City Celebrates 128 Years of History and Community

Guests arrived at Colton High School's football stadium Saturday afternoon, with the sweet smell of candied popcorn permeating the air and Midnight Star's "No Parking on the Dance Floor" setting the stage for the night. The occasion was Colton's 128th Birthday Celebration, and the city's Community Services Department was ready for the crowds as Rancho Avenue, closed off to traffic, was turned into a mini-theme park, complete with several water slides on one side and booth activities on the other, including a bouncer, a bullseye throw and a "fish feeder" game. Attendees could purchase KidZone wristbands for $5 for unlimited play. Classic cars were also polished to shine and on display for party-goers to ogle, and vendor booths lined the blacktop inside the parking gates of the stadium. Around the immediate area, families in homes nearby set up their front and back yards with barbecues to extend the party. David Malgra and his wife Victoria were just two attendees of thousands that evening, bringing their kids from their San Bernardino home for the annual celebration that has become a tradition in their family. With roots in the city - David's grandfather has lived in Colton since the 1920s - the family said attending the birthday celebration is how the family revisits their heritage. "Now that we have kids, we're keeping the tradition alive," said David. "There's fireworks and stuff for the kids. They enjoy it." David also said the annual event was a time where he could catch up with family members and old classmates. "It's so fun and everyone is so friendly," Victoria added, lively music bumping over the loudspeakers as she spoke. Their children, Nathan, Ernesto, Ruben and Jordan said there were many parts about the celebration they could call their favorite: the balloon wars, water slides, and of course, the fireworks show at the end of the night. Colton was incorporated as a city within San Bernardino County in 1887, beginning as an industrial and transportation hub as part of the California Southern Railroad, which connected Barstow to San Diego and helping deliver goods throughout the Southern California region. Each year the city hosts the birthday bash celebration to celebrate the city's history and its residents. Main attractions included live performances by local music and entertainment groups and organizations, combining music and dance. At 9 p.m. the fireworks show began, lighting up the Colton sky in brilliant colors. Diamond event sponsors included BNSF Railway, Union Pacific Railway and Nichols Egg Ranches; Gold sponsors included Ecology Auto Parks, Inc., Best Best and Krieger, and SA Recycling; Silver sponsors included Stater Bros. Markets, Baker's, Squires Lumber Co. Inc., McNeilus, Studio 33, Valley Colton Truck Stop Inc., Senator Connie Leyva, Sombrero Market and C.R. England; and Bronze sponsors included American RV Expo, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Los Compadres, Orange Oil, So Cal Edison and Villelli Enterprises.