Compton : Centennial Festival to Begin

An outdoor festival featuring music, arts, crafts, food and an exhibit of historical photographs will be held Saturday and Sunday to kick off the city’s yearlong birthday celebration.

The free festival at the civic center is one of a series of centennial events scheduled during the coming year to commemorate the city’s incorporation May 11, 1888.

A marathon and Special Olympics will be held May 21 at Compton Community College. The third annual air fair will be June 11 at Compton Airport. On June 3, there will be a fireworks display at 7:30 p.m. A centennial grand ball is set for Dec. 17 at Compton Dominguez Plaza Hotel.

Saturday’s outdoor festival opens at 10 a.m. with a musical presentation that will tell the story of Compton’s first 100 years. The event will end at 6 p.m. with a blues concert. The celebration resumes at 11 a.m. on Sunday with jazz, reggae and local acts. It will end at 5 p.m. with a gospel concert.