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Downtown Events Blossoming in 2024
First Friday street fairs are back!
Since its inception in 2017, DoMo First Fridays has been a vibrant celebration of community, culture, and cuisine, evolving into a cornerstone event for downtown Modesto. As the event enters its eighth year (with the exception of 2020’s COVID hiatus), it continues to showcase the eclectic tapestry of the region, embodying the essence of what makes Modesto unique.
DoMo First Fridays has grown from a nascent idea into a dynamic two-block street fair attracting almost 3,000 people every month, serving as a platform for local artisans, food purveyors, and entertainers to share their talents with the community. The event lineup for the 2024 season promises excitement and diversity, with highlights including a rotation of local craft breweries beginning with Contentment Brewing, Apparel Graphic’s live screen-printing station with a novel Modesto-themed t-shirt design and giveaway every month, live music, and giant street games for families to enjoy, all in a series of engaging market dates from April through October.
By partnering with craft breweries such as Contentment Brewing and Track 424, we are able to take revenue generated from beer sales and put them right back into the work we do to revitalize downtown Modesto.
Our journey over the past eight years has been a labor of love fueled by the passion and creativity of our community. This year, we've taken a fresh approach, collaborating internally and with our partners to enhance the experience for entrepreneurs, patrons, and downtown businesses.
One of the key enhancements for the 2024 season is a slight decrease in registration fees for durable handmade goods vendors, reflecting research-driven adjustments. DoMo First Fridays aims to reduce barriers for craft makers, fostering a more inclusive marketplace. Downtown boutiques and nonprofits that maintain a regularly operating storefront within Downtown Improvement District boundaries can register for the market for free if their application is approved.
Artist Christopher Garcia and Apparel Graphics offer live screenprint demonstrations, sharing the craft and their goods with market attendees.
Additionally, operating hours have been adjusted to better align with community preferences, with the market now open from 5 pm to 9 pm. This change aims to accommodate the diverse needs of attendees while ensuring a seamless experience for all.
BONUS: Who keeps the downtown clean and safe, ready for community events? Read about the Downtown Ambassador team and what they do here.
The heart of DoMo First Fridays lies in its celebration of culture and community through dance. From salsa to breakdancing, the event has become a platform for showcasing diverse dance forms and fostering intergenerational connections. “The fact that you will see people of all ages dancing salsa in the streets together—I think that highlights the event's organic growth and deep roots within the community,” said Stephanie Foster, Director of District Identity at Downtown Modesto Partnership. “You cannot manufacture a scene like that. That’s human magic. And that’s why people are drawn here to First Fridays from Tracy, Sacramento, the Bay Area, and everywhere in between.”
Another beloved aspect of DoMo First Fridays is the breakdancing and hip-hop area, curated by DJ and artist Joe Zimmer, known by his artist name, "Psuno." Through workshops, performances, and community collaborations, this space celebrates hip-hop's rich history and cultural significance, inviting participants of all ages to engage with the art form.
Even though Modesto lacks a roller rink since Roller King closed in 2015, you can also now skate your heart with other roller enthusiasts at First Fridays. Modesto Skates, a pop-up roller skating event formed during Covid-era restrictions on gathering indoors, has gained popularity and a home at First Fridays, making it an unofficial pop-up roller dance rink for one night once a month during the market season.
As DoMo First Fridays enters its seventh year, it remains committed to its mission of revitalizing downtown Modesto through art, culture, and community engagement. Through partnerships, innovation, and a spirit of inclusivity, the event continues to thrive as a beacon of creativity and connection in the heart of the city.
Who helps us make DoMo First Fridays a reality? These incredible sponsors:
Valley First Credit Union | Mocse Credit Union
Apparel Graphics | Opportunity Stanislaus
City of Modesto
DoMo First Fridays 2024 Season Schedule:
April 5
May 3
June 7, no market due to American Graffiti Parade street closures throughout downtown
July 5
August 2
September 6
October 4
5 pm - 9 pm
10th and J Streets
Modesto Marathon
The Modesto Marathon returns to downtown this Sunday, March 23rd. There will be some limited street closures for the event. Learn more about Modesto Marathon here: https://modestomarathon.com/race/course/
What To Do in Downtown Modesto
Looking for more fun things to do this month? Check out our Downtown Events Calendar!
Art Walk Redux: Partnerships Dust Off an Old Downtown Classic To Highlight The Arts and Bring People Downtown
Visit Modesto, Stanislaus Arts Council, and Downtown Modesto Partnership have been partnering to relaunch, revamp, and redux ArtWalk! Its first exhibit opens Thursday, March 21, 5 pm- 8 pm, with a splash of Van Gogh Almond Blossom Photo Challenge Display. Over 30 photographic works will be on display at Greens on Tenth, and there are plenty of other reasons to linger and explore downtown—
17 venues to view art
26 artists
9 meal deals at downtown restaurants
And don’t forget to cruise through our very own DoMo Walls Mural Alley, entering near 10th and I Streets. You can’t miss it!
