Discover Maricopa this Founder’s Day

Maricopa's second anniversary as an incorporated city is just three months away. On Saturday, October 15, the City of Maricopa and the Parks, Recreation and Libraries Department will host Founder's Day Presented by Wells Fargo at The Duke in Rancho El Dorado from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This year's theme is "Discover Maricopa".

The Duke in Rancho El Dorado will the be site of this year's Founder's Day gala celebration.

The Founder's Day planning committee has been working for several months to put together a bigger and even better celebration than last year's birthday party. Parks, Recreation and Libraries (PRL) Director Marty McDonald, who heads the group, selected the ten local residents, from a group of 30 applicants, to help plan out the details.

"We have a dynamic committee consisting of 10 dedicated people who have a strong desire to produce a quality event," noted McDonald. "These ladies are some of the hardest working, motivated and supportive event planners I have ever seen. It's a pleasure to work with them."

Members of the committee are Erin Abbadie, Emily Zaiser-Bradbury, Winnie Hayes, Joyce Hollis, Alicia Kenney, Dawn Madden, Marisa McDonald, Melinda Medina, Nancy Smith and Carolyn Struble. Meetings are held every other week to plan events and activities.

Maricopa's second annual Founder's Day will feature a beer garden and the Freddie Duran Plan band for the adults. The annual chili cook-off will be open to all chili chefs in the area. You do not have to be a resident of Maricopa to participate in the chili cook-off. If you live in Hidden Valley, Casa Grande or Glendale and think your chili is tops, then why not sign up? There's no cost to register.

Children will be able to participate in a bike rodeo and have fun trying their luck at carnival games like ring toss and a duck pond. They can also dig for treasure in one of the nearby sand traps. A dunk tank will provide entertainment for all ages.

"Last year's inaugural event was a lot of fun, and we focused on the logistics of the event," McDonald said. "We're at the point where we want to upgrade the event and add a boatload of kids' activities, show off the Maricopa Fire Department's new ladder truck, have a beer garden and, of course, our famous Chili Cook-Off. We also have a few tricks up our sleeves that we'll reveal closer to the event."

Presenting sponsor for the event is Heaven's Best Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning is the first Gold Star Sponsor. Additional sponsors are needed.

The event this year will be free of charge, but beer as well as grilled foods will be available for purchase.

"Thanks to the generosity of Wells Fargo Bank and Heaven's Best Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, we can offer community events that are either free or so affordable that the entire family can participate. The PRL Department exists to create community through people, parks and programs," McDonald emphasized.

Various groups and vendors will have information booths on site that day. Only a limited number of vendors will be accepted so, if your business is interested, don't delay. Reservations are already being accepted.

The event will involve 50-60 volunteers for the day as support staff. If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor, volunteering for the day or having a booth at Founder's Day, please contact McDonald at (520) 568-9098, Ext.204.