I like to go to festivals that specialize in something specific-like Greek culture and food…read more What I don't like is when other vendors come in and sell useless trash or food that doesn't go with the theme. I went to the strawberry festival last year, and there was everything for sale - except for strawberries. For this festival, they did a tremendous job with the theme, seating arrangements and food options. There were plenty of Greek food options to choose from , and the lines went pretty quickly. However, the food fell flat in my opinion. The rice pilaf was bland, the pita bread was not good , and the meats were just OK. I felt the prices weren't out of line, but there was nothing I tried that was better than any other restaurants in the area. The Church was beautiful, and the setup was perfect. I just wish the food tasted better.

It's been a few years since we've come to the Greek Festival. This year my aunt and uncle bought us…read moretickets, so we met them there for lunch and shopping! We found parking on the street and stood in line momentarily. The festival opened at 11:00am. We stood in line for the Grill, were handed a tray and decided on the foods we wanted. I enjoyed a yummy salad and some naan. The portions were perfect and the prices just right. My husband enjoyed the french fries. Oh boy, there were a pile of them! I enjoyed my favorite orange Espa drink and everyone else got water. The festival is cashless like most businesses these days. It was no problem finding a spot for lunch, there were lots of tables set up and we enjoyed the live music playing. We shopped after lunch and stopped by a few of the booths set up as well: Blood Bank, Poverello House, and Health Concepts.

The Madera Drive-In is one of the best places to go to hang with friends, family or partners. Two…read moremovies for a low price and concessions that not only taste great but are affordable. Staff is friendly every year no matter when you come.

One of just a few left. We really like going to the drive in. If you're new to the drive in…read moreexperience, here are a few pro tips. 1st- it's not like being at a regular theatre. You need some accoutrements. 2. Consider bringing lawn chairs and a FM radio. Many times the outside speakers do not work and I haven't figured how to play FM stations through my phone. 3. Bring your bug spray. I spray it on myself and the ground beneath me to keep away mosquitoes and ants. 4. We always bring dinner and snacks. We usually pick up a pizza, Panda Express, or some other fast food. I always bring an ice chest with water and sodas. We still hit the concession stand to help them stay in business. 5. Is the easiest, sit in your car with the radio dialed into the appropriate station. Enjoy the A/C car and enjoy the movie. 6. Beware, drive in theatre bathrooms are usually pretty bad. At least the Madera drive in has soap and paper towels.

Would you attend a 3 day indoor music festival now that almost 70% of American adults have received…read moreat least one vaccination? The Fresno Dixieland Jazz music festival was cancelled in February 2021, but rescheduled recently for July 2021 at Doubletree Hotel Fresno convention center by Hilton. 3 day concert fee reduced from $150 in February 2020 to $120 in July 2021, as fewer bands, fewer venues, and short notice of the concert. Concert web site requires all concert guests to show a cell phone picture of vaccination certificate, or display a negative covid 19 test result within the last 72 hours. Wife and I received our second Pfizer vaccine March 5. We left Sunnyvale at 7:50am, and got here at 10:30am. Parking guard checked our faces, saw that we fit the profile of hotel guests, and waved us through. When we arrive, everyone simply signs an affidavit that they are vaccinated, with no proof required, and that they will not hold the concert organizers nor hotel liable if they contract the virus. Everything on the honor system. All hotel personnel 100% masked, but masks optional for hotel guests International restaurant opened for buffet breakfast and take out dinner, with Foyer food court and D & G hot dog venue opened up to serve take out lunch. Tom Rigney and Flambeau played to a full house in Salon A in February 2020 with all 150 chairs taken. This time at least 60% empty. Wasn't sure if this was because of the vaccination prerequisite, or the unappealing prospect of going to Fresno in record 113 degree heat. The concert committee got the hotel to offer a discounted $143 a night rooms, but failed to get 500 room nights paid for by guests, resulting in a $15,000 bill to use the 3 ball rooms and atrium for band performances. Only saw a few masked guests the entire weekend, including just one masked ball room dancer, and one masked band performer playing the clarinet under a bandana. No social distancing, but then these are the same people coming from year to year, and they know each other like family. We sat in the back all the time, where there was plenty of room to social distance. 12 bands, playing in 4 venues all indoors at the hotel. Included are four of my favorite bands: Tom Rigney and Flambeau, Gator Nation, Gino and the Lone Gunmen, and the Sierra Seven. You appreciate the atrium design of the hotel with everything you need indoors. Good thing, as the temperatures peaked at a record 113 degrees Sunday, making an outdoor concert safer from covid but untenable. Go outside in the afternoon for any length of time and you are toast. Median age was probably mid 70s, with no senior discount. Quite the contrary, as only place with a youth discount for people under 30!

