What To Do This Weekend in Merced
and the Central Valley

Looking for things to do this weekend in Merced and the Central Valley? September 25 to 27, 2026 brings the final performances of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Playhouse Merced, a Friday night anniversary gala for the Kids Discovery Station, and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at The Merced Theatre on Saturday. It is also the weekend fall officially arrives in Merced County: R.A.M. Farms opens its pumpkin patch in Turlock on Friday, and CoyoteFest brings its car show and Howling Contest to Coulterville's Main Street in Mariposa County on Saturday. Here is your day-by-day guide to September 25 through 27.

This weekend sits at the hinge between late summer and fall: the melon festivals have wrapped, school and sports are in full swing, and the first pumpkin patches and harvest events of the season are opening across the valley. Friday offers a milestone anniversary celebration and a final-weekend opening night downtown, Saturday packs the most variety from farmers market to sci-fi cinema to a foothill street festival, and Sunday is built around closing nights, an open-air cleanup in Yosemite, and a rock show for anyone up for the drive. Missed the festival wave last weekend? Check out our guide to September 18-20 for the Turlock Melon Carnival, the Fall Turlock Swap Meet, and Jazz Under the Stars at Vista Ranch.

Friday, September 25

Friday opens with two headliners in downtown Merced: a fifth anniversary gala for the Kids Discovery Station and the final-weekend opening night of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Playhouse Merced. Out in Turlock, the season's first pumpkin patch opens its gates.

Kids Discovery Station 5th anniversary gala

The Kids Discovery Station, Merced's interactive children's museum, celebrates five years with 5 Years, Infinite Wonder, a fundraiser and gala from 5:00 to 9:00 PM on Friday, September 25, at 350 W Yosemite Ave in Merced. The evening pairs live and silent auctions with entertainment and food, and proceeds support the hands-on exhibits and family programs that have made the museum a downtown fixture. Tickets and details are on the museum's website.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch, final weekend opening night

Playhouse Merced at 452 W Main Street continues its run of the Tony-winning rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch with the first of its final three performances on Friday night. The show, which opened September 18, closes Sunday, September 27, so this weekend is the last chance to see it before the season moves on. Tickets are available through the Playhouse box office at playhousemerced.com.

Make it an evening out: grab dinner downtown at Five Ten Bistro at Bob Hart Square or Little Oven Pizza at 433 W Main Street, then walk a few blocks to the theater. If you are saving the show for the weekend, Friday is also a quiet night to enjoy the gala crowd and an early downtown dinner before the busy days ahead.

R.A.M. Farms pumpkin patch opens in Turlock

Fall officially begins Friday, September 25, when R.A.M. Farms at 716 N Daubenberger Rd in Turlock opens its pumpkin patch for the season. The patch runs through October 31 with no entry or parking fees, which makes it an easy first fall outing for families; the corn maze and other attractions open October 2. Grab a pumpkin for the porch and let the kids wander the rows, then plan a return trip as the maze season gets going. For more on life in the area, browse the Turlock community overview from Monica Franks.

Saturday, September 26

Saturday is the weekend's centerpiece: two farmers markets in the morning, a classic sci-fi film at The Merced Theatre in the evening, ukulele music at The MAC, and a Gold Rush street festival in Coulterville. Plan your route and your sunscreen, because it is a full day.

Merced Certified Farmers Market

Start Saturday morning at 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. Late September is the tail of the stone-fruit season and the heart of the fall harvest: tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, and early pumpkins share the stands with cut flowers. Grab the week's produce, 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 streets, operating seasonally through mid-December. Vendors bring produce, crafts, and hot food to the closed-off block, making it an easy browse if you are on the east side of the county after the pumpkin patch.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at The Merced Theatre

At 7:00 PM on Saturday, The Merced Theatre at 301 W Main Street screens Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, the 1982 classic widely ranked as the best of the Star Trek films. The restored movie palace, which opened in 1929 and is one of the oldest operating theaters in the valley, is the right room for a big-screen rewatch, and the screening is part of the Merced Sun-Star's September events roundup. Pair it with a downtown dinner and make an evening of it.

