CELEBRATE! : ORANGE COUNTY’S FIRST 100 YEARS : Centennial Calendar

Orange County will mark its 100-year celebration with diversity and pomp. The centennial celebration will be launched officially with a countywide cycling festival July 31, and more than 100 events will be held throughout the county between that date and Aug. 1, 1989. The yearlong fete is being coordinated by a private, nonprofit organization headed by Darrell Metzger and based at the old County Courthouse in Santa Ana.

“We hope to establish a pride, a spirit and an identity for Orange County--a recognition of the county as a separate entity from Los Angeles County,” says Metzger, president of Orange County Centennial Inc.

The centennial celebration will be funded entirely by corporate sponsors, and thousands of volunteers will be enlisted to help organize and run events. (For information on volunteer opportunities, telephone (714) 953-5757.) OCCI will be disbanded in August, 1989, but Metzger says that the centennial spirit will be kept alive through a scholarship fund for Orange County residents attending local colleges. Metzger says $300,000 of OCCI’s $1.5-million operating budget is earmarked for scholarships, and he expects the fund to increase substantially throughout the centennial year.

Following is a list of many 1988 feature events and centennial events and the groups and agencies organizing them. Dates, times and locations for some events have not yet been determined, and the schedule is subject to change. For specific information, telephone the Orange County Centennial FREELINE at (714) 859-4000. The line is open daily, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Those with computers and modems may obtain information by telephoning (714) 859-6000.

FEATURE EVENTS, 1988

July 31

Centennial Cycling Festival Celebration (countywide): Five routes ranging from 5 to 100 miles in length will give walkers, cyclists and spectators a chance to participate in the opening event of the county’s yearlong centennial celebration. All routes will begin near Anaheim Stadium and, with the exception of the 100-mile route to Dana Point, all circuits in the non-competitive event will end at the stadium. Ten festival centers in parks and grassy areas along the routes will offer food booths and musical entertainment.

Aug. 20-21

Orange County Kaleidoscope Festival (Irvine): Orange County’s ethnic communities will bring art, music, dance and cuisine to Park Place (former site of the Fluor Corp.’s headquarters) for a cross-cultural weekend festival. The Historical and Cultural Foundation will bring together county ethnic groups in an event that will include residents of Japanese, Vietnamese, Mexican, Eastern European, Scottish and Italian descent. Among attractions will be performances on three stages, food and craft booths, slide presentations and art exhibits, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday.

Aug. 26/Sept. 25 Tall Ships Festival (Dana Point): On Aug. 26, a centennial party will send off Orange County’s official tall ship Pilgrim on its fourth annual voyage to re-enact Richard Henry Dana’s historic 1835 sail from Dana Point to San Francisco. The Pilgrim will return on Sept. 25, accompanied by the official state tall ship Californian and the galleon Golden Hind, a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship. Viewing sites will be set up at various points along the county shore, and a festival will be held at Dana Point Harbor.

Sept. 12-Oct. 8

Orange County Centennial Golf Classic (countywide): Tournaments geared for amateurs will be held at about 20 area golf courses, culminating with the Tournament of Champions on Oct. 8. A total of $100,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded.

COMMUNITY EVENTS, 1988

May 14

Boat Parade, Dana Yacht Club West, Dana Point.

June 30-July 4

Orange County Fiesta, Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce, Fountain Valley.

July 1-10

Earth Games International, American Kids Sports Assn., Irvine.

July 16

San Clemente Summer Fiesta, San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, San Clemente.

July 29-31

20th Annual Indian Pow-Wow, Southern California Indian Center, Orange County Fairgrounds, Costa Mesa.

Aug. 6

Country Fair Jamboree, Lions Club of Stanton and Stanton Community Services, Stanton.

Aug. 6-8

Men’s Slow-Pitch Baseball, Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation and Placentia Recreation and Human Services, Placentia.

Aug. 13

Antique Car Parade, city of Santa Ana, MainPlace and South Coast Plaza Village, Santa Ana.

Aug. 13-14

Summerfaire, Anaheim Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Anaheim.

Aug. 19

Second Annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival, Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, Newport Beach.

Sept. 2

Placentia Community Night at Anaheim Stadium, Placentia Recreation and Human Services.

Sept. 9-11

La Habra Air Expo, city of La Habra, La Habra.

Sept. 11

La Jaimaca, a Mexican Folk Festival, Mexican American Arts Council and Council of the Bowers Museum, Santa Ana.

Sept. 15-18

Orange County Horse Assn. Championship Show, Orange County Horse Show Assn. and United Western Medical Centers Inc., Coto de Caza.

Sept. 16

United Way Sand Castle Contest, United Way of Orange County, Seal Beach.

Sept. 24

Mayor’s Ball, Brea Community Services, Brea.

