City Will Combine Anniversary, Festival

City Council members have agreed to move the city’s 25th birthday celebration ahead by two weeks to coincide with the annual Harvest Festival on the first weekend in October.

“It should save money,” said Councilwoman Christina Shea, “and it will be the perfect spot for the celebration.”

Council members this week set a $25,000 expenditure limit, which might pay for a range of proposed events such as a fireworks show, community picnic and burying a time capsule.

But specific plans to celebrate the 25-year anniversary of the city’s incorporation are still in the conceptual stage, city officials say.

A committee of school, city and community leaders will plan anniversary events, which city staff members suggest could also include a reunion, historical displays and souvenirs imprinted with a 25th birthday logo.

Councilwoman Paula Werner said final approval for merging the city’s birthday celebration and Harvest Festival must come from festival board members.

“It should be a wonderful opportunity for Irvine to celebrate how far we’ve come as a city and a people,” Werner said. “But there may be some glitches that we still have to work out.”