Bear Creek Ukulele Society at The MAC

For a relaxed creative break, the Merced Multicultural Arts Center at 645 W Main Street hosts the Bear Creek Ukulele Society on Saturday. The group's lively mix of classic and modern tunes fills the historic arts center's galleries, and the building is worth a browse on its own. Check artsmerced.org for the start time and any admission details, then wander the exhibits while you are there.

CoyoteFest in Coulterville

Up in Mariposa County, the annual CoyoteFest takes over Coulterville's Main Street on Saturday, traditionally held the last weekend of September. The street festival benefits the Northern Mariposa County History Center and brings a classic car show, live music, the official Howling Contest, artisan and food vendors, a kids area, and a parade through the Gold Rush town about 10 miles north of Mariposa. It is a scenic drive from the valley floor and a genuinely small-town way to spend a fall afternoon.

Back in Mariposa town on Saturday evening, the Grove House Music Venue runs its free open mic from 4:00 to 10:00 PM, with sign-ups around 6:00 PM and the show at 6:30 PM. It is a low-key way to hear local musicians before the drive home.

Sunday, September 27

Sunday is built for a gentler close: the final curtain for Hedwig in Merced, the last day of the Yosemite Facelift volunteer cleanup, planes and history at Castle Air Museum in Atwater, and a rock show in Modesto for anyone up for one more night out.

Hedwig's closing curtain at Playhouse Merced

After a ten-day run, Hedwig and the Angry Inch takes its final bow at Playhouse Merced on Sunday evening, September 27, at 452 W Main Street. The rock musical closes its season run with the Sunday performance, so this is the last chance to catch the high-energy show. Tickets are available through the Playhouse box office, and Sunday night in downtown Merced is the perfect excuse for one more dinner out.

Yosemite Facelift final day

Sunday also closes the annual Yosemite Facelift, the volunteer cleanup organized by the Yosemite Climbing Association from September 23 to 27 in Yosemite Valley. Volunteers pick up litter and help restore the park ahead of the winter season, with evening talks by climbers and entertainment through the week. It is one of the park's biggest volunteer weekends of the year, and a meaningful way to give back if you can spare the day. The drive from Merced into Yosemite Valley takes you through Mariposa on Highway 140, an easy route for the day.

Castle Air Museum in Atwater

If the kids still have energy, head north to Atwater, where Castle Air Museum at 5050 Santa Fe Drive is open Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The museum's outdoor collection of Cold War-era bombers, fighters, and transport aircraft is one of the largest on the West Coast, and the flightline makes an easy, family-friendly afternoon a short drive from Merced.

Trapt at Twin Rivers Saloon in Modesto

If you are willing to drive about half an hour north, rock band Trapt takes the stage at 5:00 PM on Sunday at Twin Rivers Saloon, a bar-and-grill live-music venue at 7000 Maze Blvd in Modesto on Highway 99. Known for the early-2000s rock anthem Headstrong, Trapt plays with regional openers for a hard-rock close to the weekend. Tickets are available through the venue and ticket outlets, so check the listings before you head north.

Whether you spend Saturday morning at the Canal Street market and the afternoon at a foothill street festival, or save the weekend for pumpkins and a final night of theater, September 26 and 27 have plenty to fill. It is a weekend that shows off what makes this corner of the Central Valley a good place to live, work, and sell.

Why a Vibrant Weekend Scene Matters for Home Sellers

A weekend calendar that includes a children's museum gala, a final weekend of a Tony-winning rock musical, a classic sci-fi film at a 1929 movie palace, and the first pumpkin patch of the season 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 browsing produce at the Canal Street market, watching a movie under the Merced Theatre's lights, or picking pumpkins in Turlock, 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.