Wikipedia Final Draft

Escalon Park Fete
The Overview
Escalon is a small community in San Joaquin County located in the Central Valley that maintains a tight
knit community atmosphere. [1] The community comes together for various events throughout the
year, including the town’s annual Park Fete Festival. [2] Annually during the month of July, the
community prepares for the festivities that come along with Park Fete. Typically, a series of events
spanning a week long lead up to the final days of the main event of the festival, held at the Main Street
Park. Escalon comes together during the final two days of the week to celebrate with friends, family, and
good food. [3]
Contents
1. The Overview
2. Introduction
3. About Escalon
4. Why a Festival?
5. What is Park Fete?
6. Events and Entertainment
4.1 Pre-festival Events
4.2 Park Fete Events
4.3 Park Fete

Entertainment
7. Lion’s Club
Introduction
Escalon is a small community that thrives off its town’s activities and community involvement. [4] As a
result, the annual park fete festival is a major social event that many members of the community look
forward to attending each year. [5] Like other festivals known to bring communities together through
celebration, Park fete also encourages community pride and organization by highlighting the small-town
community’s uniqueness. [6] Sponsored by the local lion’s club, Park Fete is an annual event with many
activities, events, and entertainment. [7]
About Escalon
Escalon is a small town in the San Joaquin County located in

the Central Valley. [8] With a population of less than 7,500
people, Escalon maintains a tight knit community
atmosphere. [9] It is described amongst community
members of having a “family atmosphere and a high quality
of life.” [10] Its population has been steadily increasing over
the span of about ten years. [11] Escalon’s schools and
residential areas are positively viewed by community
members and surrounding areas. Escalon’s City page
declares that “Escalon boasts a low crime rate, an award-
winning school district, quality residential homes and a
quaint, 1920’s era downtown” (Escalon City, 2018) [12] As Escalon’s welcome sign, located right off the main highway.
a result, Escalon is a family friendly neighborhood, with
Photo By: Gomez1209
nearly 30% of Escalon’s population consisting of youth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escalon,_California#/media/File:Escalon,CA_Land_of_Peaches_and_
Cream.jpg
under the age of 18.[13] On average, Escalon community
members maintain a Middle-class Socioeconomic status. [14] Escalon’s small population often rallies
together for community events and festivities, such as Park Fete. [15]
Why a Festival?
Festivals are typically used to celebrate a religious gathering, or ritualistic entertainment. [16]
Frequently, festivals can be seen as a reflection of a Small Town’s values and rituals. [17] Their festivities
have a greater purpose than to just provide entertainment. [18] Shalinsky believes that “...these
celebrations have other important functions: preserving heritage, fostering social cohesion, releasing
tensions accumulating from daily life, and inculcating pride and loyalty“ (Shalinsky 1998). [19] Festivals
expand beyond entertainment and offer meaningful experiences. [20]
This community gathering and comradery can be seen as Park Fete draws members dispersed
throughout the town to a single location where people celebrate the town together, forgetting their
differences. Anthropologists have examined the functions of festivals in a community and have stated
that they “…reflect and justify contemporary values and social situations, and which offer a vision of the
future.” [21] Not only do Festivals provide a learning experience for members of the community, but
they represent a town’s values and potential for a positive future. [22]
What is Park Fete?
Park Fete is the town of Escalon’s Annual Festival that has been known to
attract up to 10,000 people from surrounding areas. [23] It is sponsored
by the town’s local Lion’s club. [24] Park Fete consists of a week-long of
activities and events that lead up to the final two days in which the
festival takes place. [25] Park Fete occurs Annually during the month of
July. [26] Members amongst Escalon’s community stated that “It wouldn’t
be summer in Escalon without Park Fete” (Escalon Times, 2018). [27] This Crowded Main Street during Park Fete.
https://weescalon.com/2016/07/06/escalon 1
Escalonian isn’t alone, other members of the community look forwards to the local event each year. As
Park Fete approaches, flyers line the streets of Escalon and the anticipation for the event is heard
throughout the community as people talk about the upcoming event. [28]
Events and Entertainment
Park Fete is filled with activities and events that span the length of an
entire week. [29] There are a series of pre-festival events, followed by
several activities and events during the final days of park fete. [30]
Pre-Festival Events
Some of the most notable pre-festival events include the annual

