
#NTOUCH MODESTO FREE#
The public can take a docent-led tour of this elaborately decorated downtown home, free of charge, typically on the weekends. It is now owned and operated by the city and free for the public to explore. The mansion has a long history that includes use as a family home, a sanatorium, and an apartment building, and much of its Victorian architecture remains.

This historic residence was originally constructed in 1883 for Robert McHenry and his wife, Matilda. McHenry Mansion McHenry Mansion | Photo Copyright: Brad Lane This family-friendly car parade also has food vendors, live music, and a car show competition it draws tens of thousands of visitors each year.ĥ. It features thousands of pre-1979 automobiles cruising downtown Modesto and the Modesto Historic Cruise Route. One of the central attractions of Graffiti Summer is the weekend-long Graffiti Summer Festival, including the annual Graffiti Classic Car Parade. During Graffiti Summer, The State Theatre in downtown Modesto is guaranteed to screen this classic Modesto-based movie.

#NTOUCH MODESTO MOVIE#
The event also pays homage to hometown director, George Lucas, whose breakthrough movie American Graffiti was based on his teenage years in Modesto in the early 1960s. It takes over the month of June in Modesto with vintage automobiles, live performances, and festival events. Graffiti Summer is a month-long event celebrating the classic car culture of the Central Valley. Graffiti Summer Classic Car Show, Modesto | Dave Parker / photo modified And buzzing with activity well past sunset, downtown Modesto is also the central spot for things to do at night in Modesto.ģ. Mural in Downtown Modesto | Photo Copyright: Brad Laneįor more Modesto history, head to downtown places like the McHenry Mansion and The State Theatre. Other downtown events include an annual Mural Festival, First Friday celebrations, and a highly decorated holiday Downtown Extravaganza. It's also home to much of the activity that goes alongside the annual Summer Graffiti cultural celebration. Art is on the streets as well, as tasteful murals adorn the side of many downtown buildings.ĭowntown is also the spot to catch big city events like the popular Modesto Certified Farmers Market. More local dining and shopping opportunities spread throughout the area, as well as several art galleries showcasing local and regional works.

Modern downtown attractions include the Gallo Center for the Arts, and the pedestrian-only Tenth Street Plaza, which features shopping, restaurants, and an 18-screen movie theater. Historic flair and modern storefronts inhabit this central part of the city, and more than one colorful mural catches the eye. Revitalization efforts over the last decade have transformed Modesto's downtown district into a central place of activity. Downtown Modesto The old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot in downtown Modesto The cultural spirit of this festival, however, is palpable throughout the year.Įnjoy your next cruise through Central California with our list of the top attractions in Modesto.ġ.

The city celebrates these legacies with the month-long Graffiti Summer cultural celebration, featuring vintage automobiles, live music, and events throughout the month of June. Modesto is the birthplace of the world-renowned director, George Lucas, and provided the inspiration behind his breakout 1973 movie American Graffiti. Other cultural attractions in the buzzing downtown district include the Gallo Center for the Arts and The State Theatre, as well as the historic Modesto Arch that greets visitors downtown. The surrounding farmlands and orchards of the region add flavor to the city, as does a classic car culture, and the area's sunny weather offers a nice forecast for all the city has to offer.ĭowntown Modesto is a good place to visit for a taste of the city, especially at weekly events like the Modesto Certified Farmers Market. In the San Joaquin Valley of Central California, the agricultural city of Modesto has a growing number of things to do and places to visit.
