By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Escalons Annual Park Fete Celebration Serves Up Fun
CORRAL
It will be all fun and games in the Kids Corral at Park Fete this year, with a variety of activities including stick horse races before the Saturday morning parade, face painting, chalk art contest and more. Last year, sack races proved to be a fun event as well. Times Photos By Marg Jackson

From musical entertainment to a downtown parade, food booths, rides and games, the Escalon Park Fete is gearing up for another successful year.

Festivities in the actual Park Fete are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16, sponsored by the Escalon Lions Club. Pre-event pageantry was slated Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon Grant and Sandy Thompson honored on Tuesday. Wednesday evening, tonight, holds the Miss Escalon Pageant, with the winner receiving a scholarship and becoming the city’s representative at a number of community and regional events. Little Mr. and Miss Escalon will be selected at a Thursday night pageant and will serve as young ambassadors for the community. (See related story, Page A5.)

Friday, July 15 will see the vendor booths open along Main Street and in the city’s Main Street Park at 3 p.m.

The Lions Beer Booth is open from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and the carnival opens at 6 p.m.

On the Main Street Stage on Friday, The New Past performs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Remedy takes the stage from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sign-ups for the Escalon Police Department Cornhole Tournament begin at 6:30 p.m. adjacent to the park; $10 per team, with the tournament starting at 7 p.m. Friday. Contact Sara at scardoso@cityofescalon.org for more information.

More events are scheduled for Saturday, July 16 beginning with the Escalon Park Fete Run, two-mile or 10k, at 7:30 a.m.; race day registration starts at 6:30 a.m. with the race leaving from Irwin and Highway 120. ShadowChase Running Club is overseeing that event.

At the Masonic Hall on Viking Street, an omelet breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., tickets are $10.

At 9:15 a.m., a Junior Stick Horse Rodeo is planned, with age categories 3 to 6, 7 to 9, and 10 to 12, with stick horses provided.

The carnival and special Kids Corral open at 10 a.m., with games, face painting and a petting zoo. Registration for the chalk art contest starts at 10 a.m. as well, along with the vendor booths opening for the day.

Grand Marshal Angelo Blanco will lead the Park Fete parade, which takes off at 11 a.m., leaving from Coley Avenue, proceeding along First Street, then turning on to Main Street. The Lions Beer Booth is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and registration for the Horseshoe Tournament starts at 11 a.m.; cost is $20 per team and the tournament begins at 12:15 p.m. Contact Leighton Finch, 505-0386, to sign up or for more information.

Musical entertainment on the Main Street Stage on Saturday includes: LilLana Cajias, noon to 1:30 p.m.; Dennis Parrish, 1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Patty Castillo Davis, 3 p.m.; Live Again, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Greg Rivera and Brian Head, 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Never Too Late, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Around the Park Fete grounds, entertainment will include Sierra Gun Hawks, noon, Quick Draw Gun Demonstration and Contest, $5 for 10 shots; Ravioli the Clown Balloon Art, 2:30 p.m.; Chalk Art Contest Judging in Kid’s Corral, 3 p.m.

Official Park Fete custom T-shirts will be available at the wine booth and the festivities conclude Saturday at 11:30 p.m.