Community Briefs provides a listing of events and activities going on around the Oakdale, Riverbank and Escalon areas. We welcome submissions of one-time or ongoing gatherings in the region. To have an event featured, call 209-847-3021 or e-mail the information to mjackson@oakdaleleader.com.
Downtown Market
Escalon Lions Club will host the Escalon Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, June 17, set up downtown around the Main Street Park area, running from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Featured are fruit and vegetable vendors, specialty products, honey, cheese, merchandise booths, face painting and more. There is also a food court and live music featured on stage. The once-a-month markets run the third Wednesday of the month, with the next two coming up on July 15 and Aug. 19.
Weekly Dances
The Riverbank-based Golden Agers dance group is always looking to expand its membership. They meet 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. Just drop in to check it out or become a member. Fees are $5 for members and $6 for non-members. Membership is $15. The Community Center is at 3600 Santa Fe St., Riverbank.
Irish Music
The ‘lads and lasses’ of Brennan’s Parlor host a monthly Irish music jam (aka “Ceilidh”) in the back room of the H Bar B Saloon, 401 E. F St., Oakdale. Gatherings are on the third Monday of the month, and run from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. They welcome anyone – players, singers, or listeners – with an appreciation for Celtic music to join the fun.
Museum Activities
Members of the Escalon Historical Society Museum welcome all area residents to stop by and tour the museum, at 1630 Main St., Escalon, to learn about local history and browse the gift shop items. The regular museum hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Also, a reminder that the first Wednesday of each month is designated as Reminisce Day with attendees encouraged to share stories from the community’s past, with refreshments served. The next Reminisce Day will be observed on Wednesday, July 1. The Historical Society is also having its annual ‘Blue Jean Ball’ fundraiser on Saturday, June 20 at Lorina’s Edible Garden on Enterprise Road in Escalon. Featuring a catered dinner, music, opportunity drawings and more. Organizers said the event begins with a Happy Hour at 5 p.m., with dinner served at 6 p.m., music and dancing to follow. Tickets are $65 per person; contact Sandy Russell at 209-838-1275 for additional information or tickets.
Saturdays In Oakdale
Each Saturday morning, Love Oakdale presents the Oakdale Morning Market, situated along North Third Avenue and featuring a wide variety of vendors. Food and beverage booths, fresh fruits and vegetables, merchandise vendors, live music, a kids area for projects and activities, a special section featuring the work of young entrepreneurs and more are included. Hours for the Saturday market are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Fun Bunch Walkers
All area senior citizens are welcome to join the Escalon Senior Fun Bunch walkers, known as the Senior Steppers, as they gather for their regular walks. The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Bob and Dena Lease Park in Escalon, at the corner of Justin Drive and Mission Street at 9 a.m. This is a lighthearted group whose members love to get together and walk with others, enjoy some conversation and exercise. All are welcome to join the walking group during any or all of their scheduled walks during the week.
Tuesdays In Riverbank
The summertime Tuesday Night Market in Riverbank runs every Tuesday now through the end of July. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy checking out the food booths, vendor items, produce offerings and more. Each market night is hosted at the Plaza del Rio downtown at Santa Fe and Third; running from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Widowed Persons
Open to those throughout the area, the 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 209-318-5100.
Patriotic Performance
The Oakdale Community Concert Band will next perform on Tuesday, July 14. The concert will be an audience favorite, featuring patriotic music, and will coincide with an ice cream social. The free performance starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Gladys Lemmons Senior Community Center at 450 E. A St., Oakdale. All are invited to attend.
Join The Jammers
The ‘Jammers’ are a loosely knit group of local musicians who gather regularly to play and share music. Members of The Jammers set up and play at Medlen’s House of Beef in Oakdale, on the patio, the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The fun begins around 3 p.m. and typically continues until about 6 p.m., a full afternoon of music. Acoustic musicians are welcome to come and play. Featured instruments usually include guitar, fiddle, banjo, ukulele, etc. The public is welcome to stop by, listen to the music and even sing along. No cost to attend.
Wight Loss Support
The area’s TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) weight loss support group members meet in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; the meeting is at 7450 River Road, Suite 4, Oakdale. This group is open to the public and anyone interested in improving their life by losing weight. Visit the website: www.tops.org for more information and to see a list of other meeting locations.
