A sure sign of the rapidly approaching Fourth of July holiday, the sale of Safe and Sane Fireworks at a handful of booths scattered around the city can officially begin this weekend.

Booths are allowed to open on June 28 every year, and can stay open until July 4. Escalon City Council members approved the sale of the Safe and Sane fireworks several years ago, enacting an ordinance to allow for their use, even though they are banned in San Joaquin County.

“The booths open on Saturday at noon,” said city Recreation Coordinator Bridget Gaines, with four locations available.

One booth is set aside each year for use by the city, and this year is again benefitting the Escalon Parks Foundation for projects, including the Escalon Skate Park initiative. That booth is set up in the Escalon Shopping Center on Jackson Avenue, which also holds Rite Aid, D’Boni’s Pizza, Hula’s and more.

City staff members and the Parks Foundation personnel will run that booth.

Other booths were up for grabs in the city’s lottery system, those organizations completing the application form and meeting all criteria were put in for the random drawing.

“This year we had eight applicants, not including the Parks Foundation,” noted Gaines. “That’s I think the most we have ever had.”

For many groups, the fireworks sales constitute their largest fundraiser of the year.

Receiving the booths this year were: Escalon Azores Band, setting up at The Barn on Highway 120 just west of the city; Trinity Church in the Mar Val Main Street Market parking lot off McHenry in the Vineyard Square shopping center; and Escalon Covenant Church at Big Boy Market on Jackson Avenue.

Sales can continue until Friday, July 4 at midnight.

Meanwhile, the Escalon Covenant Church annual Independence Day celebration is scheduled for this Sunday, June 29, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the city’s Hogan Park, adjacent to the Community Center.

Dinner will be served from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and there will also be an obstacle course, bounce house, watermelon-eating contest, horseshoe tournament, barbecue, sno cones, ice cream, music, and fireworks. Suggested donation is $3 per person, with a maximum fee of $10 per family.

Tickets are available at Escalon Covenant Church, D’Boni’s Pizza, or online at www.escaloncovenant.org.

Following the July 4 festivities in town, it will be time for the annual Park Fete celebration, which runs Friday and Saturday, July 11 and 12. Organizes are still looking for vendors to take part and those that are interested in having a booth at the event or need more information can contact Debbie at 402-0505.

The luncheon to honor this year’s Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon, Lee and Sandy Rigg, will be Tuesday, July 8 at noon at the Escalon Community Center and tickets can be obtained by contacting Sheila Arellano at 838-7408.