By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Weather Washes Out Christmas On Main
Placeholder Image
For the first time in anyone's memory, Escalon's 'Christmas on Main' fell victim to the weather.

The second of three predicted storms making its presence felt in the Central Valley throughout the day on Friday prompted organizers to reevaluate plans for the Saturday fest. Traditionally, music began at midafternoon on the Main Street stage, with vendors open for business and the holiday light parade at 5:30 p.m., followed by the appearance of Santa.

"We really went back and forth, back and forth," Escalon Chamber of Commerce President Pat Brown said of the eventual decision to cancel the event. "People were beginning to call and say if it was raining, they wouldn't be coming."

Signs announcing the fest originally had an additional 'canceled' note posted on them at entrances to the city and the cancellation was also announced at Lincoln High School in Stockton, prior to the Saturday afternoon football championship game featuring the Escalon Cougars and the Central Catholic Raiders. Local resident and Escalon Lions Club member John Salvin and his wife traveled to the festival area late Saturday afternoon and spent about 45 minutes at the Main Street site to inform anyone stopping by about the cancellation.

Friday saw a deluge of wet weather for the region and National Weather Service forecasters were predicting a continued washout for the foreseeable future, with showers and intermittent periods of heavy rain forecast for all day Saturday and on in to Sunday. Rain that started slowly on Saturday, in fact, got steadier as the late afternoon and early evening progressed. Escalon police and fire departments did receive multiple calls on street flooding throughout the community during the weekend, though no widespread damage was reported.

Brown also said the fact that many Escalon residents were planning to attend the Saturday afternoon Section championship football game in Stockton impacted the decision, not wanting those people to rush back in the inclement weather to attend.

"At this point, it's canceled," Brown explained. "We thought about just postponing it until next week (Dec. 8) but that's Winter Formal (for the school) and the logistics just got too confusing, plus many of your vendors are already scheduled out elsewhere."

Officials are hoping to set a date to bring Santa Claus to the Main Street Park to visit with youngsters and pose for photos prior to the holiday, and Brown said they will announce that date soon if they are able to re-schedule it.