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FUSION Music Festival brings family-friendly entertainment, food to Lodi Lake Park

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FUSION Music Festival brings family-friendly entertainment, food to Lodi Lake Park

FUSION Music Festival is returning to Lodi Lake Park this weekend with live music, food trucks, and drinks.

The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29. Gates will open at 10:30 a.m.

“This is a music festival. Lodi typically has wine-themed events, Zinefest, the grape festival, all around their wine culture. We’re trying to change that a little bit,” Ralph P. Cesena Jr., executive director of FUSION Music Festival, told The Stockton Record. “The focus here is music. Kids under 18 are allowed to come in with a ticketed adult and it is truly a family-friendly event that doesn’t just focus on wine, but it also still honors our wine heritage.”

The event is presented by the Lodi Sunrise Rotary Club, the Lodi Rotary Club, the Lodi-Tokay Rotary Club, and the Kiwanis Club Greater Lodi Foundation. Event sponsors include Michael David Winery, Five Window Beer Co., Tia Linda’s Margarita, among others.

This year’s entertainment will include six live bands performing throughout the day. The opening act includes Funk Tim and Brandon at the Wine & Beer Alley stage. Entertainment will begin at noon at the Tribute Stage with AGENTs of Rock and the event will end on the Tribute Stage with Dog N Butterfly.

FUSION Music Festival entertainment schedule:

  • 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Funk Tim and Brandon on the Wine & Beer Alley Stage
  • 12 to 1 p.m. AGENTs of Rock on the Tribute Stage
  • 1 to 2:30 p.m. Rob Stevenson on the Wine & Beer Alley Stage
  • 2 to 3:30 p.m. Gypsy Dreams on the Tribute Stage
  • 3 to 4:30 p.m. David Massey on the Wine & Beer Alley Stage
  • 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Dog N Butterfly on the Tribute Stage

“It’s really an opportunity for the community to get together … to do something big for the community and raise money for those nonprofits,” Cesena Jr. said.

All proceeds from the festival will be donated to three local nonprofits: LOEL Senior Center, the World of Wonders Science Museum and Hospice of San Joaquin.

This year’s event will pay tribute to Marirose Powell, who recently lost her own battle with cancer, according to Cesena Jr.

“Powell was the lead singer of Mystic Moon, a local Fleetwood Mac tribute band that has performed at a variety of events and festivals throughout San Joaquin County over the years,” he wrote in an email.

Powell performed as Stevie Nicks.

Powell was taken care of by Hospice of San Joaquin during her last days, according to Cesena Jr. The hospice facility is one of the nonprofits that will receive donations from the proceeds of the event, in Powell’s honor.

Before her passing in April, Powell sang Fleetwood Mac’s hit “Landslide.” Her daughter-in-law recorded her and uploaded it to TikTok. Her video went viral with 4 million views on the app.

“She was truly the only person I’ve ever met that when she met you, she found you,” Sam Xenos told PEOPLE magazine. “Just knowing her left you a better person. Everybody is now seeing that through a 30-second video.”

Cesena Jr. said the 2023 festival honored Tracy Williams, a former LOEL executive director. She died in 2021 from cancer as well.

“Last year, FUSION raised over $32,000 to help the LOEL Senior Center fund their bathroom construction project,” Cesena Jr. wrote.

Tickets start at $40 for a designated driver ticket (concert only), $75 for general admission and $125 for VIP. Both general admission and VIP tickets include a commemorative wine or beer glass for those 21 and over, the events website states.

For 50% off ticket prices, event-goers can use discount code “FUSION24.”

There will be no seating but attendees are welcome to bring chairs, umbrellas, and wagons, with the only exception of “alcoholic beverages,” Cesena Jr. said.

For more information visit experiencethefusion.com.

Record reporter Angelaydet Rocha covers business and community news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at arocha@recordnet.com or on Twitter @AngelaydetRocha. To support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

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