A week ahead of the annual Park Fete celebration, the Eski Alumni Celebration Weekend was back by popular demand, according to coordinator Randy Schmidt.

The first alumni gathering was hosted in 2014 and due to requests, Schmidt decided to help pull another one together for 2016.

Aimed primarily at the Escalon High School graduating classes from 1974 to 1979, there were also attendees from other years along with former teachers, but the highest concentration was from the classes of the mid- to late-70s.

Festivities kicked off on Friday, July 8 with music, dancing, snacks and drinks at the Riverside Ranch on River Road, overlooking the Stanislaus River. Local musician Mark Macsenti and his band provided the tunes for what Schmidt said was a “fantastic” night of entertainment and reminiscing.

Saturday featured an alumni golf tournament at the 9-hole Escalon Golf Course and a main event dinner at the Escalon Sportsmen’s Club. Served up buffet style, the meal complemented the visiting, a no host bar and continuous video screening of photos from the first reunion as well as yearbook photos from that era.

Sunday, a no host picnic was offered back at the Riverside Ranch before attendees went their separate ways. Schmidt said some coordinated the reunion weekend with a vacation so they can stay in town for this week’s Park Fete festivities.