Insurance issues and lack of funds forced organizers of the Presidio Settlement Fiesta to cancel the event — one of dozens scheduled to celebrate Tucson's 232nd birthday.
The all-day fiesta was supposed to have occurred Saturday, but on Wednesday, Celebrando el Pueblo de Tucson — the group that organized it — called it off after learning that the insurance company pulled out.
The event was going to be held at the Presidio and was going to include mariachis, folkloric dancers, minstrels, food booths, demonstrations with real cannons and rifles, children's activities, adobe-brick making, quill writing and carpintero demonstration.
"For any event, large or small, the city requires you to have an insurance company that is willing to cover a million dollars should something happen," said Lynne Urias, who runs Celebrando el Pueblo de Tucson. "The insurance company did not want to be responsible for the cannon fire or the gunfire ... They wanted a static display, meaning you could view it but can't use it."
People are also reading…
Urias said she did look for another company to cover the event, but soon learned that they did not have enough money to fund it either. The cost was going to be between $17,000 and $20,000.
"We put a lot of time and effort into this event, and it's unfortunate that it could not happen," Urias said. "We were trying to re-create some things that were a part of Tucson's history."
Dozens of events to celebrate Tucson's birthday remain scheduled through the month of August. For more information, go to www.tucsonsbirthday.org.
New Tucson lounge to embrace dark and cozy
