Final preparations are being made as the Escalon Farmers Market will return for the start of a five-month season on Wednesday, April 15.

“I feel like the market has a good following, we always have returning patrons and vendors,” coordinator Megan McNinch said.

This year, however, the Farmers Market is being put on under the auspices of the Escalon Lions Club, which has taken it over in the wake of the disbanding of the Escalon Chamber of Commerce. The chamber was a longtime sponsor of the market and McNinch served as vendor liaison/market coordinator for much of that time. She has now taken over the same role but with the Lions as the sponsor and McNinch has become a member of the Lions Club.

“It will be a little different in April and possibly May,” she added of the Farmers Market, which will be set up primarily in the street, as problems with the re-seeding of different grassy areas in the Main Street Park have forced moving it from the park itself.

But McNinch said city officials “have been great” in working with market organizers to make sure the event can go off as scheduled for its first market night on April 15. The majority of vendor booths will be set up on Main Street from First Street down to about Third Street.

“We’re hoping for good weather and we’re very family focused,” McNinch said. “We have over 50 vendors, we will have live music by The Wicked Pickles and the food court will be set up in the same area that it has been in the past.”

The food court is in a paved parking lot near the Main and First Street intersection at the far end of the Main Street Park area.

Also, said McNinch, there will be 50 ‘Senior Bucks’ vouchers available for those 55 and older, with one $20 voucher per person, given out on a first come, first served basis.

They can be spent on specific items at the market, including produce, eggs, bread and cheese, said McNinch, with those vendors set up by the stage area for easy shopping.

The market will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be hosted the third Wednesday of each month, April through August.

“We have quite a few new vendors and we also will have several youth vendors, some of the things the kids come up with are very creative,” McNinch said.

Overall, it’s an evening for the whole family to enjoy, with food, beverages, fresh fruits and vegetables, merchandise vendors, music, a craft area hosted by the Friends of the Escalon Library and various information booths set up by local organizations.

“The change to the Lions Club is significant,” McNinch added of the shift in sponsorship. “The Lions Club has been fantastic and we have a larger volunteer base; we didn’t want the market to be discontinued, so it has been a great partnership.”