Jamboree 2017

End of season Jamboree!

The name almost says it all. It’s a late-summer, community-wide event that one word couldn’t convey. Just know this: this is a wonderful time for family members and friends of all ages. Don’t miss it!

It’s the 72nd annual Jamboree! This is a traditional event that’s so awesome it’s carried on since 1945. Wow! Join us Saturday, August 26 at 5:00 pm—and plan to stay a while.

What to expect this year? This year the Jamboree has been reimagined a bit. We did a little homework to merge the old & the new—with a nod to community wholesomeness & bringing some old-time traditions back.

Like what? We kept the time-tested traditions we all look forward to every year (booths! prizes! twinkle lights! baked treats!); new ones that align with our Bay Ridge, home-grown vibe that will be sure to delight little ones; and some long, forgotten traditions that were lost in an attic (quite literally!). And some of it is still being imagined at this very moment!

Want a little preview? Sure. Live music! (Really! Apparently there used be bands here back in ‘the day’). The return of the Fire Truck ride (a fire engine will take little ones on a cool, breezy ride on the top of the truck all along the Bay in the evening hours, replete w. sirens & lights). Pony rides are back!

These are just a few examples of what’s in store. With Meredith Van de Kamp at the helm, you just know we’re in for a truly unforgettable night of music, food, drinks and something for every age. BR-style. She’s assembled a mighty force to help & they’re all working feverishly to pull it all together in time.

You. Yes, you! To make this work—this is our community’s biggest fundraiser that goes to keeping BR safe and healthy—we need you. Roughly 60 adults, to be exact. Also, we’re looking to recruit some of our older kids—tweens & teens between 11-18—to help us run some of the fun, kid-booths (face painting, sno-cones, etc!). We need 22 tweens/teens. (And as an added incentive, they get some free tickets out of the gig!)

Folks! Think on what role you’d like to play in this fun event. Wanna help with kid’s games? Food service? Bar? Fire truck? Sign up sheet is coming soon—but grab a friend and be ready to snatch up a fun slot.

If volunteering a booth isn’t your thing, there are 3 other ways to participate. (Or maybe you’re just a completely awesome resident and you want to volunteer and donate something..)

Donate a Bingo prize
Please look through your gift closet to see if you have any NEW items that we can use for BINGO prizes! We are looking for children’s toys, stuffed animals, gift cards, tickets to games or shows, items that teenagers would like, things for adults…..be creative!

Bring them to the Jamboree or drop them off to Carol and Steve at 104 River Drive.

White Elephant
Round up things from your house that are still awesome, but you no longer use! We have a killer white elephant sale. Details on this forthcoming, too.

Donate to the Bake Sale & Market
Please consider donating baked goods! Always a big hit. Just keep in mind that we don’t have refrigeration, so here’s a few guidelines:

• Individually wrapped goodies are ideal (cookies, brownies, cupcakes, bars are great)
• They should be able to withstand heat (it’s late August, after all!)
• Please mark if your treat has nuts / GF items = total bonus!

Bring them to the Jamboree or drop them off the morning of the Jamboree 8/26 — OR drop off the morning of (so you aren’t carrying gooey treats around). Details forthcoming! 🙂

Please, volunteer, come, bring your friends if you like and plan on staying a good, long while!

-the ‘hood