Churches and community organizations from across the region are preparing to take their message of faith and service outdoors as The Encounter: Jesus in the City 2026 returns to downtown Stockton for a two-day gathering at Weber Point Events Center on October 3 and 4.

Stockton families will have an opportunity to take care of their health while connecting with valuable community resources during Family Wellness Day, a free event bringing health screenings, vaccinations, family activities and support services together in one place.

An upcoming exhibition at University of the Pacific is inviting Stockton residents to look beyond today's headlines and assumptions about drugs and consider a much broader question: How have mind-altering substances shaped human culture throughout history?

Music can entertain, inspire and bring people together. But what happens when musicians set aside the written score and create something in the moment? A special event at University of the Pacific will explore how improvisation can become a powerful tool for education, communication, creativity and healing.

Stockton soccer standout Ezekiel Cruz is making an immediate impact at UC Merced. Just three games into his career with the Bobcats, the Stockton native has been named the California Collegiate Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Week, while teammate and Manteca native Alexia Alva earned CCAA Offensive Player of the Week honors.

A $160,000-plus grant from Health Net and the Centene Foundation is helping Stockton's Emergency Food Bank expand its Mobile Farmer's Market, which already delivers fresh produce to 45,000 San Joaquin County residents at 80 sites.

Professional hockey is coming back to Stockton, and this time it is bringing back a familiar name. The Stockton Thunder will make their home debut on Saturday, October 17, 2026, against Oceanside HC at Adventist Health Arena, marking the return of professional hockey to the city after a four-year absence. Opening night is scheduled for 6:11 p.m.

Music, poetry and personal expression will take center stage in Downtown Stockton on Saturday, October 10, as Little Manila Rising hosts Open Mind & Open Mic, a community event recognizing World Mental Health Day.