Mark the dates on the calendar; Park Fete 2023 will see a return of the annual city fest to the traditional July dates.

After a couple of years of moving the dates to August, officials this year decided to return to their Park Fete ‘roots’ and host the event in July. The main dates are Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15.

Planning Committee member Debbie Murken said the core planning group has had a couple f meetings already and quickly decided they wanted to get back to the more traditional July date. Hosing it in August put them up against the return to school and she said people were used to having it in July so they wanted to bring it back, the way it used to be.

This year will be the 101st Park Fete, starting its second century of providing a weekend full of fun and camaraderie for local residents.

Grand Marshal for the Saturday morning parade will be John Paladichuk and selected for the Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon honors this year are Dave and Sandy Russell.

Plans are still being made for the wide variety of events that will lead up to the weekend festival. Those include the Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon luncheon, the Miss Escalon pageant, and the Little Miss and Mr. Escalon pageant. All are hosted during the week, with the Park Fete itself kicking off late Friday afternoon and continuing through late night Saturday.

“There’s no specific theme,” Murken said of the 2023 Fete.

They are already planning a number of familiar activities, however, with plenty of entertainment on the Main Street Stage, food and merchandise booths, the Police Department-hosted Friday night cornhole tournament, the Saturday horseshoe tournament put on by Nate Nash, a return of the Gunslingers that offered shows last year, and more. The Saturday morning Park Fete Run is being coordinated by Escalon High School teacher and coach Michael Bower.

“We will also have the Kids Corral (free play area) and the fire department will be doing some sort of water play for the kids,” Murken said.

Saturday morning will feature the downtown parade and the American Legion will also be conducting a military honors service at 1 pm. Saturday.

The next meeting of the planning committee is set for Tuesday, May 30 at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall at 1531 Second Street.

“We invite everyone to come,” Murken said. “We’re always looking for more help.”