Downtown Ambassadors, By The Numbers
14,025 pounds. That’s how much trash was collected and disposed of in one month by our downtown helping hands, our incredible Downtown Ambassadors.
You will recognize them by their red polo shirts and Downtown Modesto Partnership hats, and anyone in the downtown can call for their help by emailing service@domopartnership.org and briefly describing the issue. The entire staff’s phones will ring at once, and the team member closest to your location will be there in a jiffy.
Learn more about the Downtown Modesto Ambassador Program HERE.
Care to see more numbers on our team's work last month? Click on the link below to learn more:
DoMo First Fridays is BACK
With great joy, we kicked off our 2023 season of DoMo First Fridays on Friday, April 7th! The well-attended event delivered the community-connection, vibrancy, and fun we’ve all come to expect from First Fridays! Our next installment is May 5th at 6:00 pm! Join your community at J and 10th Streets to enjoy the sight of bustling small businesses, overflowing dining patios, live music, dancing in the streets, vendors selling handmade goods, and more!
This street festival has become a community institution, beneficial to the health and positive image of downtown Modesto. We could only do it with our valued sponsors who understand and share our mission to create a vibrant community through activities and partnerships designed to improve the quantity of quality experiences in downtown Modesto.
With gratitude, we recognize:
Financial Partners
Modesto Irrigation District
Modesto Police Department
Greens on Tenth
Valley First Credit Union
Sutter Health
Porges Family Foundation
Opportunity Stanislaus
Modesto Nuts Baseball
In-Kind Donors
Modesto Nuts Baseball
Track 424 Brewery
Apparel Graphics
New Downtown Music Series Created by Downtown Modesto Partnership and Modesto DID
The DoMo Partnership and Modesto DID have launched a live music series in 2023. In partnership with Off The Air Presents, the organizations are bringing indie music to The Century and Greens on Tenth, two venues not historically known for live music but well-positioned to house it. The shows are general admission, standing-room-only, and follow a similar format to shows at “The Independent” in San Francisco or “Ace of Spades” in Sacramento.
This year's first show occurred on January 20th and featured headliner French Cassettes who played to a sold-out crowd of 350 people at the Century. On Friday, March 17th, Valley Wolf headlined the show to a crowd of 300.
Now, three new nationally touring artists are scheduled to participate in the downtown Modesto music series, and each one has a fair claim to a piece of the indie music pie.
May 8, 2023:
Josiah Johnson (of The Head and the Heart)
with Birthday Dad
Greens On Tenth , 953 10th Street, Modesto
Doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm
$15 buy tickets here
May 26, 2023:
Michael Rault
with Glad Neil and Pleasant Valley, Kid Mud, and Weston Perry
The Century, 927 10th Street, Modesto
Doors at 7 pm, performance at 8 pm
$12 in advance/$15 at the door buy tickets here
July 1, 2023:
Juan Wauters
with Valley Wolf
Greens On Tenth, 953 10th Street, Modesto
Doors at 7 pm, show at 8 pm
$16 buy tickets here
Our community has been having an ongoing conversation about how to engage its younger demographic while they are still in that critical window of forming their own opinions about where they live and what Modesto will have to offer as they become adults seeking higher education and joining the workforce. The Downtown Modesto Partnership and Modesto DID believe that creating robust cultural amenities specifically geared toward that demographic is part of the solution. As such, this live music series is being curated to draw touring indie acts from across the nation. Modesto could soon be attracting a whole new genre of bands and musicians that traditionally don’t come through town but are selling out at venues in the Bay Area and Sacramento.
“Downtown has a lot to offer as far as world-class venues and quality entertainment, but for years it has been a challenge to attract these kinds of shows due to their special format and need for indie music industry knowhow. We believe our partnership with Greens, The Century, and, Off The Air Presents will prove equal to the task. Greg Edwards of Off The Air Presents has done the hard work for years on a strictly-volunteer basis to become credentialed in the music scene.” said Josh Bridegroom, President and CEO of DoMo Partnership.
To follow and for more information on upcoming shows, follow Off The Air on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/offtheairmusic/
April Showers Need Our Superpowers
Our Downtown Modesto Safe & Clean staff is accessible six days a week
We hope that, by now, you are familiar with our Safe & Clean program servicing downtown Modesto six days a week. Our staff of five Downtown Experience Engineers (whose job it is to engineer a good experience for downtown patrons) are not only responsive to calls for assistance but also actively clean and maintain the district, including work on urban infrastructure such as storm drains. During this winter’s atmospheric river events, our downtown streets would have been flooded, making it difficult for pedestrians to navigate the urban area that is inherently designed for walkability, but our staff has been providing enhanced maintenance of downtown storm drain inlets for the last seven years, approaching them with true grit and elbow grease. In the fall and winter months, the Downtown Experience Engineers can be seen cutting apart and removing tree roots, trash, and debris plugging these drains, and providing the opportunity for stormwater to flow through the system as it was intended. Making a downtown experience that is truly welcoming requires additional time and resources the Downtown Modesto Partnership provides as part of our regular operations.
