Downtown Turlock will soon be a summer hot spot with an all new food rally coming to town and the Farmers Market moving locations.
On Tuesday evening, Turlock City Council unanimously approved multiple Downtown street closures for the “Main StrEAT Food Rally,” Turlock Certified Farmers Market, and the “Found in Turlock Bridal Showcase.”
The Main StrEAT Food Rally will be hosted by Kiwanis Club Turlock on May 1, June 5, July 3, Aug. 7, and Sept. 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on E. Main Street between Thor and Palm streets.
Per the Council’s approval, the street will be blocked off to allow for the rally to take place safely.
Trina Walley, President of Kiwanis Club Turlock, said the door for the food rally opened with the Farmers Market moving to Saturdays and the Friday night event will get the community together. Local restaurants and food vendors, including the two on the block Main Street Footer’s and Ann’s Fish and Chips, will be coming together to make the event happen.
“I think it’s going to be a really great event for the community,” said Walley on Tuesday.
In addition to bringing the community together, the Main StrEAT Food Rally will be an opportunity for Kiwanis Club of Turlock to fundraise.
“We wanted to provide a community event where we can rally some of our non-profit causes that we work with on annual basis,” said Walley. “…As our club dynamics have changed, the dynamics of fundraising for that foundation has changed. So we really needed something fresh and new."
The Turlock Certified Farmers Market will also be making a move to E. Main Street between Thor and Palm streets this summer and fall. The Farmers Market, which announced in January that they were moving to Saturdays, was hosted on S. Broadway between W. Main and A streets for the past five years.
According to City of Turlock Director of Development Services and City Engineer Mike Pitcock, the location change was made to better suit the plans for the market, including increasing size.
"While the Turlock Certified Farmers Market moves streets, as well as days, we are so excited to be a part of this placemaking that makes Turlock unique,” said Elizabeth Claes, Chair of the Turlock Certified Farmers Market.
In recent years, the City of Turlock has made some parking changes to the previous location to prevent motorists from leaving their vehicles in the Farmers Market area overnight and becoming a nuisance to vendors, however the same changes will not be made to the new location at this time.
This year’s Turlock Farmers Market will be every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 2 through Oct. 31.
“I want to thank you, City Council, for opening up Turlock streets for the past five years and hopefully for many more,” said Claes.
In addition to the two ongoing events, Turlock City Council also approved closing Center Street between E. Main Street and Crane Avenue on April 19 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the “Found in Turlock Bridal Showcase,” hosted by Blown Away Salon.
“It's a small token to close a few streets for you all to blaze the trail,” said Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth.
