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Centennial Celebrations

Since Yuma was already a ripe old 41 as an incorporated town when Arizona became a state, it's only proper that it celebrate the Centennial in historic fashion. But with the party spirit growing as the big date approaches, rounding up a definitive schedule of festivities is like lassoing jackalopes. With that in mind, here's a quick summary of party plans to date:

FREE BOARD EVERY DAY THE SUN DOESN'T SHINE > August 1, 2011 through July 31, 2012
A lot has changed here over the last century - but one thing that hasn't is sunshine an average of 350 days a year. Back in the day, Yuma hotels boasted they offered "free board every day the sun doesn't shine." In honor of Arizona's Centennial, the community renewed the historic offer of free eats on sunless days for twelve months beginning August 1. (Updated score as of Feb. 1: Sunshine 215, Gloom 0). More info, www.visityuma.com, 800-293-0071.

YUMA SIPHON CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE COIN > On sale now, Yuma Territorial Prison & Quartermaster Depot SHP
The Yuma Siphon celebrates its own 100th birthday in Arizona's centennial year. This massive tunnel under the Colorado River first delivered irrigation water to Yuma on June 29, 1912, and still operates "full-stream" today.  Inspired by a coin cast a century ago by Yuma pioneer E.F. Sanguinetti, the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area has also created a commemorative medallion to celebrate the Siphon's birthday, with a numbered limited edition of 100 available in solid silver for $250 or an unnumbered version in brass on sale for $25. More information, 928-783-4771.

BARRIER 2 BRIDGE FESTIVAL, VARIOUS LOCATIONS > Feb. 10-19, 2012
To bridge the border in celebration of the Centennial, Yuma, San Luis and San Luis Rio Colorado (Son.) join to present educational panels, "Taste of San Luis" and outdoor concert, San Luis Rio Colorado guided tour with lunch and more. More info www.sanluisarts.com, 928-341-8584

SILVER SPUR RODEO AND RODEO PARADE, YUMA CO. FAIRGROUNDS > Feb. 10-12, 2012
The Yuma Jaycees have proudly presented this unique American sport for the last 65 years - and celebrate Arizona's Centennial at this year's event. This PRCA-sanctioned rodeo draws top riders from around the Turquoise Circuit and beyond. In addition to rodeo action, there's a parade through city streets on Saturday morning and dances following rodeo action on both Friday and Saturday nights. More info, www.yumajaycees.org, 928-344-5451.  Note: Rodeo tickets are on sale at YVB's Visitor Information Center, Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park, 201 N. 4th Ave., 928-783-0071 or 800-293-0071.

YUMA SQUARE DANCE FESTIVAL, YUMA CIVIC CENTER > Feb. 10-12, 2012
A long-time Yuma tradition, this event brings do-si-doers from throughout the Western states for down-home dancin' with callers and cuers from around the region. As a special treat to celebrate Arizona's Centennial, the California Heritage Dancers will demonstrate vintage dances in period costume at this year's festival. More info, www.ysrda.weebly.com, 928-782-0844.

CENTENNIAL KICKOFF, YUMA COUNTY MAIN LIBRARY > Feb. 10, 2012
Yuma County and the Caballeros de Yuma join forces to kick off the birthday weekend with a bang, including fireworks and the dedication of a permanent Centennial plaza ...

From the Yuma Sun: County Administrator Robert Pickels and the Yuma County Board of Supervisors will begin the event with a presentation of a time capsule, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Centennial Heritage Area between the Main Library and Yuma Catholic High School.  The area has walk paths, grass and an interpretive section where symbols highlight the significant aspects that have shaped the area's cultural image over the past 100 years.

“There are seven (symbolic) areas in the Heritage Area,” Pickels said. “They represent things like the siphon, the sand dunes, a military appreciation wall and other important things to our community.”

After the ceremony, the Caballeros de Yuma will be offering a tri-tip meal for $7 per plate. Music by local bands will be featured in the Heritage Area until a fireworks display concludes the festivities. Tickets for the meal can be purchased at the Friends of the Library Bookstore in the Yuma Main Library. For more information on ticket sales, call 373-6519.

Read more: http://www.yumasun.com/articles/yuma-76166-county-area.html#ixzz1l5CjJJJP

YUMA CROSSING DAY / REDONDO DAYS, HISTORIC NORTH END > Feb. 11, 2012
This sun-drenched town on the Colorado River celebrates its rich history at the crossroads of the Southwest every February, but with the whole state of Arizona also getting set to light the candles for its 100th birthday in 2012, Yuma Crossing Day and Redondo Days will definitely be special this year.

A full day of fun, free activities, Yuma Crossing Day take places from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, along historic Madison Avenue in downtown Yuma. The original track alignment for the Southern Pacific Railroad when it entered Arizona in 1877, Madison Avenue still boasts some of Yuma's oldest buildings, including the historic Sanguinetti House, now a museum operated by the Rio Colorado chapter of the Arizona Historical Society.

Along with historical re-enactors dressed in authentic period costume, Yuma Crossing Day will feature demonstrations of piņata making, tamale cooking and adobe brick making, along with displays of antique tractors and cars.  Entertainment will feature mariachi bands and folklorico dancers, along with games authentic to the period. To add extra spice to the day, there will be a jalapeņo eating contest, along with exhibitors and vendors of vittles and drinks.