If you ever need assistance with safety or cleanliness, contact our crew by sending a quick email with the issue and location to service@domopartnership.org
How it works: All team members’ phones will sound off instantly like an alarm, and the staff member closest to your named location will be there as quickly as possible.
Hours of operation:
M-F | 5 am - 9:30 pm
SAT | 12:30 pm - 9:30 pm
SUN | closed
Back of House Tours Expands into the Workweek for Teams
A Downtown Modesto walking food tour is a great idea for your next team event
For one year now, foodie locals and tourists have been exploring hidden gems, classic standbys, and up-and-comers in downtown Modesto's exciting and growing food scene by experiencing the Back of House Food Tour. And today, Back of House Tours is announcing its expansion into the workweek, a decision made in response to growing feedback that the tour would be great for team-building events and hosting business guests. Until recently, the tours had only been available Fridays and Saturdays.
Now, tours can be booked Tuesdays through Thursdays as well. They begin promptly at 2 pm and conclude at 5 pm. On the website, you can book directly for a group of up to eight guests or message tour organizers to work on a special reservation of up to 12 guests.
For $75 per ticket, guests dine at four different restaurant establishments and stop at one food shop, although you won’t know ahead of time which eateries they will be at. “We want to keep guests in a state of mind conducive to curiosity, wonder, and adventure. We need the flexibility to achieve that,” said Josh Bridegroom, President and CEO of Downtown Modesto Partnership, the nonprofit behind Back of House Food Tours.
“We have enjoyed the company of first-time Modesto visitors as well as those who are returning after some time away,” stated Sara Lowry-Dominguez of the Downtown Modesto Partnership. Lowry-Dominguez leads the tour and, as a result, has burrowed into the downtown dining scene, parlaying the benefits of “knowing the chef” to guests who catch rare and exclusive glimpses into the adventurous minds of the purveyors of our culinary treasures.
In each case, guests are wowed by not only the culinary offerings but also the storytelling about local art, history, and architecture, much of it not found online.
“We worked with local historians, sat for hours with chefs, and did our homework,” said Josh Bridegroom, Downtown Modesto Partnership, “so let’s just say the result is an experience that is uniquely something you can find on the tour.”
The term back of house refers to the kitchen in the restaurant industry, the behind-the-curtain area of the dining experience patrons don’t get to see. While Back of House Food Tours are not tours of the kitchen per se, it does deliver stories from the back of the house that customers don’t get when they dine on their own. “We’ve learned that every dish has its own untold life story,” said Stephanie Foster, who works for Downtown Modesto Partnership and helped conduct a year of research and in-depth interviews to develop the tour. “When we retell these stories to our guests, we witness something so wonderful– we see in their eyes that they are traveling through time and all around the world, employing all senses at once to experience awe.”
Guests should prepare to show up hungry and in adventurous spirits. Dishes are predetermined and selected by the restaurants themselves, and for good reason; “These tours are an opportunity for Galletto Ristorante to get our culinary story out to new audiences, and we’re seeing people who have never sat at the dining table with us before,” said Cal Romo, General Manager of Galletto Ristorante at 1101 J Street, downtown Modesto. “Our menu tells a rich story of this region with which the Gallo family has formed a strong relationship. We are constantly evolving with the pulse of the seasons, and it is beneficial to partner with Back of House Tours because they help us to convey this with sincerity and a sense of adventure.”
Book the Back of House Food Tour online at https://www.backofhousefoodtour.com. Gift certificates are also available online.
New: Downtown Modesto Housing Project
For only the second time in nearly half a century, downtown Modesto could gain a new housing development. Two workshops were held by nonprofit affordable housing developer Visionary Home Builders of California to receive community input on a six-story building on 7th Street between I and J Streets. Downtown Modesto Partnership’s president/CEO, Josh Bridegroom attended one of the meetings to vocalize support. He also advised the group to go with a pedestrian-friendly street design rather than a fully closed street, as was being considered. The advice is informed by decades of experiments with street closures by cities nationwide, beginning in the 1950s, revealing special conditions are generally needed for their long-term viability. We are pleased that Visionary Home Builders followed that advice in the project’s final design.
The project is located next to St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, near the renovated transit center and the quickly-evolving heart of downtown. The Seventh Street Village project consists of 79 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The ground level would have 5,000 square feet for a Head Start program, community center, and leasing office, as well as retail space in the hopes of attracting a grocer to serve residents of the project and the general area.
The City Council approved applying with Visionary Home Builders of California for $50 million from California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHCS) Program. As stated in the Modesto Bee, “the program [AHSC] funds housing that is close to bus routes, bike lanes, rail and sidewalks (and pays for that infrastructure as well) and is near jobs and amenities. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by giving people alternatives to driving.”
To read more about this project, visit https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article272936265.html#storylink=cpy
To read more about this project, visit Modesto Bee https://www.modbee.com/news/local/article272936265.html#storylink=cpy
Images courtesy of Modesto Bee