This is my first time at the Fresno event. First night was great! Beautiful venue at the DoubleTree…read moreHotel, beautifully decorated and great volunteer staff making sure everyone is having fun. I will be back next year!!

I haven't been in 5 yrs and a few of my friends have never been so we decided to check it out when…read moreBruno Mars Tribute band was playing. First of all, I didn't even recognize Apcal anymore. I passed it by on the road because of the new gas station set-up and it is down the road just a bit further. Inside the Ranch, there wasn't the building that used to be off to the right of the stage, no huge oak tree where the VIP tables used to sit and the layout was just so different now. They now have 2 sections divided by a foot path for smoking and non-smoking. Smokers used to have to go in the far back by the entrance to smoke. They now have the bar in the middle with half the bar serving the smokers and other side serving non-smokers. The port-a-potties are lined up by the entrance/exit. They were actually pretty clean with toilet seat covers in almost all of the stalls and running water with hand-soap and paper towels. The stage is now bigger and more professional looking with shelter over it for the bands. There is still a VIP section however they are seated in front on the smoker's side which doesn't really make any sense to me if you are spending so much for VIP but then have to deal with smelling smoke. VIP's get their own bar and access to their own port-a-potties. There were 4 food trucks and it was a bit disappointing to that none of the food trucks served anything sweet except Boba. None of the trucks served coffee or hot chocolate. I am very pleased with the staff. They were helpful and friendly. The bar serves beer on tap, bottled, hard rootbeer, mixed cocktails, wine and sodas in a can. They no longer allow wine bottle purchases. Apparently people got upset when they couldn't take their opened bottles home at the end of an event. Just drink it. Duh?! Alcoholic Drinks run $8-10 on average and sodas $3. I got a pomegranate Sangria (highly recommend) the fruit one is not as good. And then I also got a glass of moscato (in a small plastic cup). I did accidentally spill my moscato after having one drink as I leaned over in my chair to put my food down and down it spilled on my arm and foot. I told the bartender so she wouldn't think I was a drunk downing it and coming back for another. She replaced it for me at no charge. Thank you!!!! Food was okay. I got the Asada nachos from the Asada Island truck. The band that opened for Bruno Tribute was called The Sinners. They were pretty good but we pretty much had enough of that band after an hour. They played for 2 hours which was overkill. The opening band shouldn't be allowed to play as long the main event. Both bands played for 2 hours. Bruno Tribute was on fire. I don't even like Bruno Mars and yet me and my friends danced on the dance floor in front the entire time they played. I can't wait to start coming to more again even though the season is coming to an end.

Going down hill quickly. The bands this year seem to be of lesser quality. Lots of gaps in the…read moreentertainment, like someone calling out line dancing lessons. Only a small portion of people are line dancing. We go there to hear music. This is a real buzz kill. Shmorgan Wally tribute band was mid, at best this year. Last year was really good. Some of the food vendors are selling tiny portions, for outrageous prices. Who is doing the vetting at this venue. The attendance has dwindled down to probably half of last year. I can see why. This place used to be great! Myself and the entire group that went with us left early last night, not worth the money we spent there. Hard pass on this place at least for the rest of the year.

Booked a reservation time for Sunday at 3:30 to 6 PM for a birthday celebration. Each person has to…read moresign a waiver on your phone. We had to wait in a little line to check in our reservation before we were able to get in. They give you a wristband and a raffle ticket for the rental skates. They have to do a little bag search and go through a small metal detector for safety. They have one person giving out the rentals to people and run the toy tables. You were able to get quads or in line skates. We pretty much just claim a table to put your stuff there. The rink is pretty big. They have neon lights and music playing. There was a lot of adults and kids skating around. They also had padded rails for the rink. We had two large pizzas, two pitchers of soda, and chicken fries. The food was pretty good and had big portions for 7 of us, but it did take a little while for the food to come out and it was kind of pricey. They had little mini arcade games which was fun for the kids. We event got a small little toy which was only $8. It is definitely a fun place for all ages.

Attended a party, took a lesson, stayed a session, and met Gobbles the turkey. Enjoyed our skating…read moreexperience so much, we already started planning our return visit.

