Lodi Locals
Good morning, Lodi!!
It is Friday and I am choosing to believe this weekend has something good in store for all of us.
Before we get into it, I have to share this because it has been living in my head rent free. Otters hold hands while they sleep so they do not drift away from each other. Scientists actually call the group a “raft.” I do not know who needs to hear this but go hold someone’s hand this weekend. Otter style.
Okay, now for the good stuff inside this edition:
A ladies night worth putting on the calendar
A pancake breakfast that is also basically a block party
A cause in our own backyard that deserves a little love
Trinkets around town
Lets get into it.
Kylie Talamantez
Events This Week
Be Amazing: A Metamorphosis Event for Lodi House | Sunday, April 26th | 3:00 to 5:00 pm
If there is one event this weekend that I think deserves your attention, it is this one.
Lodi House has been quietly doing some of the most important work in our community since 1999. They are a private nonprofit with the goal of creating a secure, structured environment for homeless women and children, dedicated to helping women develop healthy lifestyles that lead to employment and true independence. Guests may stay between two and six months, working individually with staff to build consistent family routines, healthy support systems, and a real path to permanent housing.
This Sunday, they are hosting Be Amazing, a fundraising event centered on the theme of metamorphosis. Because that is exactly what happens inside Lodi House. Mothers are working toward jobs and stable housing while also doing the harder, slower work of healing from generational cycles of trauma. Relationships between mothers and their children are being restored. Family cultures shaped by survival are gently becoming something new. Something safer. Something full of hope.
The event runs from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Lodi. Tables seat eight people and start at $150, with table sponsorships available at $300. If you want to go bigger, matching sponsorships are available at $5,000. You can purchase tickets directly through lodihouse.org/beamazing.
Even if you cannot make it this weekend, Lodi House accepts donations year round and always welcomes volunteers. Their thrift boutique on West Lodi Avenue is also a great way to support them on any given Saturday.
This is a Lodi organization worth knowing, worth showing up for, and worth sharing.
📍 First Baptist Church of Lodi, 267 N. Mills Ave, Lodi, CA 95242
Beginner Watercolor Painting Classes | Sunday, April 26 | 1:00 pm
If you have been telling yourself you want to try painting but keep putting it off, this is the nudge. Lodi Community Art Center is hosting beginner watercolor classes with instructor Sylvia Chavez, and they are designed for people who have never held a brush. You will learn color theory, water control, and various watercolor techniques while creating a 9x12 painting. No experience needed, just show up ready to see what you can make. Members pay $40, non-members $45, and if you need supplies, they are available for an extra $10. Grab your spot here.
📍 Lodi Community Art Center, 110 W Pine St, Lodi, CA 95240.
Ocean Crab Lodi 1 Year Anniversary Celebration | Sunday, April 26 | 11:00 am
Ocean Crab is turning one, and they are celebrating with an all day anniversary deal that is honestly worth showing up for. Their $24.99 special gets you a half pound each of snow crab, headless shrimp, and sausage, plus corn, potato, and egg. They opened last spring and have been slinging Cajun style seafood boils ever since. If you have not made it in yet, an anniversary celebration with a deal like that is the perfect excuse. Check out the event details here and plan to get there hungry.
📍 Ocean Crab, 2414 W Kettleman Ln Unit 206, Lodi, CA 95242
3rd Annual Flip’n Fantastic Pancake Breakfast | Sunday, May 3rd | 7:30 to 10:30 am
If you are heading to the Lodi Street Faire this May, do not skip breakfast. The Lodi Police Foundation is hosting its 3rd Annual Flip’n Fantastic Pancake Breakfast right in front of the Lodi Police Department, and it is the perfect way to kick off your morning before you hit the booths.
Tickets are $10 per person, with children under five getting in on a donation basis. Every single dollar goes directly to the Lodi Police Department, so showing up is genuinely one of the easiest ways to give back to the people who show up for this community every day.
Now here is the part I have to talk about. There is a basket drawing happening that morning, and it is not a small one. Local businesses from all across Lodi came together to build a gift basket valued at $3,384. We are talking A&W Restaurant, Dancing Fox, Doghouse Bakery, Double Dip Gallery, El Pazifico, Five Window Beer Co., Inspire Coffee, Komachi, Lashes by Rachelle, Lodi Beer Company, Lodi Bowling, Micke Grove Golf Links, Salon Two Twenty, Smack Pie, The Dermal Clinic, Wine and Roses Resort and Spa, Wine Trolley, and so many more. It is basically a love letter to downtown Lodi wrapped in cellophane.
