University of the Pacific is preparing for a Homecoming unlike any other in its history. From October 9 through 11, alumni, students, families and friends will gather on Pacific's Stockton campus for Homecoming and Family Weekend 2026, a three-day celebration that takes on special significance this year as the university marks its 175th anniversary.

Nearly a century after one of American theater’s most daring plays first challenged audiences, Machinal is coming home to the city of its playwright’s birth. Beginning October 9, Delta Drama at San Joaquin Delta College will present Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal, an expressionist drama inspired by a notorious 1920s murder case and centered on a woman struggling to find freedom in a world that seems determined to control her. Performances will continue through October 18 at the Al Muller Studio Theatre on Delta College’s Stockton campus.

A brand-new festival is coming to Stockton this fall, bringing together California olive oils, specialty foods, local makers, art, wine and the agricultural traditions that help define the region.

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.

Families looking for an affordable way to enjoy the fall season won't have to travel far or reach for their wallets. The 2026 Harvest Festival returns to East Stockton on Saturday, October 17, offering four hours of free family entertainment at Harvest Church Ministries, 3051 E. Main Street. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., families can enjoy pony rides, carnival games and prizes, live performances and music, community resource booths, food and other activities.

A new kind of fall festival is coming to downtown Stockton this October, bringing together books, independent film, food, cosplay and pop culture in one all-day event. The GRIM Festival: Books, Bites & Flicks will take place Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Weber Point Events Center, 221 N. Center Street in Stockton.

Stockton’s cultural calendar will shine a little brighter this October as the Diwali Festival & Show 2026 brings an afternoon of celebration, cultural performances and community connection to Stagg High School. Organized by the American Desi Society, the all-ages celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Stagg High School Performing Arts Theatre, 1621 Brookside Road in Stockton. Admission is being offered free, along with free parking.

For 75 years, voices have been coming together in Stockton to create something larger than any single singer. That legacy will take center stage on Saturday, October 17, 2026, when the Stockton Chorale opens its 75th Anniversary “Diamond Season” with 75 Years of Inspiring Joy at 7 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Avenue in Stockton.

Stockton is getting ready for a night of unforgettable music, passion, and celebration as Regional Mexican music icon Alicia Villarreal brings her highly anticipated Bendita Locura Tour to the historic Bob Hope Theatre on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Downtown Stockton will come alive with color, music, art and remembrance on Saturday, October 24, when the Mexican Heritage Center & Gallery hosts its annual Día de los Muertos Community Street Fiesta. The family-friendly celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Mexican Heritage Center, bringing the community together to honor loved ones while celebrating the rich traditions of Día de los Muertos.