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.
Golden Agers
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.
Market Place Upcoming
All are invited to come to eat, shop and/or sell your wares at Market Place on Poplar, with the next event coming up on Sept. 2. Offered the first Saturday of each month, at Community United Methodist Church, 1480 Poplar in Oakdale, the event runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Market Place offers an opportunity to shop for unique finds or enjoy a selection from Chef Lee’s popular lunch menu. Interested vendors can contact craftfairinfo@yahoo.com for more information on reserving a $20 booth space. In addition to Sept. 2, remaining dates through the end of 2023 are scheduled for Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2.
Accordion Club
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 Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3.
TOPS Meetings
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.
Artwork In The Ferry
Knights Ferry Art Studio is currently featuring works by Ashley Brunetti, a local artist from Escalon. The exhibit is titled Bad+Lemon and this is Brunetti’s first solo show. The show runs through the end of August. The Knights Ferry Art Studio is located at 17631 Main Street in Knights Ferry, California. Updates for the artist and the gallery can be found on Instagram: @ashleybrunettiart @knightsferryartstudio.
Labor Day Fest
Coming up over the Labor Day weekend, the 51st Annual Sierra Nevada Arts and Crafts Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2 and 3. This festival is hosted in the mountain resort town of Arnold, on Highway 4. Nestled among the pines and redwoods, this festival will feature over 60 booths of high-quality, hand-crafted artisans, specialty food and antiques. The festival is held at Bristol’s Ranch House Café parking lot at 961 Highway 4 in downtown Arnold. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking are free.
Look To The Stars
The Stockton Astronomical Society, Oak Grove Docent Council and San Joaquin County Parks have planned monthly 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. Future dates and times are all scheduled for Saturday evenings, running through mid-December. Monthly dates include Sept. 23, 7 p.m., Saturn, M57 (Ring Nebula); Oct. 21, 6:20 p.m., Star Cluster in Hercules, Dumbbell Nebula. Closing out the calendar year will be Nov. 18, 4:50 p.m., Jupiter, Saturn, Star Cluster and Dec. 16, 4:45 p.m., Saturn, M33 (Triangulum Galaxy). For more information, call 209-953-8800.
Morning Market
The Oakdale Morning Market is open every Saturday on North Third Avenue in Oakdale. The weekly event is a project of the non-profit foundation Love Oakdale and will be hosted each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. through Saturday, Sept. 30. Each week will include a few food truck vendors, as well as a number of vendors offering everything from produce, meat, eggs, bread and a variety of other food as well as fun items to give the market diversity.
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.
Wine, Brew Stroll
This year’s edition of the Escalon Chamber of Commerce Wine and Brew Stroll is on the calendar for Saturday, Sept. 30. Tickets are available now for the 21-and-over only event, which will be staged along Escalon’s Main Street, between First and Third. The $45 ticket price gets attendees the opportunity to enjoy a number of wines and specialty craft brews, plenty of hors d’oeuvres, live music and prize drawing opportunities. Stroll hours are 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 30. For more information or to get tickets, visit the website at escalonchamberofcommerce.org or call the Chamber at 209-838-2793.
