“People that have moved here and continue to move here view this still as a small town and they use Founders’ Day to celebrate just that the kind of community lifestyle -- the small-town atmosphere that we still have out here in Queen Creek.””
Queen Creek celebrates its 32nd anniversary with Founders’ Day, a day of fun activities and music for the entire family to enjoy.
Founders’ Day takes place Sept. 18 at where else but Founders’ Park, 22407 S. Ellsworth Road. The event runs 5-9 p.m. Admission is free but there are fees to take part in certain activities.
Even though the town of Queen Creek was founded in 1989, it wasn’t until 2014, the town’s 25th anniversary, that the first Founders’ Day event took place. Founders’ Day has taken place every year since then.
The main draw of the event, said Queen Creek Recreation Manager Adam Robinson, is it cultivates a small-town feel.
“People that have moved here and continue to move here view this still as a small town and they use Founders’ Day to celebrate just that the kind of community lifestyle — the small-town atmosphere that we still have out here in Queen Creek,” Robinson said. “We focus on the type of small-town festival activities that that you would see across the country.”
That means sack races, three-legged races, eating contests and more.
“One of my favorite parts is we have a fire versus police eating competition,” Robinson said, adding the public can enter events and indicate whether they are Team Firefighter or Team Law Enforcement. Their wins are tallied for the team they pick. By the end of the event, a winner is named.
“The law enforcement team will have representatives from both the Queen Creek Police Department and MCSO (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office),” said Constance Halonen‑Wilson, communications and marketing manager for Queen Creek. “This will be a good debut for the police department to meet the community.”
MCSO will be policing Queen Creek for the first half of 2022 and then the new police department will take over law enforcement duties.
This year, unlike previous Founders’ Day events, there will be a music concert featuring Gilbert native and country music artist Jacob Morris. Food trucks also will be at the event site.
“Our main goal is variety so that everybody has something,” Robinson said.
The event has proven popular. In 2018, 4,500 people attended Founders’ Day. That number rose to 5,500 in 2019.
As for the town’s founding families, the Sossamans and the Schnepfs, the town tries to get their direct involvement in Founders’ Day each year.
“It's been different each year depending on their availability,” Robinson said. “The one thing they've constantly communicated to us is that they truly appreciate continuing to be involved in Founders’ Day events as we strive to keep that small town feel.”
Janet Perez News Editor | Queen Creek &
San Tan Valley @AzNewsmedia
Meet Janet Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.
Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.
Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science.
Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.
Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.
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