There’ll be a variety of events to attend this weekend to kickstart September. You can choose among sports games, concerts, and the Dark Sky Festival’s presentation.

The last games of the season for the Fresno Grizzlies will be played throughout the weekend. The Red Wave will come out to support the Fresno State football team on Saturday for their home opener. There’ll be a limited number of red seat tickets available during a flash sale at $35.

A Latin invasion will come through the Save Mart Center with Chayanne, Junior H, and Peso Pluma. Candlelight returns to Fresno with tributes to Coldplay, Taylor Swift, and Vivaldi. It’ll be a homecoming for the reggae band Iration at Woodward Park.

Check out our expanded list of events.

Chayanne

Latin pop singer and actor Chayanne performs at the Save Mart Center on Thursday. As a solo artist, Chayanne has released 21 albums and sold over 15 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling Latin music artists.

He had multiple singles grace the Latin charts throughout the decades. His videos on YouTube have reached up to the hundreds of millions in views.

Get your tickets here.

Related Story: Winning Is the Name of the Game as Bulldogs Prepare for Home Football Opener

Fresno Grizzlies vs San Jose Giants

The Fresno Grizzlies close out the season in a series against the San Jose Giants at Chukchansi Park this weekend. This series runs through Sunday. There are themed nights for some of those games.

And there is the 1st Grizzlies homer for @FresnoStateBSB's Tommy Hopfe! Just in time for Fresno State Night tomorrow – Grab your 🎟️ now at https://t.co/zdeC5o2vh2! 🐻🐶⚾️ pic.twitter.com/yIZec8gQ30

— Fresno Grizzlies (@FresnoGrizzlies) September 5, 2024

On Thursday, show your Bulldog pride at Fresno State Night, a celebration of college spirit and community unity.

Friday is Touch-a-Truck Night where the ballpark transforms into a playground of giant wheels and mechanical wonders. There’ll be a variety of vehicles, from fire trucks to construction equipment. The night concludes with a fireworks show.

On Saturday, step into a fairytale at Princess Night, where Chukchansi Park becomes a magical kingdom for a night of royal fun and enchantment.

Get your tickets here.

Candlelight

Candlelight is a series of concerts performed by classically trained musicians while surrounded by LED candles, giving it a dramatic effect. They’ve entertained Fresno throughout the summer, and they return this weekend with three performances at The Grand 1401.

On Friday, they’ll do a strings tribute to Coldplay’s majestic sounds. Expect the band’s defining songs like “Clocks,” “My Universe,” and “Speed of Sound.”

Then, on Saturday, they’ll perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and more. Later that night they’ll do a tribute to the music of Taylor Swift. Included: classical renditions of her career defining songs like “Love Story,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “You Belong with Me,” and “Shake It Off.”

I’ve seen this show in-person; it was a tribute to the music of Adele. It is a unique experience and highly recommended.

Get your tickets here.

Related Story: Unraveling the Secrets of How a Self-Taught Promoter Brings Star Artists to ...

Iration

The reggae band Iration brings the chill vibes to the Woodward Park Rotary Amphitheater on Friday. They’ll be joined by special guests Pepper, DENM, and Artikal Sound System. Iration is on their Daytrippin in Paradise Summer Tour.

The band plays a mix of reggae, dub, pop, and rock. They’ve always been a mainstay on the charts for their respective genre. They’ve developed a loyal fanbase who like that kind of music.

They’ve toured consistently through Fresno performing primarily at Woodward Park, making it their go-to venue. I saw them back in 2019 and they did bring a laid-back atmosphere to the park. The audience dug their sound, it was upbeat, and everybody had a good time.

Get your tickets here.

Fresno State vs Sacramento State

The Fresno State football team plays its home opener at Valley Children’s Stadium on Saturday against the Sacramento State Hornets. The Bulldogs are looking to bounce back after their opening loss to then No. 9 ranked Michigan.

This will be the first official home game for interim head coach Tim Skipper. This is their fifth meeting with Sac State and they’ve won all four previous meetings outscoring them 113-33 in the series.

There’ll be an appearance from the 1961 Mercy Bowl team. Last season Fresno State led all Group of 5 programs in attendance with an average of 39,939 fans per game.

Who wants to come the @FresnoStateFB game on Saturday? I’m giving away 4 tickets and tailgate passes.
Like, Retweet, and Follow my account to win.

Winner will be announced tomorrow morning. Good luck, and let’s pack the stadium! 🏟️🐾#GoDogs

— Garrett Klassy (@KlassyDogs) September 5, 2024

Get your tickets here.

Related Story: Drake Bell Rocks Strummer’s in Fresno With Music New and Old

Dark Sky Festival

The 11th Annual Dark Sky Festival, presented by the Sequoia Parks Conservancy and National Park Service, takes place all weekend.  The event unfolds in Visalia and Three Rivers, as well as the breathtaking settings of Giant Forest, Lodgepole, and Grant Grove. There’ll be special tours, captivating stargazing sessions, and enlightening guest speakers.

Enjoy the Friday Night Free Movie Event with a screening of the film “A Million Miles Away” at Visalia Fox Theatre with food trucks and a silent auction. Get creative at Craft the Night on Sunday in Three Rivers with an opportunity to make greeting cards and pendants.

For more information click here.

Check it Out:

Music in the Garden Back to the Bow, Thursday

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a musical journey with the local string ensemble, “Back to the Bow,” this Thursday at Shinzen Friendship Garden. They’ll delight you with classical music and Japanese folk songs. They’ve been performing for 21 years.

Get your ticket here.

Advancing the Mission with Jim Caviezel, Thursday

Actor Jim Caviezel shares his passion for the pro-life movement at Visalia First Church on Thursday. He’s best known for his performances in films like “The Passion of the Christ” and “Sound of Freedom.” The event is put on by Tulare-Kings Right to Life.

Get your tickets here.

Junior H, Friday

Junior H will entertain fans at the Save Mart Center on Friday. He’ll play hits from his latest album titled “$ad Boyz 4 Life II,” which already has 1.4 billion streams on platforms just five months after its release. On Spotify alone, he holds 26 million monthly listeners and over 3.3 billion streams of his top 10 most listened-to songs.

Get your tickets here.

Slice of Comedy Headlining Michael Regilio, Friday

Stand-up comedian Michael Regilio performs at DiCicco’s Old Town Clovis on Friday. He’s performed for Zarna Garg and Tiffany Haddish. Regilio’s unique style of jokes and stories has earned him regular spots at the world-famous Hollywood Improv as well as New York’s West Side Comedy Club.

Get your tickets here.

Bohemian Queen, Friday

Bohemian Queen, which is a tribute to Queen, will rock the Tower Theatre on Friday. They’ll faithfully recreate the bombastic, operatic band by bringing their high-energy stage show and authentic aesthetic to the stage. The frontman’s interpretation of the late great Freddie Mercury from the vocals and stage presence is spot on. They’ll perform the classic anthems like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” and “We Are the Champions.”

Get your tickets here.

Peso Pluma, Saturday

Hot off winning a Grammy for Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano), for his album “Génesis,” Peso Pluma will bring the house down at Save Mart Center on Saturday. Pluma was also a big winner at the Billboard 2023 Latin Music Awards, taking home eight awards. Peso sings and raps. This will be his first performance at the Save Mart Center.

Get your tickets here.