With temperatures in the mid-70s and plenty of sunshine, it was a festive crowd that turned out for the first of the season Farmer’s Market nights in Escalon. Debut for the 2024 market season was Wednesday, April 17 and the Escalon Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event was definitely a success. It will run the third Wednesday of the month throughout the summer and into the fall.

Hours were 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and future dates for the market, set up in the Main Street Park area, are May 15, June 19, July 17 and Aug. 21.

Vendors had some fresh produce, there were cheeses, a variety of sweets, merchandise booths, homemade items, live music, and a food truck area for market visitors to fill up at when they took a break from browsing through and buying from the vendors. There were also favorites including kettle corn and shave ice available.

“It’s amazing, actually, I’m very excited,” Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and Market Manager Megan McNinch said, surveying the park. “We were just talking, the first year we were happy to have 30 vendors and we’re sitting on 54 tonight. We had 82 applications so we’re trying not to do duplicate vendors and just get a good variety of things you can’t find in the stores here.”

A coloring area was set up by Escalon Library staffers and some firefighters from the Escalon Fire Department had a display and a rig on site, offering information and providing stickers for youngsters.

“We’re trying to get more fresh produce and we have two new produce vendors this year,” McNinch added. “More kind of farm-to-table things.”

Shade sails will be set up for the May event, providing an extra layer of shade over the concrete area of the park, in front of the stage. They will remain a constant part of the event as the summer ramps up.

“We’re hoping that it’s not 102 this year,” McNinch said, chuckling, noting many market nights last season were hampered by the hot, sultry summer weather.