Plan a visit, settle into town or find something to do this week. Start with a local guide, then catch up on the latest Turlock stories below.
Pop's is more than the subject of a $38 grocery-haul post. The Turlock store has a documented history on South Center Street reaching back to 2003, and owner Tony Vargas once helped a young local cyclist make it around the world. Explore the store's local connections, the warehouse buying behind its changing selection and what makes this discount outlet different from an ordinary grocery stop. Keep Reading
Halloween falls on a Saturday in 2026, but the fun starts well before October 31. Find Turlock trunk-or-treats, Modesto family events, nearby town celebrations, pumpkin patches and haunted attractions, with dates, prices and directions. Compare the downtown Ghost Walk, a sensory-friendly candy stop, Riverbank's hayride and free outings for children. We also found home displays with published 2026 visiting hours and video from past pumpkin seasons. Keep Reading
The S is developing service reductions for 2027, and Turlock riders have a reason to follow the details. Regional connections to Modesto, Keyes, Patterson and BART can be part of a trip that starts on a city bus. Here is what is proposed, why Turlock Transit's own planning process is separate, which current routes to check and how to follow the December decision. Keep Reading
Denair's first fire engine arrived in 1942 with 350 gallons of water. Today, volunteers work alongside paid staff and can be sent far beyond town through California's mutual-aid system. Here's how the department grew, what joining involves and where residents can find its public meetings and official updates. Keep Reading
The Bulldogs beat Gregori 37–7, while Pitman enters Harvest Bowl week at 5–2. Here’s what sets up Friday’s rivalry game, why Pitman is the home team at Joe Debely Stadium, and what to know about times and cashless tickets. Keep Reading
An early-morning fire sent heavy smoke through the roof of the Golden State Boulevard building housing Western Dental & Orthodontics. A second alarm brought seven engines and additional crews. Here's the reported outcome, the investigation status and how to find official information without confusing it with a separate Murray Street fire. Keep Reading
A burning smell led Turlock firefighters to an overheating junction box hidden beneath a floor. The city says its new C-THRU helmet helped crews find it. Here is how the thermal camera and helmet display work, what commanders can see from outside, and what an earlier federal assessment found useful and worth improving. Keep Reading
One question about Valley Cinemas brought movie memories back to the Local Turlock Facebook page. An old campus newspaper ad fills in the prices, while the theater record explains its four-screen years, the arrival of the Main Street multiplex and what happened to the Geer Road building. Keep Reading
Turlock has approved $100,000 to fill empty panels on existing signs beside Highway 99. The tourism-funded project could reach three pylons and 16 city panels, but prices, repairs and property agreements will decide the final scope. Here is what residents are paying for, how the sign space would be shared with businesses and what needs to happen before installation. Keep Reading
Paint a pumpkin at the Carnegie, hear Stan State’s fall choir, visit Patterson’s floating pumpkin patch or take the kids downtown for Sunday trunk-or-treat. Our October 16–18 roundup has times, admission costs, directions and organizer links—plus a Monday jazz concert. Friday’s two events overlap, so here’s what to know before choosing your plans. Keep Reading
