By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
What better way to kick off Jamboree Days than enjoying the free community picnic in the San Moritz Meadow on Sunday, June 29. Hundreds of children and adults swarmed the Meadow last year and even more are expected this coming Sunday.
This event, which is on its way to becoming a Jamboree Days tradition, will begin at 12 noon and continue until it winds down at around 5 p.m. Those who are attending are encouraged to bring a picnic basket chock full of sandwiches, chips and liquid refreshments (no alcoholic beverages) for the whole family to enjoy. Or relax, since hot food trucks will also be available to augment your dining desires.
As if that isn’t enough already, this family-friendly event, sponsored by the Crestline Chamber of Commerce and the Lake Gregory Company, will feature bounce houses, picnic contests, games, races and gift basket raffles. Participants are encouraged to bring a blanket or portable chair to rest on while enjoying their lunch or brunch. However, the Lake Gregory Company requests that any easy ups brought to the affair should be anchored with weights, not spikes, since they could damage or possibly rupture the irrigation pipes that are below the grassy surface.
What makes this year’s community picnic super special is that it will also feature the annual Duck Derby, which had been rescheduled several times during the last two years due to snowstorms in early spring. The Duck Derby is a fundraiser for the fireworks that are shot over the lake during Jamboree Days for America’s birthday, on July 5 this year, scheduled for 9 p.m.
This year, the ducks will be swimming to shore during the Duck Derby on a new route from a floating dock in the lake with some encouragement from San Bernardino County Fire. Come watch how successful it is and cheer your duck on to victory.
Tickets are now on sale at Goodwin’s Market and at the chamber office for $5 a duck or a family of five for $20. The Duck Derby will take place around 4 p.m. First place receives $1,000, second place wins $500 and third place gets $250, with the “lost or lame duck” – who never figures it out and doesn’t get to shore – receiving $100 for its adopter.
The potato sack race was a favorite contest during last year’s community picnic.
At 1 p.m. the Grand Poobah is scheduled to be hatted. The Grand Poobah contest rules are simple. Several businesses have allowed their places to become voting locations, including Sweet Peas, the Tudor House, the Rim of the World Sports Bar, The Stockade and The Bear Claw. Anyone may vote for anyone they chose that has a heartbeat and lives in Crestline. Several candidates have become front runners and people are voting for them, at $1 a vote. Candidates can campaign and vote for themselves or their friends as many times as they want, since it is the person who raises the most money for the fireworks fund that wins.
This year, the funds raised will be split between Mountain Counseling and Training Center’s Therapy Cottage and the Jamboree Days fireworks fund. Since this is a contest that can be bought, there is no front runner until the contest is over as anyone may buy a lot of votes and come from behind and win.
Current front runners are Allen Mairs, Chris Osterhold, Scott Smith, Melissa, Tanya Michel, Chip Anzalone and at least four others who have had significant impact in the voting. Voting ends on June 27 at 7 p.m. So far, over $1,300 has been raised. Last year several thousands of dollars were raised by the Grand Poobah race. The business where the most votes are cast receives a banner declaring them as the “Home of the Grand Poobah-2025.” The top three will ride in the Jamboree Days parade on July 5 at 10 a.m.
Following the hatting ceremony, there will be raffles for gift baskets and relay races of all types, including water balloon tosses and three-legged races. Contests include a watermelon eating contest, potato sack race and other fun competitions.
Come to the community picnic on the San Moritz Meadow on Sunday, June 29 and join in the family-friendly afternoon of fun. It’s free and even the San Mortiz parking lots are free that day.
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