Forget rocking chairs. For its 100th birthday, the City of
Morgan Hill is getting one rocking party.
Morgan Hill – Forget rocking chairs. For its 100th birthday, the City of Morgan Hill is getting one rocking party.
A variety of family-flavored games and live music are planned for the city’s community barbecue and birthday party, which is scheduled for 12-9pm, Aug. 5, at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center on Dunne Avenue and Monterey Road.
And just like most birthdays, Morgan Hill’s 100th will be celebrated with free cake for all.
The centennial party’s culinary coordinator, Lorraine Welk, said Safeway and Costco are donating sheet cakes for the party.
She said it would be served in the Hiram Morgan Hill Room inside the community and cultural center. Heck, organizers are even planning to sing “Happy Birthday.”
The barbecue is part of a year-long series of events planned by the Morgan Hill Centennial Committee to celebrate the arts and history of the community.
Jennifer Tate, the centennial committee’s president, said this is the city’s “first birthday party.”
About 500 people are expected to filter through the outdoorsy event, which features antique fire and police vehicles and other pieces of history.
Guests will even meet costumed versions of the city’s namesake, Hiram Morgan Hill, and his wife, Diana, the latter of whom inherited 4,500 acres of her father’s ranch that eventually became the incorporated City of Morgan Hill.
As for the true identities of the of the VIP duo, Welk said it was a secret.
Out on the lawn by the amphitheater, there will be a modest cost for barbecued favorites such as hot-dogs, hamburgers and tri-tip at the event’s seven or eight food tents, Welk said.
She’s hopeful the cuisine will include locally prepared Mexican food, too.
Desserts will range from root beer floats to shaved ice, served by local volunteers.
Morgan Hill Recreation Coordinator Chiquy Schoenduve, who’s in charge of organizing an afternoon of children’s games, said youngsters can expect such activities as egg race relays, potato sac races, water balloon tosses and a hilarious pajama game involving silly costumes that will be provided by the city.
The family games will be held between 1pm and 3:30pm in the grassy area in front of the amphitheater.
“We want parents and children to play together,” said event coordinator Susan Brazleton.
Throughout the day, guests will be treated to bands including the Town Square Harmonizers Barbershop Quartet, the MacRae Brothers Bluegrass Band and the Joe Sharino Band.
“We want (residents) to know the heritage of Morgan Hill. We’ve come far from 1906,” Welk added.
Schoenduve, who has previously walked on stilts dressed as the Statue of Liberty in a Morgan Hill July 4 parade, said she hopes to repeat the deed, sans costume, at some point during the barbecue.