Pageant. [31] Each year, contestants are chosen for the following titles:
Miss Escalon, Little Mr. Escalon, and Little Miss Escalon. [32] Another A picture of the beginning of the parade.
https://weescalon.com/2016/07/06/escalon 2
notable activity is the recognition luncheon hosted by the Lion’s club. At this
luncheon, Senior Mr. and Mrs. Escalon are recognized. [33]
Park Fete Events
The final two days of the week are held at Escalon’s Downtown Main Street Park. [34] Here, the
festivities of Park Fete commence. Downtown Main Street is filled with vendors, entertainment, and
carnival rides and games. [35] A notable activity at the Park Fete Festival is the Escalon Police
Department’s cornhole tournament. This is a popular even because with Escalon being a small town,
community members rally behind its supporters. [36]
The following morning, the annual Park Fete run takes place. [37] Runners have the choice to enroll as a
contestant in the 2 mile or the 10k run. [38] The day of the run, community members line up bright and
early to participate. The Park Fete Parade is the next main event. [39] The community’s first responders,
community members, the band, floats, and more go through the parade. [40]
The second day of Park Fete consists of additional tournaments, events and is concluded with finale
entertainment. [41] See here for Park Fete’s previous schedule of events.
A vehicle in the Park Fete parade that represents the high school. Little Mr. and Miss Escalon A photo of one of the carnival games at park
fete.https://weescalon.com/2016/07/06/escalon 3
https://weescalon.com/2016/07/06/escalon 5 https://weescalon.com/2016/07/06/escalon 4
Park Fete Entertainment
Main street park hosts several entertainers. [42] Throughout the festival, musicians and dancers
perform on the main stage. [43] Park Fete frequently chooses to host local performers. [44] The final day
of the festival is concluded by a late-night performance. [45]
Lion’s Club
Lion’s club is the largest international service club

organization, with one of its sections residing in the little
town of Escalon. The Lions clubs is a prominent
organization in the Escalon community. [46] The Lion’s
Club Organization describes their members as “…an
active global network of men and women, [that] do
whatever is necessary to help their local communities”
(Lions Club, n.d.) [47] Escalon Lion’s Club presence can
be seen in many ways including establishing fundraisers,
attending memorials, providing breakfast for members
of the community, and notably, sponsoring the annual
park fete festival. [48] For a detailed list of the Lions A picture of a Lions Club member walking alongside their mascot and national seal.
Club purpose and ethics see here. [49] Photo By: Pat Williams https://www.flickr.com/creativecommons
References
1. ^ The Highway 120 Adventure n.d.- Escalon Retrieved from:
http://www.thehighway120adventure.com/escalon/
2. ^ City of Escalon- The Official Site of Escalon (2018) Retrieved from http://cityofescalon.org/
5. ^WeEscalon articles (2016-2017) Retrieved from: https://weescalon.com/2016/07/06/escalon-park-
fete-2016/
6. ^ Shalinsky, A.C. (1998) Studying Community Festivals. Retrieved
Fromhttp://sacc.americananthro.org/wpcontent/uploads/cultural_community_festivals_shalinsky.pdf
7.^ WeEscalon articles (2016-2017) Retrieved from: https://weescalon.com/2016/07/06/escalon-park-
fete-2016/
11. ^ United States Census Bureau (2017) Quickfacts of Escalon City, California. Retrieved
fromhttps://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/escaloncitycalifornia/PST045217
20. halinsky, A.C. (1998) Studying Community Festivals. Retrieved
21. halinsky, A.C. (1998) Studying Community Festivals. Retrieved
23. ^ WeEscalon articles (2016-2017) Retrieved from: https://weescalon.com/2016/07/06/escalon-park-
fete-2016/
24. ^ Escalon Times (2018) Community Comes Together For Annual Park Fete Fest
https://www.escalontimes.com/news/community-comes-together-annual-park-fete-fest/
29. ^ Escalon Times (2018) Escalon Hosting Annual Park Fete Celebration. Retrieved from
https://www.escalontimes.com/news/escalon-hosting-annual-park-fete-celebration/
41 . ^ Escalon Times (2018) Escalon Hosting Annual Park Fete Celebration. Retrieved from
. ^ Lion’s Club http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/who-we-are/mission-and-history/purpose-and-ethics.php
45. ^ Lion’s Club http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/who-we-are/mission-and-history/purpose-and-
ethics.php
ethics.php
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Escalon Park Fete

4.1 Pre-festival Events

4.2 Park Fete Events

4.3 Park Fete

Escalon is a small town in the San Joaquin County located in

What is Park Fete?

Events and Entertainment

Some of the most notable pre-festival events include the annual

Park Fete Events

Lion’s club is the largest international service club

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