Jason Vargo, the special events coordinator for the city of Sedona’s Parks and Recreation Department discussed how public events shape communities and provided a preview of his department’s 2026 lineup
Vargo, the guest speaker for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute’s “Munch and Learn” series at the Yavapai College Sedona Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, said recently earning Certified Parks and Recreation Professional status felt like a full-circle moment since he started working with the city of Sedona full time in September 2021.
“I’ve loved these parks,” he said. “I have a 19-year-old daughter who was raised here in Sedona and we played at these parks the whole time she was growing up. She’s in single digits, running around the park and I’m just looking around, amazed at where I get to be, where I get to take my daughter. Here I am, nearly 20 years later and I am now a steward of those parks. I get to love them in a completely new capacity.”
“I’m proud of all of the events we get to put on,” Vargo said. “I think when it comes down to what people are talking about the most, we’ve got our two anchor events with the Fest of Fall and the Celebration of Spring; I think draw the widest range of community members and are the ones people remember and still talk about. I’ve had lots of families tell me how excited they are about Celebration of Spring coming up. I’m proud that at this point we’re finding our stride and continuing to offer these events that have remained very popular and fulfilling for the community.”
Upcoming Sedona Events
■ Registration is open now though Sunday March 1, for the annual Sedona St. Patrick’s Parade in Uptown.
The festivities kick off at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 14, “as the parade starts from Jordan Historical Park and proceeds south on Jordan Road to Mesquite Avenue,” the parks and recreation website reads. “Parade entries feature a lively mix of civic, social, cultural and religious organizations, dignitaries and local businesses.”
“The oldest event, as far as I can tell in my historical research of the city of Sedona, is the St. Patrick’s parade,” Vargo said. “We are on our 53rd St. Patrick’s Parade … Sedona was only incorporated 38 years ago … and that means that this event, this community event, has been happening for longer than Sedona has been recognized as an actual city.”
■ The 15th annual Celebration of Spring will take place on Saturday, April 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing kids 12 years of age and younger the opportunity to hunt for over 25,000 Easter eggs at Posse Grounds Park.
■ Later this spring the Sedona Red Rock Rally Pickleball Tournament returns for its second year on Friday, April 24, through Sunday April 26, at the Posse Grounds Pickleball Courts. Tournament registration is open now until Tuesday, April 14 with an early bird discount of $65 that increases to $80 on Sunday, March 1, for more information visit Sedonas Parks and Recreation Department website.
■ “The first Red Dirt Concert Series we did in 2017 was shortly after the grand opening of the [Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park] pavilion itself,” Vargo said. “At which time I was an independent contractor who had been contacted by the Parks and Recreation Department to run operations at that facility. Prior to that, I had been working as an independent contractor in various capacities with Parks and Rec to provide musical acts and stage equipment and sound equipment as needed.”
Vargo said that he is gearing up to produce the 10th annual Red Dirt Concert Series that provides free Friday night concerts at Posse Grounds Park to the public every Friday night in May and September, with an expanded schedule to celebrate a decade of tunes.
“We actually have 28 total acts this year over the course of 11 concert dates,” Vargo later said. He added that for the 10th anniversary there will be a bonus show on Saturday, May 30, and Saturday, Sept. 5 that will run from 1 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with the regular Friday night performances from 5 to 8 p.m.
“It is really a gift that our city allows for city funds to go to events,” he said. “We have the amazing opportunity to create free events for our community.”
Residents with event ideas or feedback can reach the Parks and Recreation Department by email at SedonaRec@SedonaAZ.gov.
