With twice the entertainment for 2011, the daylong musical festival is free and open to the public, featuring marching bands, a festival expo, food, performance stages, carnival booths, kids’ fun zone, a first annual dog competition and more.

In its second year, the Parade Band Review and Festival returns to Otay Ranch Town Center in Chula Vista for a day of live music and family fun on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Produced by the Parade Band Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization, the event is free and open to the public and offers something for everyone. More information is available on the official Parade Band Review and Festival website.

As one of the key events celebrating the best of Chula Vista during the city’s Centennial year of 2011, the Parade Band Review doubled in size from 2010 and will feature 20 marching bands from the Southern California region. The marching bands will be complemented by the enthusiasm of cheerleading, dance groups, and many more parade participants as Otay Ranch Town Center comes alive with music and pageantry.

Chula Vista’s party of the century to feature live music, 2012 Olympic preview, culinary tasting area, craft beer garden, food and craft vendors and fireworks finale at scenic Olympic Training Center

The stage is set for the city of Chula Vista’s 100^th birthday. The public is invited to the official Chula Vista Centennial Celebration at the scenic U.S. Olympic Training Center (OTC) on Saturday, October 15 from noon to 9 p.m. Gate admission is free. Friends and family are encouraged to save the date, visit ChulaVista100.com and “Like” the Chula Vista 100 Facebook page to receive the latest updates.

For Chula Vista, this is the party of the century. Guests can dine all day with a variety of food vendors and also in a special culinary tasting area. In addition, the celebration will feature a family-friendly carnival, London Olympics preview, live music and entertainment on two stages, craft beer and margarita garden, shopping opportunities and a fireworks finale.

The City of Chula Vista will celebrate its Centennial on Saturday, October 15, 2011. This citywide festival is admission free and is a special opportunity for local vendors to be involved. From food and drink - to arts and crafts - and everything in between, this event will host over 50 vendors featuring something unique and different for everyone.  Vendor spaces are filling up fast. Act now to secure your booth space and help Chula Vista celebrate 100 years of history. Interested vendors please contact McFarlane Promotions at 619.233.5008 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

This historic party will be set on the scenic campus of the United States Olympic Training Center, Chula Vista (OTC). Organizers encourage the public to visit www.ChulaVista100.com and “Like” the Centennial Facebook page to receive the latest updates.

This week’s 100 centennial seconds is about the 60s. The decade began with President Eisenhower visiting Chula Vista making his entrance by marine helicopter to a crowd of 25,000 people made up of Chula Vistans, dignitaries from Tijuana, and Inter-American Congress delegates. Schools were closed for the day and the bands from Chula Vista and Hilltop High Schools, the only high schools in Chula Vista, joined to play the national anthem for the ceremony.

The South Bay Power Plant opened in the 60s, and no longer operates today. City Council met, Congressional Towers opened as did the short-lived Shangri-La on G Street.

Coffee table-style book on sale at www.ChulaVista100.com
Centennial Celebration set for Saturday, October 15, 2011 at U.S. Olympic Training Center

Commemorating the City of Chula Vista’s 100th birthday in October 2011, the coffee-table style history book titled Chula Vista Centennial: A Century of People and Progress is now available for purchase through the official Chula Vista Centennial website www.ChulaVista100.com, or can be picked up at the Centennial Office located inside City Hall at 276 Fourth Ave, 91910 Monday through Thursday, 10 am – 2 pm.

Written by acclaimed historian, retired University of San Diego history professor and Chula Vista resident Steven Schoenherr, the book illustrates the first one hundred years of Chula Vista’s history, which began as a small agricultural town known as the “Lemon Capital of the World” and grew into the seventh fastest growing city in the United States.

“It was an honor to write and give this work as a gift to my community,” said Professor Schoenherr who volunteered his time to research and write the book. “Chula Vista is a wonderful place to live. I hope residents enjoy reading and sharing this keepsake of stories from Chula Vista’s first 100 years.”

Photographs provide us with memories of the past. Thanks to the efforts of library staff and volunteers, our community has the opportunity this Thursday, June 16th to view a new photography exhibit at the Chula Vista Heritage Museum titled Glimpses of History: Celebrating 100 years of Chula Vista.

Today’s 100 Centennial seconds focuses on Third Avenue, and before I go any further, let’s take a quick look at a video produced by Channel 4 in 2010 featuring Chula Vista librarian Donna Golden.

On Saturday July 9th, the Third Avenue Village Association (TAVA) invites families and friends to join the first annual Village Hunt from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event starts and finishes at Memorial Park. Participants will receive a Hunt Packet, race number bib, an official Village Hunt T-Shirt, and are invited to partake in an after party and awards ceremony.

Today we visit the 1930’s in an excerpt from our soon-to-be released book Chula Vista Centennial: A Century of People and Progress.

The Great Depression closed industries, but agriculture thrived. Lemon exports grew to nearly $1 million a year. Dairies flourished in Castle Park and Proctor Valley. Stafford and Chino organized the Celery Association, and the Vegetable Exchange opened on K Street.

Lima bean crops were introduced in the eastern valleys.

Chula Vistan Emily Fenton Hunte, recalled that during the Depression, her father Henry G. Fenton, who had planted 3,000 acres of lima beans and barley on Rancho Janal, “would turn the fields over to the needy, once the harvest had been completed. There still were thousands of lima beans lying on the ground, and people would flock to the ranch by the hundreds to scoop them up into sacks to take home.”

Henry also grew tomatoes, declaring in 1937 that his were the best ever, “some as big around as a saucer!”

Chula Vistans have a history of reinventing themselves in tough times, as well as taking care of each other, and growing healthy local produce. As we celebrate this Centennial Year of Service, you can continue to take part in these traditions at our Farmer’s Markets’ on Mondays on Main St., Tuesdays at Otay Ranch Town Center and Thursdays at Center and Third Avenue downtown. And while you’re there, buy three sacks of lima beans and tomatoes and share two with your neighbors.

The 1940’s is our focus today, excerpted from the upcoming book that celebrates our history, Chula Vista Centennial: A Century of People and Progress.

The 1940s brought major changes to the city. Rohr Aircraft Corporation built a large plant on the bayfront to manufacture aircraft engine power units, just as the war in Europe was revving up and war defense housing was built at Hilltop Village and Vista Square and at several other areas.

The 1950’s were an exciting time of transition and development: Chula Vista had doubled in size following 63 annexations. New houses grew alongside lemon orchards.  One lemon orchard was sold to become the new City Hall.

Third Avenue in the 50s was finally complete. The last remaining lot became a Bank of America. The center of downtown was located on the corner of Third Avenue and F Street, marked to this day by a clock tower outside Security Trust and Savings Bank.