Just a few days away, the weekend will be packed with activity in neighboring Escalon, as that community hosts its annual Park Fete celebration.
Preliminary events going on this week have included recognition for Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon Al and Eva Bellinger and pageants to select royalty; the Miss Escalon event set for Wednesday, July 12 and the Little Miss and Mr. Escalon pageant on Thursday, July 13.
The festivities for Park Fete kick off on Friday, July 14 and continue throughout the day on Saturday, July 15.
On Friday, the vendor booths will be open at 4 p.m.; while the carnival area for kids opens up Friday at 6 p.m. Manteca-based Fun and Games amusements will be bringing in a wide variety of rides, games and inflatables for the kids, in addition to some carnival-style treats from cotton candy to ice cream.
The annual police department corn hole tournament is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Friday; sign up ahead of time for $20 per team; same day registration is $25 per team or $15 per individual, maximum of 42 teams with plaques for first, second and third place. Contact Sara Cardoso at scardoso@cityofescalon.org to sign up in advance.
Live entertainment begins on the Main Street stage that evening as well, with music starting at 6 p.m. and continuing until 11 p.m.
Vendor coordinator Debbie Murken said organizers have lined up several food and merchandise vendors for the weekend with more than a half dozen food offerings and merchandise ranging from jewelry to fashions to home décor and more, in addition to a Henna tattoo booth.
Saturday, July 15 will continue a jam-packed weekend for local residents, starting with the Escalon Park Fete Run. Participants can sign up now at runsignup.com or attend race day registration, 6:30 a.m. at El Portal Middle School on First Street. The races start at 7:30 a.m. The Masons Omelet Breakfast will be served starting at 7 a.m. at the Masonic Lodge at 1500 Viking Street; tickets are $10.
Also due during the day are a Stick Horse Rodeo for kids on Main Street at 9:30 a.m., in front of the kid’s corral. At 10 a.m. Saturday, the carnival, kid’s corral and vendor booths open, and other activities during the day will include a chalk art contest, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Sign-ups will start at 10 a.m. and run until 2 p.m.; chalk artwork must be completed by 3 p.m. with three different age groups offered, ribbons for winners in each age group. There will also be a horse shoe tournament with registration at 11 a.m. and the double elimination tournament starting at noon.
Another popular feature will be the annual Park Fete Parade, scheduled for 11 a.m., with Escalon Horseless Carriage Museum proprietor Don Ritchey serving as Grand Marshal.
Entertainment on stage July 15 will include musical groups, solo artists and dancers, while Ravioli the Clown will be on hand in the kid’s corral in the afternoon to entertain as well, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The local Escalon Historical Society Museum on Main Street will be open during Park Fete on Saturday for tours and reminiscing; a special drawing of donated paintings will be conducted as well, with tickets available at the museum. The library will host its ‘buck a bundle’ book sale on Saturday, hoping to entice some bargain hunters.
