Hundreds of Turlockers gathered to celebrate music and the arts Saturday at the 2nd Annual Festival on the Green.

Featuring outstanding musical performances by students of all ages from across the Turlock Unified School District, the Festival on the Green highlighted the talent of young local musicians and artists.

“We had some friends from out of town that attended the event and they were blown away by the musical performances and the high quality of the student art that was on show,” said Barney Gordon, President of the Turlock Education Foundation.

The event ran from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with musical performances throughout the day. With an hour wait in-between each scheduled performance, attendees were also encouraged to visit the quad area at Pitman High School to enjoy multiple vendors, informational booths, delicious food and entertainment.

Other performing groups, such as Westside Ministries' dance team, performed at the outdoor stage during the event. Attendees were also encouraged to enjoy the art display that featured student art from all age ranges.

During the event, TUSD Superintendent Sonny Da Marto awarded senior students from both Pitman High School and Turlock High School for their dedication to music. Seniors who had participated in band or choir throughout their entire education at TUSD were awarded plaques.

The Turlock Education Foundation and TUSD co-hosted the Festival on the Green. Although this was just the second year for the event, both TUSD and the Turlock Education Foundation have recognized the importance of ensuring that the event is a tradition for years to come.

“The second year for the Festival on the Green was a great success,” said Gordon. “We’re looking forward to continuing this tradition well into the future.”