Five years in existence; the Escalon Senior Fun Bunch will be observing its fifth birthday with a special party on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Festivities will be hosted at the Escalon Community Center, running from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., all focused on celebrating five years. Started in 2019 as a way for local senior citizens to get together for fun, informational programs and some musical entertainment, the Fun Bunch was just getting a foothold when things shut down in the spring of 2020 due to COVID-19.

But some ‘drive thru’ activities were hosted, the group stayed together and they hit the ground running when things opened back up after pandemic restrictions were lifted.

Now, with a solid core of members and monthly meetings, the group is thriving.

The Aug 21 celebration will feature guest speakers, Interim City Manager Jaylen French and Transit Manager John Andoh. There will also be entertainment by the Escalon Senior Fun Bunch Singers, Bingo games, and ice cream sundaes.

Those attending are asked to wear Fun Bunch T-shirts or Royal Blue shirts.

Later in the day on Aug. 21, the final Escalon Farmers Market of the season is scheduled, running from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the city’s Main Street Park. Musical entertainment is scheduled on the Main Street stage and there will also be a number of giveaways, including some vouchers to use for vendors at the market. There will be a variety of vendors ranging from Zinc House to Stuyt’s Farmstead Cheese, Green Vine Canning to HomeSown Flowers and more. Food and beverages will be for sale on site as well.

The Escalon Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the City of Escalon, has hosted five Farmer’s Markets over the course of late spring and throughout the summer, closing out the run with the Aug. 21 market.