What To Do This Weekend in Merced,
Atwater, Turlock, Winton, McSwain

Looking for things to do this weekend in Merced, Atwater, Turlock, Winton, and McSwain? October 23 to 25, 2026 is the weekend before Halloween, and Merced County is leaning in: Zoo Boo at Applegate Park Zoo, the free Cops for Critters car show and trunk-or-treat in Merced, the Downtown Turlock Ghost Walk, farmers markets in Merced and Turlock, and two stage shows in the county's historic theatres.

This is the fourth weekend of October, and the harvest season is at its brightest: pumpkins and winter squash on every market stand, flashlight nights in the corn maze, and Halloween events popping up in every town. Friday opens with a storytime, a ghost tour in downtown Turlock, and a midnight screening in downtown Merced. Saturday is the centerpiece, with the farmers markets, a free car show and trunk-or-treat, and spooky theatre. Sunday closes slower with the pumpkin patch, a free museum, live music, and sandhill cranes at the refuge. Missed last weekend? Revisit our guide to October 16-18 for the mariachi concert, the Fall Blitz car show, and the Condit Country Benefit.

Friday, October 23

Friday offers a gentle start and a strong finish: a free library storytime in the morning, a ghost walk in Turlock after dark, and a cult-classic screening at The Merced Theatre late night.

Tiny Tales storytime at Merced Main Library

For families, the Merced County Library calendar lists Tiny Tales at the Merced Main Library (2100 O Street) on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, with a story time followed by a craft for children ages 3 to 6 with a caregiver. Friday, October 23 is a regular date on the weekly schedule, and the program is free. It is a calm way to ease into the weekend close to the farmers market route.

Downtown Turlock Ghost Walk

In Turlock, the Turlock Historical Society leads the Downtown Turlock Ghost Walk, a guided evening tour of the oldest buildings in the historic district. The walk steps off from the society's headquarters at 108 S Center Street on Friday, October 23 at 7:00 PM and continues into Saturday. It is a low-key, family-friendly way to see downtown Turlock and hear the stories behind its brick storefronts. Confirm the exact meeting time and ticket details on the official society page.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Merced Theatre

Late Friday night, The Merced Theatre, the restored Art Kamangar Center at 301 W Main Street in downtown Merced, screens The Rocky Horror Picture Show as an interactive showing at 10:00 PM. Expect the audience participation the cult classic is famous for: props, callbacks, and costumes. Tickets and show details are on the theatre's official events page.

If you are willing to make the 30-minute drive to Modesto, Montgomery Gentry featuring Eddie Montgomery plays the Gallo Center for the Arts at 7:30 PM Friday, a solid country show for the over-21 crowd.

Saturday, October 24

Saturday is the biggest day of the weekend: two farmers markets, a free car show and trunk-or-treat at the police station, a pumpkin patch open until 10:00 PM, and spooky theatre in Merced.

Merced and Turlock farmers markets

Saturday morning brings both markets. The Merced Certified Farmers Market runs from 8:00 to 11:00 AM at 16th and Canal Street in downtown Merced. The Turlock Certified Farmers Market runs the same morning from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Main Street between Palm and Center. Late October brings pomegranates, winter squash, pumpkins, and the last peppers and cut flowers of the season to the stands.

Cops for Critters car show and trunk-or-treat

The Merced Police Department hosts the Cops for Critters Car Show and Trunk-or-Treat outside the Central Police Station at 611 W 22nd Street from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Saturday, October 24. Costumed kids trick-or-treat trunk to trunk, classic cars are on display, and vendors line the lot. The city's official event page has the details, and entry is free.

Pumpkin patch and corn maze in Turlock

R.A.M. Farms at 716 N Daubenberger Road in Turlock keeps its pumpkin patch open until 10:00 PM on Saturday, October 24, with flashlight nights lighting the corn maze at dusk. The patch itself is free to enter and runs through October 31, so a Saturday evening pumpkin run is an easy add after the markets.

Night of the Living Dead at Playhouse Merced

Playhouse Merced closes its run of Night of the Living Dead this weekend, with performances at 7:30 PM Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, and a 2:00 PM Sunday matinee. The PG-13 stage adaptation brings the classic story to the historic theatre at 452 W Main Street. The 26/27 season page has showtimes and tickets.

More Halloween after dark

In Turlock, Top Notch Pet Resort at 1118 S Tegner Road hosts a free trunk-or-treat from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Saturday, listed with the season's other Turlock Halloween events. For adults, the Beats & BBQ Halloween Bash at 60 W 26th Street in Merced runs 7:00 to 11:00 PM with music, barbecue, and drinks; tickets are on Eventbrite. And Zoo Boo returns for its second evening at Applegate Park Zoo from 5:30 to 7:30 PM for families who want the early crowd.

Sunday, October 25

Sunday closes the weekend slower: a daytime pumpkin run, a free museum, a matinee, live music at The Merced Theatre, and calm water and cranes for those who want to get outside.

Pumpkin patch, museum, and a matinee

R.A.M. Farms reopens Sunday, October 25 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and daylight hours tend to be calmer than the flashlight nights. In the center of Merced, the Merced County Courthouse Museum at 21st and N Streets is free to enter and open from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, with rotating exhibits on county history in the restored 1875 courthouse. For theatre fans, Playhouse Merced's Night of the Living Dead matinee at 2:00 PM is the afternoon option, and Zoo Boo rounds out the evening at Applegate Park Zoo from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.

Kalani Pe'a at The Merced Theatre

Sunday evening, South Pacific Dance Co. presents Kalani Pe'a, the Grammy-winning Hawaiian musician, at The Merced Theatre at 7:00 PM. It is a warm, family-friendly way to end the weekend downtown.

Merced National Wildlife Refuge and Lake McSwain

For the outdoors crowd, the Merced National Wildlife Refuge off Sandy Mush Road southwest of Winton is free to visit, with a five-mile auto tour and four walking trails. Sandhill crane numbers build through October toward a winter peak of roughly 20,000 birds, so a late-afternoon drive is the classic way to see them. In the foothills east of Merced, Lake McSwain in McSwain is worth the drive for a picnic, a shoreline walk, or a kayak paddle on calm water, with the oak-covered hillsides at their best this time of year.

However you spend it, the weekend before Halloween is a good one to get out: Zoo Boo, a car show and trunk-or-treat, a ghost walk, farmers markets, pumpkins, spooky theatre, and calm foothill water, all within a short drive of Winton, Atwater, and the rest of the county. If you are staying closer to the air base, Castle Air Museum in Atwater is open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for a self-guided walk among Cold War-era aircraft. Our free things to do in Merced County guide rounds up the no-cost picks for the same weekend, our kids and teen activities post covers the family calendar, and the farmers market report for the week of October 15 keeps the market hours straight. Find the whole archive of past guides under the Weekend Guide category on the blog so you never miss a Friday.

Why a Vibrant Weekend Scene Matters for Home Sellers

A weekend calendar that includes a zoo event, a car show and trunk-or-treat, a ghost walk, two farmers markets, a pumpkin patch, two live shows, and a national wildlife refuge tells a strong story about life in Merced County. These are communities rich with recreation and quality-of-life amenities, and that is exactly what buyers experience when they tour your neighborhood.

Whether you are at Zoo Boo, the pumpkin patch, the car show, or the refuge, 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.