Sept. 30-Oct. 2

Oktoberfest, Orange Coast Lions Club, Fountain Valley.

Oct. 2

Concours d’Elegance, Assessment and Treatment Services Center, Newport Beach.

Oct. 7-9

Tustin Tiller Days, Tustin Community Services, Tustin.

Oct. 8

Country Heritage Festival, Placentia Recreation and Human Services, Placentia.

Oct. 9

Arthritis Foundation Grand Prix, a horse-jumping competition, Arthritis Foundation, Orange County Branch, San Juan Capistrano.

Oct. 13-16

Silverado Days, Noon Lions Club and city of Buena Park, Buena Park.

Oct. 14-16

Golden City Days Festival and Grand Prix, a bicycle race, Santa Ana Recreation, Parks and Community Services, Santa Ana.

Oct. 27-30

Anaheim Halloween Festival, Anaheim Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Anaheim.

Oct. 29

Cancer Society 10K Autumn Run, American Cancer Society, Seal Beach.

Fiesta Days Parade and Street Faire, Yorba Linda Service League, Yorba Linda.

Halloween Monster Mash, Fountain Valley Community Services, Fountain Valley.

Halloween Haunted House and Costume Contest, Placentia Recreation and Human Services, Placentia.

Oct. 30

Israel Fair/Festival Judaica, Orange County Fairgrounds, Jewish Foundation of Orange County, Costa Mesa.

Oct. 31

24th Annual Halloween Howl and Haunted House, Stanton Recreation and Leisure Services, Stanton.

Halloween Carnivals, Santa Ana Recreation, Parks and Community Services, Santa Ana.

Nov. 4-5

Anaheim Senior Holiday Boutique, Anaheim Senior Citizen Center, Anaheim.

Nov. 6

Turkey Trot, Santa Ana Recreation, Parks and Community Services, Santa Ana.

Nov. 11

Senior Citizens Bazaar, Los Alamitos Senior Citizens Club Inc., Los Alamitos.

Nov. 11-13

International Days, La Palma Recreation and Community Services, La Palma.

Nov. 24

11th Annual Turkey Trot and 10K Run, Dana Point Chamber of Commerce, Dana Point.

Nov. 24-27

Gracias 88, Anaheim Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Anaheim.

ARTS EVENTS, 1988

May 16-June 20

Centennial School Poster Contest, Laguna Art Museum, Costa Mesa.

June 24-Sept. 17

Grove Shakespeare Festival, Grove Theatre Company, Garden Grove.

June 10-Aug. 6

Pearson Park Summer Series, Anaheim Parks, Recreation and Community Services, Anaheim.

July, August

Summer Outdoor Concert Series, Wednesday nights, Buena Park Fine Arts Commission, Buena Park.

July 1-Aug. 12

“We Are Orange County” art exhibit, Brea Civic and Cultural Center Gallery, Brea.

July 8-Aug. 28

Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts, Laguna Beach.

July 13, 20 and 27; Aug. 3, 10 and 17

Concerts in the Park, Tustin Community Services, Tustin.

July 16,1988-Aug. 31, 1989

“Photography: Inside Out” exhibit series, Irvine Fine Arts Center, countywide.

July 27-Aug. 7

La Cristianita Pageant, La Cristianita Pageant Assn., San Clemente.

Nov. 25-April 23, 1989

Orange County Children’s Theatre productions, Orange County Children’s Theatre, Huntington Beach.

Nov. 29-May 7, 1989

Orange County Centennial Series, Chapman Symphony Orchestra, Orange.

HISTORICAL EVENTS, 1988

Oct. 8

Victorian Days, Discovery Museum of Orange County, Santa Ana.

Oct. 9

Natural History Day, Museum of Natural History and Science, Newport Beach.

Oct. 12

Modjeska Historic Park Dedication, Orange County Historical Commission, Modjeska Canyon.

Oct. 21

Dedication of the Boulevard Bells, La Habra Old Settlers Historical Society and city of La Habra, La Habra.

Oct. 23

United Nations Day, Coastline Chapter of the United Nations Assn., Mission Viejo.

Oct. 28-29

History of Orange County Conference, Chapman College Department of History, Orange.

Nov. 10

Orange County Courthouse birthday and time capsule removal, Orange County Historical Commission, Santa Ana.

November-April, 1989, weekends

“Orange County and the Sea” educational program, Nautical Heritage Society, Dana Point.

Dec. 3

Victorian Christmas, County Harbors, Beaches and Parks and Heritage Hill Park’s Amigos de la Colima, El Toro.

Dec. 10

Candlelight Tour, County Harbors, Beaches and Parks and Heritage Hill Park’s Amigos de la Colima, El Toro.

Dec. 10-11

Christmas open house, Huntington Beach Historical Society, Huntington Beach.