Once the Thanksgiving leftovers are finally gone, it will be time to usher in the Christmas holiday season, and the Escalon Chamber of Commerce has planned its annual Christmas on Main celebration for Saturday, Dec. 7.
Hosted in and around the Main Street Park area, events will include some vendor booths, food, activities for kids, musical entertainment, s’mores fire pits and more.
The Fun Bunch Singers will kick off the entertainment at 3:30 p.m., with a performance by the Escalon High School and El Portal Middle School choirs taking center stage at 4 p.m.
Powerhouse Dance will present several routines from 4:15 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Holiday Light Parade steps off at 5:30 p.m., with Grand Marshal Megan McNinch taking the seat of honor.
Parade coordinator is Robert Swift; he can be reached at 209-595-5013 for more information or to request a parade entry form. He can also be reached at arswift@sbcglobal.net.
A few reminders for the parade: check in will be at the Escalon Post Office, corner of Third and Coley; the line up begins at 4:45 p.m. and the parade steps off at 5:30 p.m.
All entries must be decorated with lights but they ask that no entries include Santa since he arrives on the Escalon fire truck. Also, no political statements. Candy may be thrown but organizers ask that it be thrown far enough into the crowd so kids don’t encroach on the parade route.
Hitting the stage after the parade, it will be music with Kaylee, playing throughout the rest of the evening.
“We do have some new things, there is going to be a Gingerbread House decorating contest and a snowman contest, which you can make out of whatever,” said Debbie Murken, one of the event coordinators. “You bring them in from home to have them judged. Of course, Santa will be there and we will have 10 giving trees this year.”
The trees, including all the lights and ornaments, will be presented to local families in need, along with food baskets and gift cards, with two families chosen from each school: Dent, Collegeville and Farmington elementary schools; El Portal Middle School and Escalon High School.
The Escalon Chamber of Commerce will have a booth at Christmas on Main to take donations for the giving trees and will offer a variety of raffle baskets for attendees to take a chance on, to benefit the effort.
After the parade, Santa will take time to pose for photos and visit with youngsters on the Main Street stage.
“Little Mr. and Little Miss Escalon will be our elves this year and they will be helping Santa,” Murken explained.
A popular feature of Christmas on Main returns as well, with the fire pits scattered about the Main Street Park area for the roasting of marshmallows to make s’mores.
