Old Town Atwater has kept September busy with its farmer's market, monthly mixer and Fall Festival & Car Show at Ralston Park.
That is a useful model for smaller downtown districts: build several recurring reasons for people to come back instead of depending on one giant annual event.
Farmers markets create routine. Car shows create destination traffic. Mixers connect business owners. Put together, they help a downtown feel active rather than occasional.
Source: Source: Old Town Atwater official event calendar, Sept. 2026. This page is an original Gazette summary of public reporting, not a reproduction of it. Confirm dates, times and details with the organizer or the original source before you go or act.