The two days of the actual Park Fete in the downtown Main Street Park in Escalon are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14 – but a full week of events will keep the community busy.
Now known as ‘Park Fete Week’ the festivities start on Tuesday, July 10 and run through Saturday, July 14 and are coordinated by a volunteer committee working in cooperation with the sponsoring Escalon Lion’s Club.
The Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon luncheon starts off the week, with this year’s honorees John and Marylyn Salvin. The luncheon will be at the Escalon Community Center at noon on Tuesday and tickets are $20. Reservations requested by July 1; contact Gracie at 209-988-5673.
On Wednesday, July 11 the Miss Escalon Pageant will see several high school hopefuls take the stage looking to represent their community for the year as well as gain some scholarships. The pageant is at the Community Center.
Little Miss and Little Mr. Escalon will be selected after their pageant and program at the Community Center on Thursday, July 12 and will serve as the young ambassadors for the community.
Friday, July 13 will see vendor booths open at 4 p.m. in the Main Street Park and surrounding areas along Main Street and the carnival opens at 6 p.m. Contact Debbie Murken at 209-402-0505 for more information about vendor space.
Entertainment will be featured on the Main Street stage throughout Friday evening, starting with The New Past playing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Gotcha Covered from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m. Friday, the fourth annual Escalon Police Department corn hole tournament is on the schedule; pre-register by Thursday, July 12 at noon at a cost of $25 per team. If available, registration the day of the tournament will run from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and cost $30 per team. Proceeds will help support the Escalon Police Reserves and Explorer units and there is room for 42 teams to take part.
Register online at http://tshq.bluesombrero.com/cityofescalonrec.
On Saturday, July 14 the fun starts with the annual Escalon Park Fete Run at 7:30 a.m., (registration opens at 6:30 a.m. at El Portal) and the Masonic Hall breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by stick horse races at 10 a.m. on Main Street open to ages 5 to 13. The carnival and kids corral open at 10 a.m. with the Park Fete parade stepping off at 11 a.m. with Grand Marshal Gary Haskin.
A chalk art competition for youngsters is planned as well, along with a petting zoo, a horseshoe tournament and more.
Saturday’s entertainment will feature performances by PowerHouse Dance, the Escalon Azores Band, El Portal summer band, Circus of Smiles juggling show, Elvis tribute artist Tony Freitas, Never Too Late, Greg Rivera and Brian Head and closing out the Park Fete will be Alex Lucero and Live Again, playing from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Also featured will be plenty of food booths, carnival rides and games, ice cream and carnival fare treats like cotton candy and popcorn and the Escalon Lion’s Club will host its beer garden. A number of local community service groups and non-profit agencies will be on hand with information and fundraising booths as well.
