Celebrate the International Flavors of San Joaquin County
Residents of Stockton and the surrounding communities can experience cultures from around the globe without ever leaving their backyard.
One of the best things about San Joaquin County? Its diversity. Because it boasts more Asian American, Pacific Islander, Indigenous, and especially Hispanic and Latino populations compared to the U.S. as a whole, people can enjoy a wealth of cultural experiences. Ready to sample some of the international flavors of San Joaquin County?
While Stockton, CA, the county seat, is the most diverse city – thanks to its size – smaller communities in the region are also home to museums, murals and signature events that celebrate the many customs and cuisines that make the area so vibrant.
In This Article
Explore Magnificent Museums
Stockton’s Haggin Museum highlights both art and regional history, while San Joaquin County Historical Museum keeps fresh with rotating exhibits. Recent shows spotlighted photography documenting post-World War II Filipino American life and tattooed women in California history.
Also telling the story of cultural groups in the region is the Mexican Heritage Center and Gallery in Stockton, which hosts celebrations such as Día de los Muertos and Christmas posadas, gallery shows for emerging local artists and historical exhibits. Its most recent show, “The Spirits of Barrio del Chivo,” documented Stockton’s gentrification of the city’s Goat Valley neighborhood, which was home to low-income Black and Mexican American residents, in the late 1950s.
“That has been a very popular exhibit,” says President Gracie Madrid. “We got people visiting from L.A., Fresno and the Bay Area.”
Discover Meaningful Murals
Just south of Stockton, Manteca is well on its way to becoming known as the Mural City, thanks to the Manteca Mural Society (MMS) and its 21-year mission to stoke community pride through public art. Founding President Tom Wilson was inspired by a trip to Chemainus, British Columbia (which is known for its murals) and decided to implement the idea in his home city.
To date, MMS has commissioned and helped fund 32 murals that depict the city’s history, agricultural roots and military veterans.
Like any proud parent, Wilson hems and haws when asked to choose a favorite piece of art. “That varies from time to time,” he says with a laugh. “One of my very favorites is ‘Manteca Snow.’” That painting depicts children laughing and playing in an orchard of almond trees covered in fluffy white blossoms.
“It does look like [snow] when you’re out here and the almonds blossom – it’s just gorgeous,” he says.
He’s also a big fan of “Cruising Manteca,” which documents the Friday night cruising culture of the 1950s. “Artist Dave Gordon interviewed a lot of people from that era. Some of the antics that took place, he tried to duplicate them,” Wilson says. “It’s based on a lot of dense local lore.”
Enjoy Bountiful Cultural Events
When it comes to sampling the international flavors of San Joaquin County, diversity really shines through in the many cultural events that celebrate the food, traditions and art of residents who come from around the globe.
Festivals celebrate Chinese, Cambodian and Hmong New Years, and Stockton’s Sikh temple and Buddhist church host annual events.
There’s also the Stockton Community Pow Wow, Stockton Black Family Day and events celebrating Cinco de Mayo and Diwali.
Of course, there’s no better way to win hearts and minds than by appealing to the stomach, so food festivals are numerous and include the Jewish Food Fair and the Stockton Greek Festival.
The Stockton Flavor Fest, an international food festival that launched in 2020, is already garnering plenty of praise. The International Festivals & Events Association awarded the event a gold medal for Best New Festival from 2020 to 2022, and the event is growing steadily. In 2020, it was a two-day fest with around 13,400 attendees; the May 2024 event will be three days.
Amy Alpers, Visit Stockton’s director of marketing and communications, says she hopes up to 25,000 guests will visit.
South American and Southeast Asian cuisines are especially strongly represented, but each of the 80 food and artisan vendors are carefully curated to ensure a delicious mix.
“We are trying to reflect the cultures of the community,” Alpers says. “You can taste the flavors of the whole world in Stockton.”
Catch a Show
In San Joaquin County, residents have a wealth of places to watch artists perform their craft, whether it be beneath the backdrop of the San Joaquin River or in the seats of historic theaters.
Among the top live performing arts and music venues in the region is Stockton Civic Theatre, which opened in 1950 and presents five Broadway-favorite musicals and plays during an annual season that runs from September to July. Productions that have taken the stage over the last couple of years include “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Oliver” and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”
Closer to downtown Stockton, the Bob Hope Theatre was built in 1930, then restored and upgraded over the years to retain its movie palace charm. “The Bob” has 2,042 seats and hosts year-round live theater, musicals, concerts, children’s shows, a classic cinema series and stand-up comics.
To enjoy a cold craft beer while watching a live music performance, you can visit Valley Brewing Co. in Stockton. Wine drinkers can indulge in a cabernet or merlot while catching concerts at Cast Iron Trading Co. With a view of the San Joaquin River, Windmill Cove Bar & Grill creates the perfect ambiance for listening to local bands, playing genres from country to rock.
Other top performing arts venues throughout the county include Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, Tracy Repertory Theatre, Delta Center for the Arts, Stockton Arena and the University of the Pacific’s Long Theatre.
– Staff Writer Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.
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