Chandler Centennial Celebration

Signature Events

February 7, 2012 and May 17-19, 2012

Event Schedule

Centennial Kickoff: 100 Day Countdown

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Centennial Kickoff

and 2012 State of the City Address

5:30- 8:00 p.m.

City Hall/Center for the Arts

5:30 p.m. – Doors Open

5:30 to 7:00 p.m. – Reception, Special Announcements, Music, Booths

7:00 to 7:30 p.m. – Mayor’s Speech

7:30 to 8:00 p.m. – Reception, Special Announcements, Music, Booths Continue

Chandler Center for the Arts or Council Chambers

(Address)

Highlights: The Mayor will announce the Birthday Cake Contest Finalists, Birthday Weekend Program Cover winners, Time Capsule item collection kickoff, Centennial Scholarship reminder, and start of the Whiskerino Contest

Chandler Centennial Celebration Weekend

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Happy 100th Birthday Chandler! Celebration

4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

City Hall Plaza

  • Items/Activities at Event
  • Speakers – Mayor, Member of Dr. A.J. Chandler’s family (Propstra family)
  • Plaque Dedication
  • Dedicate Time Capsule
  • Entertainment
  • Displays - Large Birthday Cards, Birthday Cakes, History Exhibits, Vision Gallery Exhibit
  • Centennial Decorations

Highlights: Mayor will recognize Chandler Centenarians, Birthday Cake Design Contest Winners

Friday, May 18, 2012

100 Artists Celebrating 100 Years

4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Historic Downtown Chandler

  • Items/Activities at Event
  • DCCP Art Walk / Farmers Market
  • Multiple Locations for Entertainment
  • NJ Harris/Kesler Neighborhood History book release and special program
  • Chandler History Exhibit Displays
  • Large Birthday Cards

Centennial VIP Reception

Projected attendance: 200

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

5:45 p.m. – Official Welcome-Brief Remarks

CGCC Centennial Scholarship winners recognized

San Marcos Hotel

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Chandler Bash of the Century

4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Tumbleweed Park

  • Items/Activities at Event
  • All Chandler Entertainment Showcase
  • Games
  • Pie Eating Contest
  • 3-Legged Race
  • Potato Sack Races
  • Dunk Tanks
  • Tumbleweed Ranch Activities
  • Hay Rides
  • Smore’s Over A Campfire
  • Calf Roping
  • Historic period pictures
  • Cow Pie Toss
  • Cow Patty Bingo
  • Cotton-Hay Bale Rolling
  • Water Activities
  • Displays/Exhibits
  • Large Birthday Cards
  • Chandler History Exhibit
  • Pioneer Family Pavilion
  • Vendors Selling Items
  • Food, drinks, merchandise
  • No alcohol sales
  • “Official Ceremony”
  • Fireworks at 9pm

Additional Centennial Projects and Features

CONTESTS

Children’s Essay Contest

  • Will be part of the Diversity Office’s Multicultural Festival’s 2012 Creative Expression Competition

Whiskerino Contest

  • This beard/facial hair growing contest begins February 7, 2012 and runs through May 19, 2012 (Men have 102 days to grow the longest beard!)
  • Team Competition with various judging categories

Birthday Cake Design Contest

  • There will be two (2) categories – Individual and Team- judged by a committee; as well as a People’s Choice award for cake design (voting online)
  • Contest will run from September 2011 to January 2012
  • Cakes will be on display for judging and consumption on May 17, 2012

Birthday Card Contest

  • Contest held for school age kids to design the cover of the birthday cards
  • 12 covers would be chosen
  • Cover designs made into large birthday cards the public would be able to sign
  • Signed cards will be put on display in the lobby at City Hall and during the Birthday Weekend Events

Birthday Weekend Program Cover Contest

  • Contest would be held for adults to design the cover of the program for the Centennial Celebration Weekend, May 17-19.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS

Traveling History Exhibits

  • Collaboration between Chandler Museum and Public Library to produce five thematic history traveling banner exhibits that will be on display throughout the city during 2012.

Centennial Concert / Performances

  • Chandler Symphony Orchestra will hold free concerts at the Center for the Arts

Centennial Speaker Series

  • Free event, once a month from January 2012 to May 2012
  • Speakers present family stories that reflect our residents’ diverse heritage and experience

PUBLICATIONS

Chandler history book

  • To be printed through Arcadia Publishing, and scheduled to be available after January 2012 in various retail outlets.
  • Paperback book produced by Chandler Museum staff highlighting Chandler’s 100-year history

N.J. Harris/Kesler Neighborhood Community History Cookbook

  • Book project as a collaboration between the Museum, Neighborhood Programs, Human Relations Commission, Centennial Committee, Community Documentation Program, and the Chandler Historical Society. Documents the stories and recipes of current and past residents of the N.J. Harris/Kesler Neighborhood, Chandler’s historic African American and Hispanic neighborhood.

OTHER SPECIAL PROJECTS

Centennial Quilt

  • Ladies from Chandler Senior Center will be creating a quilt to commemorate the City’s Centennial
  • The quilt will be displayed throughout the City during 2012

Centenarian Celebration

  • Project to feature and honor residents who will be 100 years or older in 2012
  • Recorded oral histories to capture their century of experience, stories highlighted online and possibly in a publication (if sponsored)
  • Honor Centenarians by including them in the annual Pioneer Luncheon as well as the State’s Centenarian Brunch.

Time Capsule

  • The Chandler Arts Commission will design and fund the Time Capsule
  • There will be a call to the public for items in February 2012

Chandler Centennial Scholarship

  • Partnership between Chandler Gilbert Community College and the City to raise funds for at least one $500 Centennial year scholarship to CGCC, to be awarded to a student in May of 2012.

Chandler Century Ride

  • Expansion of annual spring Family Bike Ride event, to showcase Chandler and promote bicycling. Event takes place March 31, 2012.
  • Will include a free 7-mile family bike ride along the Paseo Trail, as well as charged event portion featuring a 50 K (30-mile) Intermediate ride, and a 100 K (62-mile) Advanced ride.

PUBLICITY

Centennial Website/Social Media/Centennial Minutes

  • (or provides details on all designated Centennial events, activities, features, and more. Centennial committee will also create a Chandler Centennial Facebook page as well as Twitter account. Channel 11 is also producing a series of PSAs called “Chandler Centennial Minutes” that provide snapshots of Chandler history and Centennial activities.

Centennial Booth

  • This booth will be at all designated centennial events
  • When not traveling booth may be housed in the lobby of City Hall

Note: Events and Projects are subject to change at any time.