After being staged in early August the past two years, Escalon’s annual summer party is back in July.

However, the 2023 edition of Park Fete this coming Friday and Saturday is likely to be a hot one.

National Weather Service forecasters are calling for triple digits to move back in to the Central Valley late this week, including a forecast high of up to 103 on Friday, July 14 and 108 on Saturday, July 8 for Escalon.

While the bulk of the festivities are on Friday and Saturday, there are a handful of events that lead up to the Park Fete itself.

Escalon Lions Club is the premier sponsor for Park Fete and will have its traditional beer booth set up on Second Street both days of the summer festival.

The pre-Fete events included the Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon Luncheon honoring Dave and Sandy Russell, hosted on Tuesday, July 11 at noon.

Wednesday, July 12 is the Miss Escalon Pageant and dinner, hosted at the Community Center at 6 p.m.; Thursday, July 13 at 7 p.m. is the Little Mr. and Little Miss Escalon Pageant, also staged at the Community Center.

On Friday, July 14, vendor booths will be opening at 4 p.m. in and around the Main Street Park, with the Kids Corral also being offered. The carnival rides and games open at 6 p.m. Friday, with the popular Escalon Police Department Cornhole Tournament beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Music on the Main Street Park stage kicks off at 5 p.m. with LilLana Cajias, performing until 7 p.m.; with Tailites taking the stage from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Rounding out the musical entertainment on Friday will be Weekend at Jimmy’s, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Saturday, July 15 is shaping up to be a busy day as well, despite the heat.

The annual Park Fete Run takes off from El Portal Middle School with the 10k slated at 7:30 a.m.; the two-mile walk/run leaving the starting line at 7:45 a.m.

Back on Main Street, the annual Horseshoe Tournament opens for registration at 8:30 a.m., at a cost of $20 per team, with the tournament itself starting at 9 a.m.

There will be sign-ups for the Chalk Art Contest starting at 9 a.m., at the Chamber of Commerce booth and the downtown area will also host the Stick Horse Races for kids starting at 9:30 a.m.

Vendor booths, Kids Corral and the carnival are due to open Saturday at 10 a.m. and the annual Park Fete parade – with John Paladichuk as Grand Marshal – steps off at 10:30 a.m., featuring plenty of music, floats, classic cars, community groups, and more.

After the parade, settle in for the Powerhouse Dance Studio program, taking the Main Street Stage from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a wide variety of age groups and dance styles to entertain the crowd.

At 1 p.m., The Escalon American Legion will put on a special presentation with the Honor Guard and then the musical entertainment ramps up at 2:30 p.m., with Dennis Parrish first taking the stage, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Tony Freitas as Elvis will be performing from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by 21 Nights from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; the music of Patty Castillo-Davis from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and fan favorite Remedy rounding out the 2023 Park Fete celebration, performing Saturday from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.