Daytime activities are free and open to the public; admission to the Sanguinetti House Museum is also free that day.  Author Gerald Ahnert will autograph his newly published book, The Butterfield Trail and Overland Mail Company in Arizona, 1858-1861.

But the fun doesn't end when the sun goes down, as the Yuma County Historical Society is hosting a Redondo Days fundraising dinner at 6:30 p.m. to benefit the Sanguinetti House museum. Jose Maria Redondo was Yuma's first mayor and a pioneer of agriculture in the Yuma area, as well as a founder of Redondo Beach, Calif.  Singer Linda Ronstadt is among the Arizonans whose family trees include Redondo roots.

To be held in the gardens of the Molina Block, an original adobe structure that was one of Yuma's first commercial buildings, tickets for the fundraiser are available now for $50 per person or, or to ensure families, friends or business associates are seated together, $500 for a table of eight.

Along with other entertainment, the fundraiser will feature an auction of art, antiques and such unique experiences as dinner at the Redondo hacienda ruins hosted and served by descendents of Jose Maria Redondo; dinner in the Sanguinetti House gardens hosted and served by descendants of the family; dinner at the site of the Wilson Boarding House hosted and served by descendants of the Mercedes Mendoza Wilson family; a guided tour of the Devil's Highway with lunch and a guided hike on the Butterfield Trail led by author Gerald Ahnert, and a boxed, numbered, uncut pages edition of the book, Game in the Desert, by Jack O'Connor (retail value $1500).

For more information about any of the day's events or to purchase tickets for the Redondo Days fundraising dinner, contact the Yuma County Historical Society at 928-782-1841.More info, www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org, 928-782-1841

FREE BIRTHDAY CAKE & COFFEE > Feb. 14, 2012
While it lasts, join us at the Visitor Information Center, 201 N. 4th Avenue, for a piece of birthday cake and coffee.  VIC hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., we'll cut the cake when we open!

CENTENNIAL FANDANGO & FIREWORKS, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN > Feb. 14, 2012
Yuma's own special birthday party will feature music by Lorenzo Chavez, dancing, plus fireworks and a tri-tip barbecue wrangled by the Caballeros de Yuma. More info, 928-373-5198.  Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area is also presenting a performance by the Western singing group "Riders In The Sky" at the Historic Yuma Theatre that evening, for information and to purchase tickets, go to www.yumashowtickets.com.

NEW YUMA SIPHON EXHIBIT > Grand opening & ribbon cutting ceremony Feb. 15, 2012 (1-2 p.m.)
The Yuma Siphon celebrates its own 100th birthday in Arizona's centennial year. This massive tunnel under the Colorado River first delivered irrigation water to Yuma on June 29, 1912, and still operates "full-stream" today.  In honor of the centennial, Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area partnered with the Bureau of Reclamation, Arizona State Parks and the National Park Service to create a new exhibit about the Siphon and its key role in Yuma's development.  Located at the Yuma Quartermaster Depot - first home to what was then the U.S. Reclamation Service - the new exihibit uses giant graphics and a six-minute video to dramatically detail the creation of the Reclamation Service, the construction of Laguna Dam and the epic feat of building the Siphon.  Featured speakers at the ribbon cutting will include Kara Finkler, deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, Reclamation Area Manager Jennifer McCloskey and representatives of other key partners.  The new exhibit is free and open to the public during regular park hours.

FREE MOVIE SCREENING: BLOOD INTO WINE > Feb. 15, 2012, 7 p.m. Historic Yuma Theatre
NexGen Yuma, in conjunction with the Yuma Arts and Culture Division and the Historic Yuma Theatre, is sponsoring this free, public screening of Blood Into Wine, a documentary that follows alt-rocker Maynard James Keenan and his quest to make wine – one so delicious it has been declared the official Arizona Centennial wine.  Keenan’s Stronghold Centennial wine – a red, a white and a rose – will be available for purchase during the film and after, with representatives from the winery on hand to answer any questions.  The screening, which is an official, sanctioned Arizona Centennial event, is free to the public.  For more details, contact Isaac Russell at isaacdanielrussell@gmail.com, or 941-7800.  Please note: This film is not rated, and viewer discretion is advised.

100TH ANNIVERSARY BIRTHDAY BASH FOR THE HISTORIC YUMA THEATRE > Feb. 21, 2012
Originally built as a vaudeville venue, the Historic Yuma Theatre later morphed into a movie house - and has retained its role as a downtown entertainment center offering a variety of programming as the heart of the Yuma Art Center. This free celebration of the theatre's century mark will feature birthday cake, local entertainers, music, flags, history and fun. More info, 928-373-5202.

HISTORY OF ARIZONA at the MUSEUM OF HISTORY IN GRANITE > Ongoing
The nonprofit Museum of History in Granite dedicated its granite panels detailing the history of Arizona for the ages a year ahead of the Centennial. Located just eight miles west of downtown Yuma, this California location is a great place to catch up on Arizona milestones, as well as the history of California, the United States - and humanity on general. More info, www.historyingranite.org, 760-572-0100

More to come? In all likelihood, yes - once we get the party started, it's hard to slow us down! Check for updates at www.yumasun.com, www.yumacalendar.org, www.stufftodoinyuma.com

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