JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Jasper held its annual Jack-o-Lantern Jamboree directly on the square for the residents of Marion County this past weekend on October 26.
Known as Joshua J. Jennings Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree in honor of Joshua J. Jennings and started by the town of Jasper and the Jasper Lions Club in 2016, the jamboree has been a near decade old favorite for the residents of the community to enjoy. From games and activities to treats and food’s galore, there was no shortage of fun to be had for visitors near and far.
Haulin’ Axe, one of the many vendors that attended the jamboree in town is a mobile axe throwing trailer from Soddy Daisy that provided rounds of axe throwing to those who were interested. Steve Gann, an employee of Haulin’ Axe, expressed how this is the company’s second year attending the festival while also acknowledging on how they had over 100 people attend and play each turn during the event just last year alone.
“Last year we were ran over with people. I mean its really big.” said Gann. Robert Kirk of Builtwell Bank, another vendor of the festival since its fruition shared his thoughts about the event, stating that he had many visitors from numerous parts of Tennessee, including those from parts of Middle Tennessee.
“We had people from Manchester, Sequatchie County, Bledsoe County, and Trenton, GA. They come from all over.” said Kirk. Other vendors and attendees of the jamboree included 104.9 The River, SVEConnect and Lodge Cast Iron. As well as, Schwend Logistics Inc, a major trucking company based in Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. Many local residents and business owners have also joined in as vendors to help support and promote their establishments to the community, such as Kim Blevins, a resident of Marion County who recently started her own home-based bakery.
Blevins explained this is her second year attending the Jamboree, “Last time we did it with our church. This time I did it as a food vendor because I’m trying to get a little business started.” stated Blevins.
The Jamboree concluded with a fifteen-minute firework display, marking an explosive finale for yet another successful year of the Joshua J. Jennings Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree in downtown Jasper.
