A first of its kind event for Escalon, the local Gather Around Main organization, in cooperation with Don Bionaz – a new resident of the city – hosted a Friday night Concert in the Park and ice cream social on June 20.

And while it was the first official day of summer, many attendees wrapped up in the blankets they originally brought to spread out on the ground in the city’s Main Street Park, as a decided chill was in the air.

Still, with Sweet Mama Rachel and the Homemade Jam Band providing the classic rock and folksy blues-style music, Bionaz and his fiancée Stefanee Bartolotta providing the ice cream and toppings, it was a festive crowd that settled in to enjoy the show.

“We did this many years ago in another town, in Idaho, I lived in Idaho for a couple of years and it was a hit,” Bionaz explained as he scooped up another dish of free ice cream for a youngster waiting patiently in line. “So, when we decided to move here and I was walking around with the people from Gather Around Main, I brought it up as an idea and here we are.”

Two additional concert nights are planned, in July and August, and the local Lumberyard Cellars also was heavily involved, with to-go charcuterie boards available by pre-order, for parties of two or four; and they also had drawings to give away some of the boards prior to the Friday evening event.

Gather Around Main leader Megan Silva said she couldn’t have been happier with the turnout, even if the weather was a little unexpected for the first day of summer.

“It’s awesome; we definitely didn’t think we would get this many people so I’m excited about that,” Silva admitted.

Owner of the downtown boutique Pencie and Ginger, across the street from the city’s Main Street Park, Silva said planning the concert downtown was a good use of the venue.

“We have a beautiful space on Main Street and we don’t do a whole lot over here so I think this is just really, really great,” Silva added.

The crowd was definitely enjoying the music, many bringing lawn chairs in addition to the blankets and several packing a picnic dinner to eat while being entertained. Some even took the opportunity to get up and dance to the music, as the band faced out in to the park area, as opposed to facing off the front of the Main Street stage.

Several attendees did take advantage of the free ice cream, even though a quick temperature check at 8 p.m. – halfway through the 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. event – indicated the temperature in Escalon at the time was 66 degrees and wind gusts were making it feel like 58 degrees.

Gather Around Main was also the recent recipient of a special funding allocation through the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, via District 5 Supervisor Robert Rickman, who represents Escalon on the county board and requested the one-time special discretionary funds.

“So exciting because they’re funded so we can definitely do them,” Silva said of the money financing the concerts, noting that upcoming dates are Fridays, July 11 and Aug. 8. Musical performers will be announced for those dates as they get closer.

“We got $4700; that is going to pay for the bands, it will pay for all of our signage, it’ll pay for a little bit more marketing,” Silva said. “And we’re hoping to do maybe some VIP seating or something at the next one, more giveaways, we helped Lumberyard (Cellars) with some giveaways tonight, they did five charcuteries for two people and then Don and Stefanee donated the ice cream and they’re going to do that for the other two.”

Ice cream scooper Bionaz, who arrived in town just a short time ago, is also a local businessman, his firm is Bionaz General Builders.

The official announcement of the county funding came down just a few days before the first of the Friday night concerts.

The $4,700 in funding was authorized by the county board at its meeting on Tuesday, June 17, the board members approving Supervisor Rickman’s proposal to provide funds to Gather Around Main to cover costs of the ‘Concert in the Park’ series.

“These concerts will not only foster community unity but also bring positive visibility and economic foot traffic to Escalon’s downtown and local ‘Main Street’ businesses,” Supervisor Rickman noted. “Escalon is a wonderful community, and it is a pleasure to support this effort that aims to inspire community unity and wellness, and spur economic activity and growth by drawing residents to the downtown business district area.”

The mission of Gather Around Main is to “revitalize and energize the heart of our small town, fostering a vibrant and inclusive Main Street that drives economic growth and strengthens community connections.”

A few sign boards around the park on Friday night included that mission statement information and also provided a Venmo to scan to help support future events hosted by the nonprofit Gather Around Main.

“I’m just excited,” Silva summarized. “I had no idea it would turn out so good.”