Sesquicentennial- ses-kwi-sen-ten-ee-uhl

Pertaining to or marking the completion of a period of 150 years.

August 31, 2008 will be a day long remembered in the city of Westerville! You won't want to miss this all-day extravaganza filled with history, music, a community picnic, activities for all ages and most of all, community spirit.

Plan to spend the day with us, reminiscing with family, friends and neighbors and take a look back at what led Westerville to become such a wonderful community. From flapjacks to fireworks this day will be filled with special activities to fit all tastes and interests.

Breakfast starts at 9am. Join the Westerville Kiwanis at Alum Creek Park North, 221 W. Main St., for pancakes at the Shelter House and listen to the down-home music of Eagle River with Patchwork Nancy. Just a few blocks away at Heritage Park, 60 N. Cleveland Ave., registration begins for the Westerville Sertoma's Annual Car Show.

An old-time church service lead by the Rev. Dick Elsworth and the Chaplain from the 5th USCT Civil War re-enacting group will echo though the trees at Alum Creek Park beginning at 10am and will be followed by as special ceremony for 150 couples to renew their wedding vows. Westerville Mayor Anne Gonzales will conduct the ceremony and attempt to break a world record for the most couples who renew vows at one time.

Arnett Howard will perform and a grand community picnic will begin at Noon, filled with tables that you can reserve for the entire day. You can also reserve seats at community tables if your group is smaller. (Click Here for a table/seat registration form.) You'll walk away with fun prizes and great memories if your table is among those chosen as one of the best in several categories during the Sesqui Table Decorating Contest. Click Here to find out more about it and the Recipe and Pie judgings that will take place as well.

The presence of Civil War soldiers' camp will be revealed by the sight of our Boys in blue, the smell of campfire cooking, and by the sound of cannon fire. Kids of all ages can march with the troops and the 1st Ohio Infantry and the 5th USCT will host presentation and displays showing how Union soldiers really lived.

An ice cream social, historic presentations, caliope music, story times for kids and other activities will take place at Astronauts Grove, 290 W. Main St. The Hanby House, 160 W. Main St., will be open for tours and three will be a Temperance Tea Party at the Howard House, 131 W. Park St., highlighting Westerville's role in Prohibition and its designation as the "Dry Capital of the World."

Legal Tender, Three Days Wait and the Hanby Magnet School drama students will provide afternoon entertainment and local eateries will showcase their offerings during Taste of Westerville.

The evening will begin with closing ceremonies and a time capsule dedication and a free concert by the Westerville Symphony. The sky will light up with fireworks, marking the end of Westerville's Sesquicentennial events to Celebrate Westerville.

Click Here for a complete schedule of the Day's events!

Click Here for Contest Instructions!

For more information call 614-794-0401 or 1-800-824-8461 or visit www.celebratewesterville.org.