Camarillo’s Weekend Fiesta to Mark City’s 25th Birthday

Camarillo will celebrate its 25 years as a city with dancing, races and entertainment in a celebration this weekend.

The city was incorporated by 2,402 voters on Sept. 29, 1964.

Camarillo’s annual Fiesta will be off to a running start Saturday with a 5K and 10K race and a 5K fitness walk. Runners will compete in 12 categories, with two divisions for men and women. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. at Adolfo Camarillo High School, 4660 Mission Oak Blvd. Entry fees are $15 for the race and $8 for the walk.

Saturday night, Les Brown and his Band of Renown will bring ballroom music to the city for a fiesta-anniversary dance at the Bill Esty Community Center, 3701 Las Posas Road. The dance begins at 8:30 p.m., and tickets are $20.

“An Evening of Celebration and Remembrance,” starting at 7 p.m. Sunday, will culminate the weeklong anniversary fete and will feature former council members’ recollections of the city’s early days. City artifacts and historical documents will be on display, and music will be provided by the 25th Anniversary Band, directed by John Herman. Pianist Robert Correll will perform a special composition written for the event: “Concerto de Camarillo.”

The Bill Esty Community Center, named after longtime Camarillo resident F. Burrows (Bill) Esty, will be officially dedicated at 6:30 p.m. Esty played a role in the Camarillo community for 13 years, including serving eight years on the Camarillo City Council, with two terms as mayor in 1983 and 1986, serving as director of the Camrosa Water Board and as president of the Leisure Village Homeowners’ Association.

Although the program is free, tickets are required for admission to Sunday’s celebration because of limited seating. Tickets are available at Camarillo Community Bank, Camarillo Library and Camarillo City Hall. For more information on the race and dance, call the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District Office, 805-482-1996.