in McSwain and around Merced

If Sunday calls for open water, Lake McSwain offers fishing, picnic tables, and easy foothill scenery just east of Merced, while Lake Yosemite is open for day use for a paddle, a swim, or a shoreline walk with the Sierra foothills on the horizon. Both are a short drive from town, and the fishing is good as the water cools in early October. Quiet little Winton sits right along Highway 99 between Merced and Atwater, which puts every weekend stop, from the market to the museum, within a 15-minute drive of this corner of the county. It is a reminder of how close together Merced County's communities really are.

However you spend it, the first weekend of October is a good one to get out: pumpkins, planes, and country music, corn mazes and charity walks, and sunshine across Merced County from Winton to the foothills. For more ways to enjoy the area, revisit our weekend guide for September 25-27, and find the whole archive of past guides under the Weekend Guide category on the blog so you never miss a Friday.

Already planning ahead? Monica's newest guide covers October 9 through 11: the Fall Classic Lake McSwain Trout Derby, UC Merced Bobcats soccer Friday at Bobcat Field and Sunday in Turlock, and the Saturday farmers markets. Read the full weekend guide for October 9-11 to plan the second weekend of fall.

Why a Vibrant Weekend Scene Matters for Home Sellers

A weekend calendar that includes a corn maze and pumpkin patch, a charity walk in a beloved city park, a restored 1929 movie palace, a country concert, a college soccer match, and an open studio art tour tells a powerful story about life in Merced County. These are communities rich with culture, recreation, and quality-of-life amenities that make people want to put down roots, and that is precisely what buyers experience when they tour your neighborhood.

Whether you are walking the maze at R.A.M. Farms, pacing the loop at Applegate Park, or catching a match at Bobcat Field, you are living the local story that sells homes. When it is time to list, having an agent who knows these communities from the inside out makes the difference between a for-sale sign and a sold sign. If you are considering selling your home in Merced County, schedule a free consultation with Monica Franks, The Seller's Agent, and learn more about Monica's approach on her about page.