It’s hardly time to start thinking about it, but Escalon City Council members recently conducted the annual drawing for organizations to host fireworks booths in the community.

Since the council approved the sale of the Safe and Sane fireworks several years ago, there have always been four booths allowed, with one set aside for the city’s recreation department and the other three put up in a random drawing for community groups that hope to make some money by hosting a booth. They have to have proof of insurance and meet other specific criteria to be entered into the drawing.

This year’s random draw of names saw the booths awarded to Escalon Sports Boosters, with their booth slated to be set up at Big Boy Market along Highway 120 on the east end of town; American Legion Post 263 with a tentative site of The Barn, along Highway 120 west of town; and Trinity Church, with the booth at Mar Val’s Main Street Market parking lot on McHenry Avenue.

The final booth, previously run by Escalon Recreation Department, has been turned over to the Escalon Parks Foundation. Money raised through sales at that booth will be used to help finance the new skateboard park, in the development stages and slated to go in adjacent to the city’s Main Street park.

The Parks Foundation booth will take over the spot previously hosted by the rec department, located in the Escalon Shopping Center parking lot.

Sales of the fireworks can start the week before the July 4 holiday, typically on June 28, and the sales can continue until midnight on July 4. Only the fire-marshal approved Safe and Sane fireworks are allowed, with the city ordinance providing for use of the fireworks in city limits.