With just three fireworks booths in operation this year for Escalon, the groups hosting them are hoping each will raise a little more money. In the past, there have been four booths in operation but with one group unable to get all the paperwork together in time this year, that has left three selling the Safe and Sane, state Fire Marshal-approved fireworks in the community.
At the Escalon Shopping Center parking lot on Jackson Avenue, the Escalon Parks Foundation is operating its booth, selling TNT fireworks.
“This will be our final booth,” volunteer Gracie Marx said of selling fireworks once again this year. “We are rapidly approaching our target funds and are scheduled to break ground for the skatepark the end of this year, with the help of our loyal supporters.”
Years ago, the City of Escalon set aside one of the four available-by-lottery booths for the Parks Foundation, a separate entity from the city, to allow the group to raise funds needed for the skatepark. It has been years, said Marx, but the goal is now in sight, and they hope the sales this year will help push them over the top to finally get the skatepark built.
The park site is along Escalon-Bellota Road, near Escalon Feed and Supply. The booth for the Escalon Parks Foundation will be open daily, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., through Friday, July 4.
At the Trinity Church Assembly of God booth, Phantom Fireworks are for sale and the booth is set up in the Vineyard Square Shopping Center, in the 1900 block of McHenry. Customer Cassie Senft was among those stopping by the booth on Sunday, June 30 to peruse the packages and make some purchases. Helping out by explaining what some of the fireworks do and outlining the various deals were booth workers Janay Seay and Kylie Dusi. Proceeds from the booth will go to the Escalon Youth Center and Trinity Church Men’s, Women’s and Children’s Ministries.
The third booth in operation, set up in the solar panel parking lot on the Escalon High School campus, is also selling the Phantom fireworks brand. Representatives of the various high school sports teams were eligible to sign up to work in the booth, to earn a portion of the proceeds for that particular sport. The girls golf team was represented on Sunday afternoon June 29, with head coach Chris Casazza, his daughter Genevieve – a 2025 EHS grad – and some golfing parents helping to run the booth.
Also on hand were EHS Sports Boosters board members Jessica Gutierrez, vice president; and Melanie Jimenez, secretary; assisting in the coordination of stocking the shelves in the booth and keeping track of sales.
All three booths can operate through Friday, July 4. The Safe and Sane fireworks are legal for use in the Escalon city limits.
