Community celebrates with parade, stagecoach, cupcakes & tons of fun
As hundreds of community members lined the streets of downtown Paso Robles, the Paso Robles High School Bearcats marching band led a school parade around the City Park to kick off a very successful “Happy Birthday Paso Robles” event on March 11.
Organized by the 125th Anniversary Committee and members of the Paso Robles Unified School District, the afternoon activities were held to celebrate the 125th anniversary date of the city’s incorporation. As numerous school children marched around the park and towards the front of the Carnegie Library, the crowd continued to expand and fill the downtown area in anticipation of the arrival of a special letter delivered by means of a special stagecoach.
The stagecoach, provided by Harris Stage Lines, had traced a route from the San Miguel post office to the City Park. On board were the postmasters from San Miguel and Paso Robles, along with the letter – postmarked March 11, 2014 – which was later deposited into a time capsule along with other commemorative items.
A brief program and speeches by city and county dignitaries, preceded the raising of a new city flag by Troop 60 was followed by a photo session of the large crowd to commemorate the celebration. The Paso Robles Culinary Academy prepared and provided 1,000 cupcakes for the crowd and a commemorative Ginger Ale, produced especially for the 125th Anniversary, was offered by Pithy Little Wine Company & Soda Works.
In addition, the crowd enjoyed a railroad memorabilia display and the opportunity to learn about the early history of the area and the 125th Anniversary Kids Historical Scavenger Hunt was unveiled. Forms for the scavenger hunt were available and will continue to be made available at the Visitor Center, located at 1225 Park St.; the Paso Robles Historical Society, inside the Carnegie library in the park, and at the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum, located at 2010 Riverside. Pick up the map, follow clues through downtown, answer historical questions and have a chance to win prizes such as passes to the Ravine Water Park, Mid-State Fair, movies and more; prizes will be awarded three times in 2014.
More 125th Anniversary events
2014 marks the 125th Anniversary of Paso Robles incorporating as a city. A full year’s worth of events was kicked off with a fireworks and New Year’s celebration on Dec. 31, 2014. Up next, the community will hold a newly-imagined 4th of July celebration; an Old-Fashioned Family Fun Day in the park during Pioneer Day; Historic Women’s Day; a 12.5-mile Fun Run and much more before the year ends with a fireworks finale on Dec. 31.
For a complete list of 125th anniversary events throughout 2014, go to paso125.com.
— Meagan Friberg
