This Saturday, the Turlock Education Foundation and Turlock Unified School District will co-host the second annual Festival on the Green, a daylong music festival that is free and open to the community.

“Over the years, TUSD’s music program has continued to grow and is very popular among students and parents,” said Turlock Education Foundation President Barney Gordon. “Traditionally, there have been annual district performances by the different music programs held in the evenings, but as the programs grew it spread over two nights, then three nights, then four nights, thus making it difficult to manage especially for parents with children in multiple programs.”

In 2012, an all-day music festival was formed allowing the various TUSD music programs to perform throughout the day at one location – the first Festival on the Green.

“It was very successful and warmly received by the parents,” said Gordon. “This year we’re expanding the event to include a much larger festival out in the quad at Pitman to coincide with the performances in the gymnasium.”

With an hour wait in-between each scheduled gymnasium performance, attendees are encouraged to visit the quad area at Pitman High School to enjoy the multiple vendors, music performances, and information booths that will be available outside during the event.

“We’ll have an outdoor stage this year where various groups, such as Westside Ministries, Los Luceros de Osborne, and other performing groups, will entertain the crowds,” said Gordon. “In addition we’ll have various information and activity booths as well as food vendors so folks can come out and enjoy the day celebrating character, the arts, and music in our community.”

Choir performances for all grades will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed with jazz and symphonic bands at 12:15 and 2:00 p.m., and orchestra at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Vendors will be on hand from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The event will also feature an art display inside the gymnasium, with student art from all age ranges around the district.

“This year’s event promises to be filled with talented musicians, family activities, and entertainment,” said Dana Trevethan, the Interim Assistant Superintendent of Education Services at TUSD. “Over 40 vendors will represent the finest Turlock and neighboring communities have to offer.”

Whether parents have a child performing or not, TUSD and the Turlock Education Foundation encourage the whole community to come out and enjoy the all-day event.

“It’s really something for the whole family,” said TUSD Superintendent Sonny Da Marto. “Come out and picnic with your kids, and enjoy the vendors and the music. Our kids do such a good job with the choirs, orchestras, jazz bands…they’re just marvelous. Even if you don’t have kids, it’s worth listening to.”

Although this is the second Festival on the Green event, both TUSD and the Turlock Education Foundation have expressed interest and dedication to making the event a successful Turlock tradition.

“We would like to establish this program as an annual event that people look forward to and give them the opportunity to celebrate our student’s achievements,” said Gordon.

By highlighting the musical and artistic talents of elementary, middle, and high school students in Turlock, the Festival on the Green is sure to continue for many years to come.

The Turlock Education Foundation can be found on Facebook as well as Twitter and Instagram (@turlockedfound) using the hashtag #Turlockbelieves. Because “Turlock Believes…in Character, Music and the Arts!”

The Festival on the Green will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 9 at Pitman High School, located at 2525 W. Christoffersen Pkwy. Admission and parking are free and open to the public.

Student music performances are scheduled throughout the day as follows:
– 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Choir: All students, kindergarten through 12th grades – “Songs of America”

– 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Elementary band with Pitman & Turlock High School jazz and symphonic bands – “That’s Entertainment”

– 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Dutcher Middle School, Turlock Junior High School, Pitman and Turlock High Schools’ bands

– 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Brown, Cunningham, Wakefield, and Walnut Elementary Schools, Dutcher Middle School and Pitman High School – “Hooked on Classics”

– 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Crowell, Earl, Julien, Medeiros, and Osborn Elementary Schools, Turlock Junior High School and Turlock High School – “Hooked on Classics”