There were a few things I wanted to do during this 2023 holiday season. I wanted to go to Solvang…read moreand Frostys Once a Year Pop-Up Christmas Bar in Hollywood, but due to scheduling conflicts with my husband and an injury that is slowly healing, I did not get to go. However, I did check off local Christmas events such as Candy Cane Lane, Miracle at Modernist and now Illuminature, Fresno Chaffee Zoo's Holiday Spectacular. They have two time slots 5-7 and 7-9. However, if you go at 5, they don't check if you have not left by 7. In addition, if you go around 6 for the 7-9, they will still let you in. It is about $20 per person so not super cheap, but if you are a member, you can get a discount. 3/5- Entrance- There is a welcoming Christmas tree in the front adorned with lanterns as ornaments that says hi in different languages. However, heading in near ticket booth was blah. They should decorate the line dividers more. Also, gift shop should sell more Illuminature items like ornaments. We did get to have a shot of Captain Morgan with our hot cocoa because when in Rome! 5/5- African Exhibit. If you want to start off with the best area, go to the African Exhibit. I was amazed at every turn. All of the decorated exhibits are as mentioned in the name spectacular. The inflatable lantern pathway makes you feel like you are at Disneyland. The ornament light tunnel is amazing. The butterfly garden and Illuminating butterflies are gorgeous. Tons of Amazing statement pieces, 2 beautiful pathways of lights and my most favorite thing, the gigantic inflatable carousel snowglobe with a bow on top. Santas everywhere and that's where Santa's workshop is for Santa photos. We came after Christmas so Santa went back to the north pole. I honestly wish I had more time to take in everything since we did not get to this exhibit until 8pm. 1/5- Kingdoms of Asia-This holiday exhibit was so boring. Honestly, skip it and go enjoy African Exhibit. I hope they do more with the decorations here next year. It had lights of tigers and that was about it. The flamingos right before the entrance were pretty. I could have cared less if I missed the lights here. 3/5- Sea Lion Cove- Decorated beautifully with illiminated coral reefs, clams, seashells and fish, reminded me of Finding Nemo at Disneyland, but again, I spent too much time here and wish I had more time at African Exhibit. 5/5- The moving illuminated Chinese Peonies wall was spectacular as well as the flower fairies. 3/5- The only animals we saw were 2 real reindeers which if you have children, they will love and the reptiles. Other honorable mentions structures- Illuminated peacocks that wings move up and down, illuminated parrots that repeat what you say and smoky bubbles. There are more that I did not mention. Pictures and videos do not do this event justice. If you can't make it every year, it's definitely a must see once if you live in Fresno!

Second time visiting, but it was the first time taking my boyfriend. This year, it was even more…read moremagical than last, and the quality of the lights and the number of areas to see were greatly expanded. The staff was so sweet and friendly. The price was pretty good at $16 per person. They were selling hot chocolate and churros; although a bit overpriced. We were so happy as we were able to enter the reptile room. We also got to see some birds called Crested Screamer, which were so cute. We got lucky enough to see two red wolves playing. We also got to see a large crocodile. There were also flamingos. The lights were so beautiful and made it romantic for my boyfriend and I. We liked it more than Christmas tree lane and will likely be returning next year.

This is an annual event put on by the Hot Rod Coalition. This year was the 8th Annual. They run a…read moreswap meet, have all day entertainment, many vendors, run a raffle and most importantly, a car show with hundreds of cars!

First time checking this place out after bowling at X-Lanes in Fashion Faire Mall. Lots of claw…read moremachines (I think at least 20, cool variety of plushies and my daughter also got a free pop-it toy. The place was clean with a few other visitors. The claws in the machines were not bad and the size of their plushies made it a bit easier to win a prize. Would come back once in a while but I don't go to the mall as often nowadays.

Claw daddy just reopened Saturday and are bigger and better then before. The new location is in…read morebetween macys and the boba place. I feel like they have double the amount of claw machines now. Their grand reopening was a family fun filled day. We got there a little early and got free plushies. Then depending on how much you spent you got raffle tickets to try and win some awesome prizes. This place sure knows how to make a bang. They gave away over 30 prizes. Ranging from plushies, Pokemon cards, skull pandas and labubu. I was actually the winner of a skull panda. They even had a huge labubu there to take pics with. All the workers were really kind. They even moved some plushies around to help us win. My boys love this place and can't wait to go back.