Escalon’s final ‘Sunday in the Park’ gathering for the year, hosted Oct. 2 by the Chamber of Commerce, had a Halloween theme and plenty of costumed youngsters taking advantage of the opportunity to decorate pumpkins to take home.

There was a costume contest, awards for the top classic cars decorated in spooky fashion and honors for the top three decorated pumpkins. Judges for the festivities were members of the Miss Escalon 2016 court, including first runner up Jaden Scott, second runner up Daisy Pantoja and Miss Congeniality Alexandria Anderson.

Taking home recognition in the costume contest were Weston Merritt, 2, winning first place and made up as the ‘Cars’ movie airplane, with colorful witch Faith Eckhardt, 7, chosen for second place and ‘Wonder Woman’ Gwendolyn Buie, 3, in third.

Pumpkin decorators selected were Dahylin Gasper, 11, first; Kaylah Herrera, 8, second; McKenna Huntsman, 8, third.

Jim Von Dohlen with his 1915 Dodge, complete with cobwebs and a skeleton driver and passengers, earned first place honors in the classic car competition. Joe Gasper took second with his 1929 Model A and Marvin Schmidt with his 1929 Ford was third.

There was music provided by Rich C. Olds, freshly popped popcorn provided by the Escalon Historical Society and the caboose in the park was open for visitors to tour and enjoy.

Organizers said they were pleased with the turnout, with plenty of families coming to the park on a sunny but windy Sunday, each child going home with a pumpkin decorated for the coming Halloween holiday. Pumpkins were provided through Cardoza Brothers out of Manteca, which donated them for the event.