By Anne Gibson

When their established Colossal Fourth community program was canceled due to the pandemic, a group of dedicated greater Vail area volunteers refused to give up their vision to provide a quality program that would bring people together with community pride.

Ever hear of the Prickly Pear JAMboree? Well read on here to know how the Prickly Pear cactus is being celebrated along with honoring the heroes who twenty years ago risked their lives on 9/11 to save others, locals who died from COVID19, and local service personnel who lost their lives in combat.

“Since 2016, the Vail Preservation Society and other sponsors have been proud to bring “A Colossal Fourth” to Rancho del Lago. Because of new construction within the safety zone, fireworks are no longer considered to be safe. So this year our team decided to honor the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with a Prickly Pear JAMboree. Vail is the only community in the world that celebrates this plant with a JAMboree. This will be a great time to enjoy music, food, fund, and games. As we end this long year, let’s celebrate the Prickly Pear and all that is good about our community,” said David Hook, chairman of the Prickly Pear JAMboree Team.

The Prickly Pear JAMboree will kick off its events on Saturday, September 11th at 8 a.m. with one of Karen McNinches and teams fantastic and fun Parades. In keeping with the commemoration each entry will display an American flag. The parade will embark down Colossal Cave Road at 8:00 a.m. with the Rincon Valley Fire Department ringing the bell on the fire truck from Christ Lutheran Vail at 14600 E Colossal Cave Road and traveling down Colossal Cave Road to Hacienda del Lago at 14155 E Via Rancho del Lago. Sorry, no animals are permitted in the parade. There will be a “Splash Zone” and seven categories will be judged. The Parade Entry fee is $10 for a family, $20 for a non-profit, HOA, or political group, and $50 for a business. School groups or clubs and school bands are free. But hurry because applications and fees must be received by September 4th at The Vail Preservation Society, Prickly Pear JAMboree Parade Entry, P.O. 982 Vail, AZ 85641. For more information contact Karen McNinch, Parade Coordinator at (520) 405-3066 or karenmcninch@yahoo.com.

“We Will Remember” pop up public art installation by Vail artist Leah Tewes will be prominently displayed along the parade route as a part of a tribute to local service members who have passed away, local residents lost to the ongoing pandemic, or someone with a local connection lost at the Twin Towers. The pop up public art installation contains 200 large, 5-6” red and white poppies, said J J Lamb, President and CEO of the Vail Preservation Society and Event Sponsor for the Prickly Pear JAMboree.

The evening portion of JAMboree will include a Block Partying from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Hacienda de Lago located at 14155 E Via Rancho del Lago. It promises to be an evening filled with a sense of community for all ages.

A variety of outdoor community vendor booths will be present to showcase their wares and food trucks will be there to provide dinner or snacks. One of the main focuses of the evening will be neighbors, community, and the date of September 11th. when “We Will Remember” the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Forty to fifty car buffs from the Door Slammers Car Club will show off their vehicles. Nancy Gray is soliciting members from the Tucson Corvette Club to join in the showing. The car entry fee is $5.00. For questions call Bill Brodhagan at 520-237-6180.
At the Block Party there will be a “Kidz Zone” complete with inflatables, crafts and more.

Disc Jockey Ryan Johnson of Motion Music Arizona will provide music for everyone including early in the event some family/child friendly songs and interactive music and later for dancing, said J J Lamb, CEO and president of the Vail Preservation Society.

The Block Party Coordinators are Lisa Altman, Crystal Collins and Kiki Ngo with Robert Nemitz as the Entertainment Coordinator.

A 10 x10’ outdoor booth space is $75.00 and a Food Truck fee is $200.00. School Groups or Club or School Bands are free. The deadline to register is September 4th. To register call J J Lamb at 520-419-4428 or email her at vailpreservationsociety@gmail.com.

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet neighbors and friends from across southeast Pima County. There is no parking or entrance fee for the Parade or Block Party.

Whittley “Anne” Gibson is a third generation Tucsonan and alumni of the University of Arizona. She has been an active community member in the greater Vail area since the late 1970s.

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Anne Gibson