Happy Friday, Lodi. There are genuinely too many things happening this weekend to pick just one, which is a good problem. Tonight alone you have a stand-up comedian, a community fundraiser dinner, and live music at Woodbridge Crossing, all running at the same time. Here is everything inside:

Let's get into it.

— Kylie Talamantez

Got an event you think the community should know about? We're now accepting submissions from our readers, so if you're hosting something public in Lodi or know about an event that deserves a spotlight, send it our way. We're excited to start featuring your events alongside everything else happening around town.

Every Kid Program in Lodi, One Place

If you have ever spent a Tuesday night trying to figure out whether your kid can still sign up for swim lessons, or gone down a rabbit hole of Facebook posts just trying to find out when the Boys and Girls Club registration opens, Lodi Kids Activities was built specifically for that problem. It is a free directory of youth programs in Lodi, with listings from Impact Sports, Wildflower Creative, JG Academy, World of Wonders Museum, Infinity Martial Arts, the Lodi Boys and Girls Club, the Stockton Ports, and more. Everything in one place, and it is free for parents and organizations to use.

The Parent Hub is worth setting up. You can save programs you want to come back to, get reminders before registration deadlines close, sync activities to your calendar, and track which kid is enrolled in what across multiple programs. There is also a weekly digest that filters by your kids' ages and interests, which is the kind of thing that sounds small until you actually have it. Sign up at lodikidsactivities.com/signup.

New this month: a Daycare Directory just launched at lodikidsactivities.com/daycare. Every licensed daycare, preschool, and after-school program in Lodi is now listed in one verified place, sourced directly from California Department of Social Services. You can filter by type and setting and compare up to four facilities side by side. If your family has used a program in Lodi, the most useful thing you can do is leave a review. Other parents are out there searching, and what your family actually experienced is worth more than any marketing description.

Little Leapers Soccer and T-Ball | Fall - July 10th 

If you have a two to five year old who needs something to do with all that energy, Little Leapers runs an 8-week summer session designed specifically for preschoolers. One day per week, with a few different time slots to choose from, kids get a gentle introduction to soccer and t-ball in a setting built around making it fun enough that they actually want to come back. The program includes a custom jersey, picture day, and a medal and certificate at the end, which is exactly the kind of thing a four year old takes very seriously.

Sign up and browse available sessions at leapalittle.com, or call with questions at 530-263-4603.

📍Peterson Park, 79 Evergreen Dr, Lodi, CA 95242, USA

The Woman Who Walked Until They Listened

If you drove past Candy Cane Park on Holly Drive a few years back, you might have seen a woman walking slow laps around the park with her dog Blessing and a handmade sign, demanding that the city fix the playground equipment. Day after day, in whatever weather, Myrna Wetzel showed up. The park was Lodi's smallest, and it had been neglected long enough. She was done waiting for someone to notice on their own.

More than a year of that kind of persistence is hard to ignore. Measure L funding eventually made its way to Candy Cane Park, and the renovation that followed was a complete rebuild. On November 16, 2019, Myrna was there for the ribbon cutting. She kept going after that, too. After her dog Blessing was hit by a car at the intersection of Cross and Lockeford streets, she started pushing for a stop sign there as well. That was just how she operated.

Myrna passed away in the summer of 2025. That November 16th, exactly six years after the park reopened, the City of Lodi declared it Myrna Wetzel Day. Her friend Lori Otterbeck organized a GoFundMe that raised $3,500 for a bronze memorial plaque at the park. The plaque reads, in part: "Myrna's love for the park and her commitment to improving our neighborhood inspired everyone around her, and her legacy continues to shape our community." If you find yourself at Candy Cane Park, it is worth a moment to stop and read it.

Tour delle Vigne | Saturday, May 16 | Registration opens at 6:30 am

If you have been meaning to actually get on a bike in wine country instead of just talking about it, the 29th Annual Tour delle Vigne is the one to put on the calendar. The Lodi Sunrise Rotary Club puts on three routes through the vineyards: 30k for a casual morning out, 60k if you want to push yourself a little, and 100k if you are serious about it. All three wind through the Lodi Wine Appellation on lightly traveled roads, past rows of old vines and open farmland that does not look like anywhere else.

Registration opens at 6:30 am at Bare Ranch Estate on Michael David Winery's property. There is live music at the rest stops along the way, and a post-ride meal is included back at Bare Ranch from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, so plan your start time accordingly. Early registrants also get a t-shirt. Walk-up registration is available on the day of the ride.

📍 Bare Ranch Estate (Michael David Winery), 19877 N Davis Rd, Lodi, CA 95242

Sunset Paddle on the Mokelumne River | Saturday, May 15 | Approx. 90 minutes

If you want to end a day the right way and you have not been out on the river yet, this is the excuse. The Lodi Boathouse runs guided sunset paddles along the Mokelumne River from Lodi Lake, and the setting does most of the work. You get a kayak, paddle, and life vest included, a guide leading the way, and roughly 90 minutes of watching the light change over the water while everything quiets down around you.

Pricing is $55 per person with rental gear, $22 if you bring your own, and $18 for kids 10 and under. All prices include tax. Plan to arrive 20 minutes early and bring a photo ID since waivers are signed on site. Cancellations more than 24 hours out receive a full refund or credit toward a future tour.

📍 Lodi Boathouse at Lodi Lake, Lodi, CA

Fri - May 15

Sat - May 16

Sun - May 17

Sat - May 23

Thu - May 28

Fri - May 30

Thanks for reading! It means more than you know that you take a few minutes out of your day to stay connected with our little corner of the world. See you around Lodi! 🍇