Community Briefs provides a listing of events and activities going on in and around the Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon areas. To have an event featured, e-mail the information to mjackson@oakdaleleader.com.
Weekly Dances
Check out the Golden Agers at the Riverbank Community Center on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with dancing, socializing, live music and fun for all. All adults 55-plus are welcome. Drop in, or become a member. Fees are $5 for members and $6 for non-members. Membership is $15; contact Ellie DeJesus at 209-277-5584 or Lupe Padron at 209-573-5014. The Community Center is at 3600 Santa Fe St., Riverbank.
Museum Benefit Event
Escalon Historical Society has planned a dinner and dancing fundraiser for Saturday, June 18. The Blue Jean Ball will feature music by the BluesBox Bayou Band and will be hosted at the Del Rio Vista Garden, 25306 East River Road, Escalon. Tickets for the Blue Jean Ball will be pre-sale only and are available at a cost of $65 per person. For tickets or more information, call Sandy Russell at 209-838-1275. Tickets can also be purchased at the Escalon Museum, open Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m.; call 209-838-8070. The museum is at 1630 Main St., Escalon.
Widowed Persons Support
Oakdale Widowed Persons Group invites you to join them the first Saturday of each month for breakfast at 9 a.m. and on the third Tuesday of each month for lunch at 1 p.m.; call for locations. All are welcome to join the group no matter how long ago you lost your spouse. For more information, contact Barbara at 209-322-2184.
TOPS Group Meets
All interested are welcome to join TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) a weight support group that meets in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Community United Methodist Church on Poplar. This group is open to the public and anyone interested in improving their life by losing weight can contact Audrey for more information, call 209-765-7838.
Weekend Festival
Oakdale’s annual Chocolate Festival is scheduled for the weekend of May 21 and 22, with this year being the 30th annual festival. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, located in the heart of the downtown Oakdale area, centered around South Yosemite Avenue. Tickets at the gate are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, and kids who are 12 and under are free. Presale tickets are also available on the oakdalechamber.com/events website for $4 and you can get a dollar off tickets at the gate if you bring a canned good item. There will be food, rides, music, classic cars, chocolate and more.
Valley Artists Meet
Valley Art Association meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, except January and July. They meet in the Boy Scout Hall at 3017 High St., Riverbank. Members and visitors bring their art to share with the group. This non-profit group also promotes the annual Carriage Art Show to raise scholarship funds awarded to college-bound students majoring in art. The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 14. For further questions about the group: ValleyArtAssociation@gmail.com
