Long Beach to End Centennial Observance With Grand Finale
A parade will highlight Saturday’s Long Beach Centennial Grand Finale activities, which will include a concert by the Kingston Trio, a laser and light show, historical displays and continuous entertainment. The daylong celebration of Long Beach’s 100 years will bring a close to eight months of centennial events.
The parade, featuring Disneyland characters, high school concert bands, clowns, vintage cars and floats, will get under way at 3 p.m. at 6th Street and Pine Avenue and travel to Ocean Boulevard, where it will turn west to end at Pacific Avenue. The Civic Center Plaza will be the site for a formal dedication of Centennial Plaza, consisting of bronze cases exhibiting photographs of historic Long Beach, flag poles and the commemorative Centennial Honor Wall featuring ceramic tiles inscribed with the names of Long Beach residents. The ceremony will take place at 5 p.m.
The Kingston Trio will perform at 6:30 p.m. at Lincoln Park, preceding a laser and light show at 7:30 with City Hall as the backdrop.
Throughout the day, a variety of free activities will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Civic Center site. A historical exhibit will feature items to be placed in a time capsule by the Historical Society of Long Beach, and historic photos and other memorabilia will be displayed, as well as models of planned developments such as Landmark Square, the Pike property and the World Trade Center.
Entertainment will be provided by Marvin Marker’s Long Beach Junior Concert Band, the International Children’s Choir and other groups. For children, there will be storytelling in the Children’s Theater in the main library, McGruff the crime dog, Officer Bill and Herbie the talking police vehicle, and a play area.
The Long Beach Transit, in honor of its 25th anniversary, will offer free round-trip bus rides anywhere in the LBT system starting at 5 a.m. Saturday and ending at 2 a.m. Sunday.
More information about the Grand Finale may be obtained by calling the Long Beach Centennial Hotline at 494-1822.
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