Combine 300 pounds of corned beef, 150 pounds of potatoes and 100 pounds each of carrots and cabbage and what have you got? The Escalon Lions Club annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner.
Put on each year in March, this year will mark the 58th annual event for this holiday tradition, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
“It’s a team effort,” admitted Lions Club member Chuck Sawyer, who is among those handling the cooking duties for the dinner. “We start gathering about 10 a.m. to get it cooking.”
Date for the dinner this year is Thursday, March 14 at the Escalon Community Center, 1055 Escalon Ave.; tickets are $30 apiece and you can eat in or take it to go.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner served about 7 p.m.
“Members do the cooking, run the bar and emcee the event,” Sawyer said of the Lions Club overseeing the dinner. “We also recruit young people from the high school, from various clubs, to help serve and distribute the raffle prizes.”
Sawyer said the Lions also are blessed with clean up help afterward by volunteers from a local family.
The traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner includes the potatoes and carrots as well, along with a roll, and ice cream for dessert.
“There is wine on the tables and we do have a no host bar,” Sawyer added.
Non-alcoholic drinks are available as well and the dinner is open to all ages.
In addition to the multiple items donated for the raffle drawings, there are also silent auction items to bid on; Sawyer said a number of local businesses and community residents have donated the prizes along with some from Lions Club members themselves.
The fun evening will also include Celtic music.
“The majority of the funds we raise go into high school scholarships,” Sawyer said, with the proceeds from the Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner going to help support the scholarships as well.
Any corned beef left from the 300 pounds cooked up is typically auctioned off for people to purchase and take home to enjoy at a later time, said Sawyer.
Tickets are available at Escalon Body and Frame, 2228 Main; D’Boni’s Pizza, 2249 Jackson Ave.; or from any Lions Club member. You can also call Steve Scott at 209-404-2289.
