By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
“Purple Mountains Majesty” is the theme for this year’s Jamboree Days in Crestline. The first meeting of the year, to get ready for the July 3 and 4th parade and fireworks extravaganza, was held at the Crestline Chamber of Commerce office last week and was attended by about 10 community members who want to be a part of the foundation for the community celebrations. They are still seeking more volunteers.
Jamboree Days coordinator Dirk Rinker laid out the many activities that will be held and the road map to getting each activity easily accomplished for the weekend of fun.
The fireworks will be held on July 3, shot off at 9 p.m. over Lake Gregory. There was a discussion on what activities should be planned for that day as it is a legal holiday for most. A couple suggestions were made: a Top Town street festival, vendors along Lake Drive, a boat parade on Lake Gregory before the fireworks show and a flag salute ceremony in honor of the 250th anniversary before the fireworks, among others. No decisions were made and more suggestions are welcome said Rinker, as Crestline has not had a Friday fireworks show for several years.
This is what they do know: the fireworks show over Lake Gregory is scheduled for 9 p.m. The beach will close at 5:00 p.m. The workers will freshen the beach and reopen it for free public seating at 6:00 p.m. Visitors may picnic on the beach or the lakeside since the snack bar will be open.
Lake Gregory Company again plans to offer VIP tickets for fireworks viewing on its elevated lakeside patio, which is a spectacular place to watch them.
The annual Jamboree Days Parade will be held Saturday morning July 4th. The weekends’ theme, “Purple Mountains Majesty,” adapted liberally from the song “America the Beautiful,” should offer inspiration for the floats. Since this year the community is celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, many floats may have a patriotic theme. This year’s July 4th party should be also be memorable in Crestline, as it is the 120th anniversary of the naming of the town in July 1906.
Parade trophies will be awarded in these categories; the Americana Trophy is for ‘Most Outstanding Depiction of National Treasures and Traditions.’ The Arthur Gregory Trophy is for the most outstanding float built and decorated by volunteers from a community or nonprofit organization. The Charles S. Mann Public Spirit Trophy is for the most outstanding presentation from a commercial participant. The Showmanship Trophy is for the most outstanding display of showmanship and entertainment. The Theme Trophy is for the most outstanding presentation of the 2026 Jamboree Days Theme: “Purple Mountains Majesty.” The Judge’s Trophy is for the most outstanding float design and dramatic impact on the judges.
The Jamboree Days parade.
The Jamboree Days Parade will be threading its customary route through Crestline from Crest Forest Drive in Top Town down Fern Drive and merging onto Lake Drive before ending at Lake Gregory Drive. There will be approximately 10 parade announcers along the way, reading the parade script with float descriptions. They are already seeking announcers and equipment to achieve this for the benefit of the attendees.
Reserved VIP seating and parking at five locations along the parade route will be available. The Chamber is seeking a person who wants to co-ordinate this VIP seating and refreshments amenity for the visitors.
After the parade during the day, traditional Crestline Jamboree Days events will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with local shopping, music and dining, swimming and boating at the lake, music throughout town, a family fun zone next to Rim Bowling and browsing in downtown Crestline.
The Fun Zone will include games, vendors, and food options. Other food vendors will set up and serve up tasty treats at the Beer Garden located in the parking lot of Arrowhead Credit Union with music from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The music will include classic rock and country tunes all afternoon, and adult beverage options will include a variety of the Southland’s favorite craft beers and fine wines.
The Chamber hopes that with so many businesses jumping in to support ‘Holidays in the Pines’ over the Christmas holiday that many will also be involved in this year’s Jamboree Days festivities.
Or think of another way to celebrate Americana in your stores or homes this summer, using the Jamboree Days theme. Did you know that, during the Bi-Centennial in 1976, Crestline’s garden club set up flower barrels and flower planter boxes in town and planted flowers along the main streets to make the town colorful? All the community groups came together to have a festival in town, calling it Mountaineer Days, which two years later morphed into Jamboree Days. With 50 more years of even more modern technology, Crestline should sparkle even more this year for the 250th.
In a couple of months, a committee for nominations for a Citizen of the Year will be organized, asking for community input. Also, a parade committee will be needed to organize the parade. There are volunteer spots for those who have skills of every type.
If you want to help with this fun event, in any way, please contact Dirk Rinker (805) 478-6752, or come to their next Jamboree Days organizational meeting at the chamber office at 24385 Lake Drive, Crestline, on the second Tuesday of the month. The next meetings are on February 10 and March 10. Or write to the chamber at info@crestlinechamber.org, or visit their website at www.visitcrestline.org or www.CrestlineChamber.org. The Crestline Visitors Center at (909) 338-2706 is open Saturdays from 10 to 2 p.m.
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