Raffle tickets are $20 each or three for $50, and you do not have to be present to win. Tickets are available now at zeffy.com or by reaching out through the Lodi Police Foundation directly.
Come for the pancakes. Stay for the community. Maybe leave with $3,384 worth of Lodi in your arms.
📍 Lodi Police Department, 215 W. Elm St, Lodi, CA 95240
Florals & Fab Ladies Night | Wednesday, May 8th | 6:00-9:00 pm
If painting, dessert, and mocktails sound like your kind of Wednesday night, stop what you are doing and put this on your calendar.
The Mud Mill is hosting a ladies night and it is exactly the kind of weeknight event I am always on the lookout for. Grab your girlfriends, head downtown, and spend the evening painting pottery together in the best possible way. Registration is $20 plus the cost of whichever piece you pick to paint, and mocktails and desserts are included. You are also welcome to bring your own food and drinks if you want to make it a full girls night spread.
A weeknight that actually feels like a treat? Yes please. Book here.
📍 The Mud Mill, 115 S. School St Suite #1 Lodi, CA 95240
🎉Submit an Event!
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.
🏡 Family & Kids Corner
Sunrise Summer Camp at the Lodi Boys and Girls Club | June 1st - July 17th | Times Vary
Summer is coming, and if you have kids between ages 6 and 12, this one is worth bookmarking right now.
The Lodi Boys and Girls Club is running its Sunrise Summer Camp from June 1 through July 17, and they have packed seven full weeks with themed activities that honestly sound like a blast. Morning hours run from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm, and afternoon hours are available from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm at no extra cost for members ages 6 to 18. Whether you need a half day or a full day, they have you covered.
Pricing is flexible and genuinely reasonable. You can do $20 per day, $80 per week, or lock in all seven weeks for $500 paid in advance. For a full summer of structured, supervised fun, that is hard to beat.
What I love most about this camp is the themed week lineup. Each week has its own focus so kids have something new to look forward to every Monday. Here is how it breaks down:
Week 1 is Going Green, Week 2 is Wacky Sports, Week 3 is Weird Science, Week 4 is All Around the World, Week 5 is To the Moon and Back, Week 6 is Kids in the Kitchen, and the final week wraps up with Splish Splash. That last one alone is going to be a highlight for a lot of kids heading into mid July heat.
Registration is open now. You can reach the club directly at (209) 334 2697 or email [email protected]. More info is also available at bgclodi.com.
📍 Lodi Boys and Girls Club, 275 Poplar Street, Lodi, CA 95240
✨Community Spotlight
If you haven’t heard about the little trinket boxes popping up around town, you’re about to become obsessed!
Someone in our community has set up a trinket trade box right here in Lodi, and they’ve been documenting the whole thing on TikTok (@Lodi.Trinkets).
The concept is simple and kind of perfect: a small decorated box is placed in a public spot, stocked with little goodies like keychains, stickers, mini figurines, pins, jewelry, and other fun finds. You stop by, take something you like, and leave something behind for the next person. That’s it. No catch, no cost, just a tiny moment of surprise on an otherwise regular day.
The trinket box movement has been spreading across California fast. Colorful, decorated boxes stuffed with trinkets have been popping up on street corners and sidewalks all over the state, from San Francisco to Sacramento, turning everyday blocks into little community hubs. The trend originated in Philadelphia, where someone began documenting the contents of a repurposed electrical junction box on TikTok, and it has taken off nationally ever since.
