Escalon’s annual Park Fete celebration kicks into high gear next week, with events ranging from the Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon luncheon on Tuesday to the downtown festivities including a parade, music and kids games on Saturday.

In between, there will be pageants, food, fun and a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends.

Sponsored by the Escalon Lions Club with plenty of community support, there will be special pages in the July 13 issue of The Times dedicated to promoting the special Park Fete celebration. This year’s theme is ‘You’re our MANE guests at Park Fete … and we’re not LION.”

Lions Club member and Escalon City Councilman Ed Alves said the goal is truly to put on a celebration showcasing the community and giving people a ‘hometown’ summertime gathering.

Tuesday, July 12 will see Grant and Sandy Thompson feted as the new Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon with a luncheon ($20 per ticket) at the Escalon Community Center at 11 a.m. Contact Gracie Marx for tickets at 838-7556.

Wednesday, July 13 is the Miss Escalon Pageant at 6 p.m. at the Community Center; put on through the support of donor E.J. Rodgers and with dinner tickets priced at $25. Contact Deverie Voral at 988-8030 for tickets or more information. Thursday, at the Escalon Community Center at 6 p.m., the Little Mr. and Miss Escalon pageant is open, free, and will feature a number of contestants vying for the chance to represent the community.

Vendor booths will open at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 15 centered around the Main Street Park area, the carnival begins at 6 p.m., with the Escalon Police Department cornhole tournament at 7 p.m.

Saturday brings the annual Park Fete Run, the omelet breakfast at the Masonic Hall on Viking Street, a junior stickhorse rodeo, the parade at 11 a.m., a kids’ corral, chalk art contest, horseshoe tournament, musical groups on stage all day and more.

The Lions Club hosts their Beer Booth both days as well and festivities wrap up at 11:30 p.m. Saturday.