Events Culminate City’s Yearlong Quasquicentennial Celebration

The City of Redlands’ yearlong 125th Anniversary celebration will culminate in November with a series of events beginning with a daylong Extravaganza including local history tours, art exhibits, a community dinner in Smiley Park, and a Bowl presentation, concluding with a fireworks show. The quasquicentennial celebration kicked off Dec. 1, 2012, with the Redlands Christmas Parade and continues through Nov. 26, the 125th anniversary of the City of Redlands’ incorporation. The daylong Extravaganza will take place Saturday, Nov. 2, with a 125th Anniversary Extravaganza dinner for the community, following the tradition set at the City’s 100th anniversary. Due to popular demand, the barbecue dinner will be served at two seatings beginning at noon and at 4 p.m. in Smiley Park located at the corner of Parkwood Street and Glenwood Drive. Tickets for the dinner are $7 per person and are available at the City Clerk’s office located in City Hall at 35 Cajon Street or the following outlets throughout the city: • City Clerk’s Office, 35 Cajon St., Suite 10 • Gerrards Market, 705 W. Cypress Ave. • Market Night (City Booth on Thursday nights) • Mill Creek Restaurant, 1874 Mentone Blvd., Mentone • Mill Creek Restaurant, 2087 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands • Muffin Top Bakery, 233 E. State St. • Pennington Designs, 19 E. Citrus #104 • Plymouth Village Concierge • Redlands Chamber of Commerce, 1 E. Redlands Blvd. • Security Bank, 201 E. State St. • The Barber, 1752 E. Lugonia Ave. • Terry Vines, DDS, Pure Gold Building, 303 Brookside Ave. • University of Redlands A variety of events are scheduled throughout the day leading up to the community dinner, including a Dessert Dining Zone; Smiley Brothers Beard Contest; Kids’ Zone; Historical Re-enactors; Historical Walking Tours; Historical Church Tours; Historical Bus Tours; Historical Displays; Historical Film Festival; Youth Art Show; Red Dirt Art Show; Sculpture Garden; Oral History Garden; Historical Scavenger Hunt; music, dance and other performances at Ed Hales Park; and downtown merchant 125th specials. The Extravaganza will culminate with a grand finale at the Redlands Bowl, including music by the Tornadoes at 5 p.m. before the closing ceremonies begin at 6 p.m. Closing ceremonies will feature performances by the Redlands Fourth of July Band, presentations by historians Larry Burgess and Tom Atchley, and by former Redlands Mayor Carole Beswick, and a fireworks display above the Bowl’s Procellis. The Redlands 125th Anniversary Extravaganza has been planned by a committee headed by local attorney Daryl Carlson. Committee members include: Amy Strong, Beverly Noerr, Drew Nelson, Geneil and Terry Vines, George Barich, Heather Smith, Karen Bell, Kasey Haws, Kathy Carlson, Marla Thompson, Paul Foster, Richard Pennington, Ron Running, Rose Palmer, Sam Irwin, Sherri Miller, and Susan Martinez. The quasquicentennial celebration marks the 125th Anniversary of the City’s incorporation in November 1888. The yearlong celebration kicked off on Dec. 1 with the Redlands Christmas Parade, sponsored by the City and the Kiwanis Club of Redlands. Additional events planned in November include the 125th Anniversary Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11; performances of an original musical, “Redlands, My Redlands” at the University of Redlands Memorial Chapel on Nov. 15 and 16; and showing of the City’s 125th Anniversary documentary at the Esri forum on Nov. 26 and 27. No General Fund money has been allocated for the celebration. All funds have come from donations, fundraising efforts and revenue from the sale of sponsorships and commemorative merchandise. Donations of $10,000 each have been received from the Kiwanis Club of Redlands (noon), the University of Redlands and Kaiser-Permanente. Donations of $5,000 were also received from the Rotary Clubs of Redlands and American Medical Response.