Bailor, Bruno and Giann brings free food, music, bounce house and dunk tank to VOCA Park for 12th year
Close out your summer with the 12th annual free Village of Oak Creek Community BBQ on Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Village of Oakcreek Association Park, 690 Bell Rock Blvd.
Event organizers Andrew Bailor, Damian Bruno and Danielle Giann are set to serve up free fun for the community along with a special performance by the band Sugar Moon.
“It’s just something that we do for the community, because when we had our son 16, 17 years ago, there really wasn’t much for families and children in the Village,” Giann said. “So we just decided to take a home barbecue that we were doing and pick it up a notch and make it a little bigger and share it with the community.”
Last year the picnic was moved to later in the year, and Giann said that September will be its new home on the calendar, however the menu has remained consistent with Clark’s Market providing the barbecue beef, pork, chicken, coleslaw, watermelon and chips.
“We also do hot dogs,” Giann said, with donated ice cream.
Rocky Road does make a flavor for us. They call it Javelina Tracks, and it’s vanilla with pecans and caramel swirls in there …. And then of course a sorbet for vegans,” she said.
Typically over 300 people come out to the picnic over the course of the four hours, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own water bottles to cut back on waste. Attendees should also bring blankets, chairs and sunscreen.
“Of course, the parking lot will be full, so I find people will be parking on the streets, which the community hasn’t said anything about, and VOCA seems to be fine with it,” Giann said. “People just park along Bell Rock Boulevard or some of the blocks leading up to the park. It’s sort of inevitable.”
Free attractions include face painting, a bounce house and, new for 2026, a dunk tank and an inflatable obstacle course to run.
“Myself, Damian Bruno, Andrew Baylor,” are among the people that will be hoping into the dunk tank, Giann said. “Only sponsors and organizers are going in the tank because of liability, but there will be plenty of people that you can try and dunk.”
“New this year: the Dunk Tank,” Bruno wrote. “Come take your shot and dunk your favorite organizer or local sponsor. Damian, Danielle, Andrew, and several brave sponsors will be ready to get soaked for a good time and a lot of laughs.”
From 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sugar Moon will be playing its signature pop, rock, country and blues song stylings for attendees.
“Sugar Moon is a dynamic female-led band, playing decades of danceable hits crowds love to sing & dance to! ” the band’s self description reads.
A few local groups will have booths set up such The American Red Cross, Volunteer Sedona and the Verde Valley, the Friends of the Forest, the Rotary Club of Sedona Village and more to be announced.
“It’s nice to see a mix of the community, from young kids and families to maybe some more of the mature people that live here in town. I feel like we get a nice mix of people and flux of people,” Giann said. “What I really like is that it’s something, after all these years, that the community really looks forward to. But it should be a beautiful day, and it’s a way to wear the kiddos out and eat some great food.”
Volunteers are still needed to supervise the bounce house; those who are interested in assisting should contact Giann at 928-300-0139.
