Pageantry, a parade, poker … there will be a little bit of everything during this year’s edition of the annual Escalon Park Fete, with events starting on Tuesday, July 21 and running through Saturday, July 25.

The official theme for 2026 is Candy Land – with the celebration sponsored by the Escalon Lions Club – and while the official downtown Park Fete will be observed on Friday and Saturday, July 24 and 25, there are special events leading up to the formal festival.

On Tuesday, July 21, Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon 2026 Dave and Sally Mantooth will be honored with a luncheon at the Escalon Community Center at noon, recognized for their many contributions to the community throughout the years.

On Wednesday, July 22, the annual Miss Escalon Pageant is scheduled for 6 p.m., also at the Community Center.

With nearly 20 contestants vying for the title, co-coordinator Renee Snow said it is the most they have ever had. She is working with co-coordinator Emelyn Mancilla once again to plan and put on the pageant.

“It’s juniors and seniors,” Snow said of the contestants, who met previously for a team building night and are in the midst of preparing for the event, as well as working with those youngsters who will be participating in the Little Mr. and Little Miss Escalon Pageant, set for Thursday, July 23.

Escalon Lions Club is also presenting the Miss Escalon Pageant, which is titled ‘The Sweetest Crown’ and it will be preceded with a dinner at 6 p.m., with the doors to the Community Center opening at 5:45 p.m. on July 22. Dinner will be catered by Mike’s Branding Iron and cost per ticket is $40. The pageant is scheduled to begin at 6:45 p.m.; contact Snow for dinner tickets at 209-602-3241 or through missescalonpageant@gmail.com

“We have an Amazon wish list if anyone is interested in donating to the pageant,” Snow added.

You can access the list at https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2621BHDK512SK?ref_=wl_share

There are also close to 20 youngsters seeking the Little Mr. and Little Miss Escalon titles, with that pageant scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Escalon Commnity Center on Thursday evening; there will be snacks and drinks for sale.

The official two-day observance of Park Fete gets underway with the vendor and food booths opening at 4 p.m. Friday, July 24.

The popular Fun and Games Carnival rides and attractions for kids also returns, with festivities set up in and around Main Street Park.

The Friday schedule also includes the fourth annual Escalon Strong Cornhole Tournament, with Seva Hospice as the sponsoring organization. Registration is $50 per team and starts at 5 p.m., with the competition starting at 6 p.m.

Those interested can also pre-register on the Scoreholio App and for more information, contact Morgan at 209-606-5197. There are cash prizes for first through third place as well as a special prize for the top Escalon resident team.

While that is going on, Escalon Strong also will be hosting its bicycle races on Main Street, for the second year, with check in at 5:30 p.m. and the races beginning at 6:30 p.m.

There will be a training wheels and tricycle race for kids four and under; with other age groups including 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12-year-olds.

For more information message @escalonstrong. Check in at the corner of First and Main, it’s free to enter, kids need to bring their own bike and helmet.

Saturday, July 25 the day begins with the annual Escalon Park Fete Run, coordinated by Escalon FIT with both a 5k and a 10k race scheduled, taking off from El Portal Middle School on First Street. Registration is $50 per person and for more information about the Park Fete Run, contact Escalon FIT at 209-838-9915.

The Kids Corral will be open early Saturday for the stick horse races at 9:30 a.m., just before the parade, with kids asked to gather at Main and Second to start the event. Also featured during the day as part of the corral – coordinated by Sonya Huff – will be a chalk art contest, a car wash booth, fun and games.

There’s still time to join in the Park Fete parade; co-coordinators are Vince Giovaniello and Barbara Willis. Contact either of them for more information, Vince at 209-604-9100 or by email at v.giovaniello@sbcglobal.net; Barbara at 209-408-2576 or by email at willisblong@gmail.com

Check in time for the parade is at 9 a.m. Saturday, with a start time of 10:30 a.m.; line up is on Coley Avenue, with the parade moving from there to First Street and then turning on to Main.

Vendor booths and the carnival open for business at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The third annual Poker Tournament hosted by the Escalon Poker Club will be put on at the Grange Hall on Main Street, with registration at 11 a.m., games beginning at noon. There is a $60 buy in for 100 chips and a drink ticket, with a $40 add on for 50 additional chips and two more drink tickets.

Also planned is the Horseshoe Tournament, at the horseshoe pits in the park, with registration at 11 a.m., $25 per team, and a start time of noon for the Double Elimination Tournament.

On the Main Street Park stage, the Friday, July 24 schedule includes: Kenny Moore from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Tony & The Tough Times from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and headliner Gotcha Covered from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Saturday, immediately after the parade, the American Legion Honor Guard will perform a flag folding ceremony in front of the stage, followed by performances from students at the local Powerhouse Dance Studio presented on stage. After the Powerhouse performance, the Escalon Fire Department is scheduled to demonstrate some of their firefighting equipment in the street, while the first musical artist of the day will take the stage at 12:30 p.m.

Jonathan Cushman is scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., followed by Tony Freitas as Elvis from 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Then it’s Western Bound from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; No Way Back from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; followed by headliner Valley Fire closing out the annual Park Fete from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 25.

Escalon Lions Club President Jeff Miller said final plans are being put in place for all the festivities and the club is looking forward to welcoming the crowd in for the summertime celebration.