🎶 LIVE MUSIC
Fri - Apr 24
Mikara & Brandon Cline (Pop/Rock – “After Hours”) | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Cradle III (Rock/Pop – Sunset Sippin’) | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Bokisch Vineyards - 18921 Atkins Rd, Lodi
Sat - Apr 25
The Sun Followers (Indie/Folk Rock – Wine Club Party) | 12:00 PM
📍 Bokisch Vineyards - 18921 Atkins Rd, Lodi
Lodi Beer Fest – Live Band (TBA) | 1:00–5:00 PM
📍 Lodi Grape Festival Grounds - 413 E Lockeford St, Lodi
Silverback (Rock/Funk) | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Tribal Seeds + Dub Souljah + Amp Melo (Reggae/Hip-Hop) | 4:30–11:00 PM
📍 Five Window Beer Co. - 9 W Locust St, Lodi
Sun - Apr 26
The Retrofitz (Classic Rock / 60s–80s Covers) | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Van Ruiten Family Winery - 340 W Hwy 12, Lodi
Wealth of Nations Trio (Rock / Feel-Good Covers) | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Thu - Apr 30
Payton Mahoney (Singer-Songwriter – Thursday Night Music) | 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Oak Farm Vineyards - 23627 N DeVries Rd, Lodi
Fri - May 1
Network (Rock/Variety – “After Hours”) | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
DWR Crew (Country / Line Dance – Country Dance Night) | 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Idol Beer Works - 100 S Sacramento St, Lodi
Artist TBA (Acoustic/Variety – Sunset Sippin’) | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Bokisch Vineyards - 18921 Atkins Rd, Lodi
Sat - May 2
Chanticleer (Classical/Choral) | 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Hutchins Street Square - 125 S Hutchins St, Lodi
David Perez Band (Latin – Cinco De Vino) | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Michael David Winery - 4580 W Hwy 12, Lodi
Rock’n Roleando (Rock/Latin – Cinco de Mayo) | 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Sun - May 3
Blues Mechanics (Blues) | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Dave Atencio (Acoustic/Rock – Sunday Music Live) | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Van Ruiten Family Winery - 340 W Hwy 12, Lodi
The Retrofitz (Classic Rock / 60s–80s Covers) | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Wilson Family Winery - 11484 E Harney Lane, Lodi
Thu - May 7
William Smith Jr. (Acoustic/Soul – Thursday Night Music) | 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Oak Farm Vineyards - 23627 N DeVries Rd, Lodi
Fri - May 8
Playback (Rock / 80s–90s Covers – “After Hours”) | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Now Now (Indie Pop – Sunset Sippin’) | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Bokisch Vineyards - 18921 Atkins Rd, Lodi
Sat - May 9
Los Caminantes de Humberto Navarro (Regional Mexican) | 8:00 PM
📍 El Encanto Event Center - 100 N Cherokee Ln, Lodi
The Nick Elwood Band (Pop/Soul/Rock/Country) | 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Sun - May 10
The Retrofitz – Mother’s Day Show (Classic Rock / Soulful Covers) | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
She Calls Him Wilson (Indie/Folk – Sunday Music Live) | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Van Ruiten Family Winery - 340 W Hwy 12, Lodi
Geoffrey Miller & Rockin’ Rousers + Guests (Country/Rockabilly) | 7:00 PM
📍 Idol Beer Works - 100 S Sacramento St, Lodi
Wed - May 13
Open Mic Night (Local Musicians / Mixed Genres)
📍 Idol Beer Works - 100 S Sacramento St, Lodi
Thu - May 14
The Traveler / Jeff Carl (Singer-Songwriter – Thursday Night Music) | 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Oak Farm Vineyards - 23627 N DeVries Rd, Lodi
Donovan Bryant (R&B/Soul) | $5 cover
📍 Five Window Beer Co. - 9 W Locust St, Lodi
Fri - May 15
Neighborhood Noise (Rock/Variety – “After Hours”) | 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Sat - May 16
Western Bound (Honky Tonk/Country) | 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Corduroy – The Ultimate Pearl Jam Experience (90s Grunge – Rock the Vineyard) | 6:00 PM
📍 Oak Farm Vineyards - 23627 N DeVries Rd, Lodi
Sun - May 17
William Smith Jr. (Acoustic/Soul) | 1:00–4:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Sat - May 23
Kool Wind & Fire + Sweet Tina (Tribute – Kool & the Gang, Earth Wind & Fire & Tina Turner – Groovin’ in the Grove) | 7:00 PM
📍 Jessie’s Grove Winery - 1973 W Turner Rd, Lodi
Thu - May 28
Big Booty Bob (Thursday Night Music) | 5:00–8:00 PM
📍 Oak Farm Vineyards - 23627 N DeVries Rd, Lodi
Fri - May 30
The Network Band (Rock/Variety)
📍 Five Window Beer Co. - 9 W Locust St, Lodi
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! 🍇
