With more than a century of celebrations, the Tempe Settlers Picnic will be held Oct. 14 at Arizona Community Church, bringing together longtime community members and hopefully a new group of enthusiastic residents.
From 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., a number of Tempe residents and other guests will meet for a lunch, program and storytime to celebrate memories of the city, a press release explained.
Started by Tempe pioneers and early settlers to mark their establishment in the new city, this resident-led group has continued to meet yearly for fellowship and sharing memories for just over 120 years — only missing this opportunity to gather one year during World War II and two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tempe Settlers Picnic, first held in 1902 on the Peterson lawn, looks forward to another year of reminiscing on time spent in Tempe and seeing old faces, according to Doug Royse, settlers committee member and Tempe native.
Other members of the Settlers Committee include Joe Spracle, Jan Welsh, Mark and Joyce Voyles and Hut and Sandy Hutson. Royse explained that many of those involved are graduates of Tempe High School and have been continuing the tradition given how long it’s been around.
“That’s why I jumped in. I did not want to see it die when people started dying off,” Royse said.
Having joined the settlers in his 40s, Royse, now approaching 80, has been a leading figure in the event’s continuation, and he’s now hoping to find another group of younger residents like himself who can connect with this event and continue the tradition.
Originally, the event was open to only Tempe residents who had lived in the city for at least 35 years, but the group has expanded its criteria and eased restrictions in an effort to stir up more attendance over the years.
A photo of Tempe Beach Park before the Roosevelt Dam.
Courtesy Tempe Settlers Picnic
(Courtesy Tempe Settlers Picnic)
This year, Tempe locals and “those whose heart belongs to Tempe” are welcome to join the celebration, according to the release. The group asks that all attendees either bring a dish to share for eight or pay $10 to partake.
Royce said in recent years it has been tougher with regulars dwindling in numbers and difficulties getting younger demographics to attend.
“But a lot of the elderly people are still afraid to get out of their houses, and that’s a shame,” he said.
Pandemic concerns have kept many regulars away from the picnic, but attendance numbers are almost back to normal from before the pandemic. Royse noted though that it’s been harder to get people involved with the community-organized picnic in recent years.
Tempe Settlers Picnic isn’t as highly-produced as other community celebrations, but that doesn’t stop those involved from trying to put on a well-rounded and meaningful opportunity for residents to bond, whether that be through shared stories or guest speakers.
With its loose structure, the picnic is more informal with its program of events, but attendees can expect appearances from city leaders and other longtime residents as the oldest male and female attendees receive awards during the celebration.
Considering how to get younger groups to the event, the Settlers Committee is looking to incorporate more entertainment to the picnic’s agenda either this year or in coming years.
“People like to go somewhere where there’s something when they leave, they remember — other than seeing their old good neighbor,” Royse said.
Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
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