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.
Garden Club Gathers
Scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 2, members of the Escalon-Farmington Garden Club will gather in Escalon for a meeting and program. The meeting will be hosted at the Escalon United Methodist Church, 2000 Jackson Ave., Escalon beginning at 1 p.m. Guest speaker will be Holly from Morris Nursery in Riverbank, with her topic being Medicinal Herbs. The speaker is first on the agenda, followed by the meeting. There will be a door prize, raffles and snacks; small plants used as table decorations will be given away as well during the gathering. All interested are welcome to attend.
Pancake Breakfast
Escalon 4-H will be hosting a Pancake Breakfast at Van Allen Elementary School, coming up on Saturday, Nov. 4. Hours for the breakfast are 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 3- to 10-years-old. Enjoy pancakes, eggs, beverages and more, as well as the opportunity to take a chance on the many gift baskets and raffle items. For tickets, call Lizzi Langum at 209-838-2011 or Amelia Nevarez at 209-247-9348.
Holiday Time At Market Place
It is Holiday time at the Market Place on Poplar in Oakdale, with many vendors bringing their crafts for gift giving and holiday decorations for sale. Also, the best biscuits and gravy breakfast is now being served by Chef Lee starting at 8 a.m. this coming Saturday, Nov. 4. Come see what Market Place has for sale this month. The Market Place is offered the first Saturday of each month at Community United Methodist Church, 1480 Poplar. The event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the last two dates for 2023 are Nov. 4 and Dec. 2.
Kris Kringle Market
Saron Lutheran Church, 1742 North St., Escalon will be the site for the annual Kris Kringle Market, with plenty of holiday shopping ideas. On Saturday, Nov. 4, enjoy the market featuring handmade crafts, gifts, and holiday items, baked goods, homemade jams and jellies, an opportunity quilt drawing, and more. Attendees can also visit with and get their photo taken with Santa. A chili and cornbread lunch, pumpkin pie, and beverages will be available for purchase. This festive annual holiday tradition Kris Kringle Market will be offered from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
TOPS Members Meet
All interested are welcome to join TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) a weight loss support group that meets in Oakdale every Monday morning from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; meeting 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.
Enjoy Accordion Music
The Good Time Accordion Club members meet on a regular basis, the first Sunday of the month at 2:30 p.m., hosted at the Escalon United Methodist Church, 2000 Jackson Ave., Escalon. Admission is $5; there are free refreshments provided. The club presents musicians of all levels and many musical styles. Anyone can bring an accordion and play or just come to enjoy listening to the musical performances. The remaining 2023 gatherings are scheduled for Sundays, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3.
Celtic Music Nights
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, located at 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. As the song says, “Come into the parlor, there’s a welcome there for you.”
Dance Group
Check out the Golden Agers dance group 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.
Join In The Jam
The ‘Jammers’ are a loosely knit group of local musicians who gather regularly to play and share music. The origins were with Fred “Fiddlin’ Fred” Stepp who was a well know figure in the local bluegrass, country, folk music community. Weekly jams still happen at the Stepp family ranch. Members of The Jammers also set up and play at Medlen’s House of Beef, on the patio, the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Things get rolling around 3 p.m. and typically continue 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, ukelele, etc. The public is welcome to stop by, listen to the music and even sing along. No cost to attend.
Final Star Dates
The next star gazing event hosted cooperatively by the Stockton Astronomical Society, Oak Grove Docent Council and San Joaquin County Parks is set for Nov. 18. The organizations have two more Astronomy in the Park nights through the end of 2023. View planets through giant telescopes after sunset at these events, hosted at Oak Grove Regional Park, I-5 at Eight Mile Road, Stockton. There is a $6 cash parking fee but no cost to attend the viewing events; all are held, weather permitting. The program on Saturday, Nov. 18 begins at 4:50 p.m., featuring Jupiter, Saturn, Star Cluster; and on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 4:45 p.m., view Saturn, M33 (Triangulum Galaxy). For more information, call 209-953-8800.
Widowed Persons Group
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.
