The deadline is fast approaching for vendors to get involved in the upcoming Park Fete celebration in Escalon.

Vendor coordinator Debbie Murken said the deadline to secure space for the event is Saturday, July 8.

“We have about 30 vendors already,” Murken said on Sunday.

Some are local non-profit groups, others are businesses, some are service organizations with information or goods to sell; all are welcome. Booth space fees depend on the type of organization and the size of the space needed, Murken added.

“We’re looking for more,” she said of hoping to offer a wide variety for the annual city celebration.

To secure vendor space or for more information, contact Murken at 209-402-0505.

Park Fete will be staged in the city’s Main Street Park and the surrounding area on Friday and Saturday, July 14 and 15. This year’s Park Fete theme is “Our Town” and organizers are working to get all the pieces in place for the event.

In the week leading up to the actual celebration, however, there are a number of special festivities as well.

Those are scheduled to include the Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon Luncheon on Tuesday, July 11. Al and Eva Bellinger have been selected as this year’s ‘senior’ honorees. The Miss Escalon Pageant will be Wednesday, July 12 and the Little Miss and Mr. Escalon Pageant is set for Thursday, July 13. For more information, including tickets to the Miss Escalon dinner and pageant, contact Lexi at 209-480-0728 or Shannon at 209-938-7711.

On Friday, July 14 to kick off the actual Fete days, the vendor booths will be open at 4 p.m.; while the carnival area for kids opens up Friday at 6 p.m.

The annual police department corn hole tournament is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Friday and live entertainment begins on the Main Street stage that evening as well, with The New Past performing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; then Remedy on stage from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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. 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, horse shoe tournament and the annual Park Fete Parade, scheduled for 11 a.m., with local Horseless Carriage Museum proprietor Don Richey serving as Grand Marshal.

Entertainment on stage July 15 will include Powerhouse Dance, Azores Band, Dennis Parrish, Patty Castillo Davis, Greg Rivera and Brian Head and Never Too Late. Ravioli the Clown will be on hand in the kid’s corral in the afternoon to entertain as well.

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.