<\/p><\/div> Visitors check out an aircraft during the 2016 Open Cockpit Day at Castle Air Museum in Atwater.<\/p>\n The Merced Sun-Star<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n <\/p>\n May comes with some popular spring festivals and celebrations in the greater Merced and Mother Lode regions.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The month\u2019s promise of sunshine and warmer temperatures just brings out the best, it seems.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are a host of festivals and events planned for May celebrating cultures, food, music, beer, apricots and \u2013 yes \u2013 even frogs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at just some of what\u2019s set:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MERCED CINCO DE MAYO \u2013 May 3:<\/b> The Grand Cinco de Mayo Festival Rodeo Dance is an all-ages event to celebrate the holiday. There will be live music by Roberto Tapia, Kanales, Los Cuates de Sinaloa, Banda Zeta and Banda Zarape. A Mexican rodeo and dance also are planned. 2 p.m. Merced County Fairgrounds, 900 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Merced. $23.57 at tickeri.com.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n PLANADA COMMUNITY DAY CELEBRATION \u2013 May 9:<\/b> Vendors, music, barbecue and more. A parade is set to open the event at 10 a.m. The celebration ends at 3 p.m. Houlihan Park, 9167 Stanford Ave., Planada. www.facebook.com\/events\/houlihan-park\/planada-community-day-2026\/1548118029974311<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CENTRAL VALLEY BREWFEST \u2013 May 9:<\/b> More than 150 brews to sample, along with art and music. There will be a VIP wine sampling tent from noon-1 p.m. Must be 21 or older to attend the festival, which runs 1-5 p.m. Stanislaus County Fairground, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock. $45 in advance, $55 at the door, if still available; VIP tickets $65, advance only. Designated-driver tickets $30 in advance, $35 at the door. www.cvbrewfest.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MOTHER LODE ROUNDUP \u2013 May 9-10:<\/b> Parade and rodeos sponsored by the Tuolumne County Sheriff\u2019s Posse. Parade Saturday at 10 a.m. along Washington Street in Sonora. Saturday and Sunday rodeos at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds, 220 Southgate Drive, Sonora. Rodeo tickets $28.49; $11.40 ages 4-12. www.motherloderoundup.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n COLUMBIA DIGGINS 1852 \u2013 May 14-17:<\/b> Columbia State Historic Park\u2019s annual living-history event features more than 150 costumed volunteers. Visitors experience an 1852 mining camp re-created with period clothing and activities. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. $10, free for ages 17 and under. Diggins Tent Town (near the main parking lot). www.parks.ca.gov\/?page_id=24249<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n CALAVERAS COUNTY FAIR AND JUMPING FROG JUBILEE \u2013 May 14-17:<\/b> Frogs will hop again at this annual fest, which also offers a carnival, food, entertainment, rodeo, destruction derby, livestock, vendors and more. Festival hours 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday; 8 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday; 7 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday. Calaveras County Fairgrounds, 2465 Gun Club Road, Angels Camp. $13-$18. www.frogtown.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n DOWNTOWN MERCED LAO NEW YEAR CELEBRATION \u2013 May 16:<\/b> A parade will be held at 1:30 p.m. There also will be live music, food, vendors and cultural performances throughout the day. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Bob Hart Square, 514 W Main St., Merced. Free www.facebook.com\/events\/235-w-main-st-merced-ca-95340-4932-united-states\/downtown-merced-lao-new-year-celebration-2026\/1339982491175690<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MERCED ART FESTIVAL WEEK \u2013 May 18-25:<\/b> A weeklong celebration of art, culture and community with large-scale murals, immersive art installations, live painting and artist demonstrations, panel discussions, live music, vendors, food and more. Hours vary. Downtown Merced. www.instagram.com\/p\/DWICcfvgf60<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CASTLE AIR MUSEUM SPRING OPEN COCKPIT DAY \u2013 May 23:<\/b> The former Air Force base will provide an up-close look at old military aircraft, including a newly restored B-52 Stratofortress. The semiannual event also features food vendors, a beer garden, demonstrations by emergency agencies and more. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Castle Air Museum, 5050 Santa Fe Drive, Atwater. $25 general admission, $20 seniors and active or retired military, $15 ages 6-17, free to ages 5 and under. www.castleairmuseum.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n LE GRAND COMMUNITY DAY \u2013 May 23:<\/b> A parade with the theme \u201cPioneering to Freedom\u201d will be held on Jefferson Street beginning at 10 a.m. Art and flower show 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Community Services Building. Barbecue noon-2 p.m. Event 10 a.m.-2 p.m. www.facebook.com\/events\/3314627602021991\/?ref_source=NEWS_FEED<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ARNOLD PEDDLERS FAIRE \u2013 May 23-24:<\/b> The Mother Lode community fair returns with vendors, art, lawn games and more. The Ebbetts Pass Fire Department will sell locally brewed beer. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Bristol\u2019s Caf\u00e9 parking lot, 961 Highway 4, Arnold. gocalaveras.com\/events\/46th-annual-arnold-spring-peddlers-faire<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n PATTERSON APRICOT FIESTA \u2013 May 29-31<\/b>: The annual celebration includes entertainment, food and beer booths, a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, craft and commercial vendors, a kids area, an arm-wrestling tournament, a cornhole tournament, a car show and fireworks. Festival hours to be determined. Downtown Patterson. Free. apricotfiesta.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.modbee.com\/public\/latest-news\/dkr05z\/picture315509812\/alternates\/FREE_1140\/IMG_JBL_Jumping_Frogs_2._3_1_0IFNE0GI_L465674382.JPG\" "\\"IMG_JBL_Jumping_Frogs_2._3_1_0IFNE0GI_L465674382.JPG\\"")