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Centennial

Walnut Creek “Rocked” during Celebration of the Century!

The City of Walnut Creek officially celebrated its 100th birthday in 2014, honoring the date of incorporation (October 21, 1914) as well as a century of progress and achievements.

The year-long Celebration of the Century — spearheaded by and funded by the community – featured more than 150 community-sponsored Centennial Events and three Signature Centennial Events and gave community members the chance to explore and recognize our rich heritage and history and solidify our civic pride. See the list of Centennial Sponsors and Donors.

Highlighting the year’s events was the Centennial Birthday Festival  on Saturday, October 18, 2014, which was attended by more than 5,000 community members, who enjoyed live music, local artisans, activities and crafts for kids of all ages — and birthday cake!

The Centennial officially closed at the Tuesday, October 21, 2014 meeting of the City Council — coincidentally, 100 years to the date of the official incorporation of the City. Then, on December 6, 2014, the community dedicated the Centennial Grove at Heather Farm Park, a legacy gift for the future.

Centennial Logowalnut creek california centennail logo

To commemorate the celebration, the Centennial Committee developed a logo that reflects Walnut Creek’s cultural and historic legacy as well as its location at the base of Mount Diablo.

Centennial Committee

The Centennial Celebration was led by a committee of community volunteers who organized in early 2013 to plan the yearlong celebration. The City Council assigned Council Members Kristina Lawson and Cindy Silva to represent the Council on the Centennial Committee and selected Steve and Mackenzie Lesher as the Centennial Committee co-chairs. City Communications and Outreach Manager Gayle Vassar served as the project manager for the Committee.

Mackenzie Lesher, Centennial Co-Chair
Steve Lesher, Centennial Co-Chair
Kristina Lawson, Mayor 2014
Cindy Silva, Mayor 2013
Gayle Vassar, City Project Manager

  • Janet Abrams
  • Rocco Biale
  • Ron Brown
  • Kim Brown
  • Linda Rimac Colberg
  • Angie Coffee
  • Angela De La Housaye
  • Donna Dell
  • Tracy Dietlein
  • Mark Hall
  • Brian Hirahara
  • Sally Ingraham
  • Sandi Jacobsen
  • Tony Kallingal
  • Donald Liddle
  • Bob Lloyd
  • Kathleen Odne
  • Bob Power
  • Gwen Regalia
  • Allison Ridenhour
  • Rob Stankus
  • Peggy White

Commemorative Items

During the Centennial year, community members were able to show their Walnut Creek Centennial pride and “take home the celebration” by purchasing one of the Walnut Creek 100 collector items.

Some items are still available for purchase online. In addition, books about Walnut Creek’s history are available. Contact Shadowbrook Winery for information about the Centennial Blend wine.

An Illustrated History of Walnut Creek  $27

Centennial Wine $100
Shadowbrook Winery

Vintage Homes & Family Recipes $22

Signature Centennial Events

Walnut Creek’s Centennial featured three Signature Centennial Events.

Centennial Birthday Festival
More than 5,000 community members of all ages celebrated Walnut Creek’s 100th Birthday at the Centennial Birthday Festival on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at the Shadelands Ranch and Museum.

Centennial Heritage Day at Borges Ranch
More than 850 community members celebrated Walnut Creek’s early ranching days on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the Centennial Heritage Day at Borges Ranch. Read more.

Flappers and Flasks: Roaring in the Centennial
Walnut Creek kicked off the Birthday Celebration on Friday evening, January 24, 2014  at “Flappers and Flasks: Roaring in the Centennial.” Read more.

Centennial Highlights

Five events highlighted Walnut Creek’s Centennial Celebration. Take a look at the photos to remember the year!

Flappers and Flasks: Roaring in the Centennial

 January 24, 2014 | View Album

Flappers and Flasks celebration Jan 2014

Centennial Heritage Day at Borges Ranch

May 17, 2014   |   View Album

Centennial heritage day at Borges Ranch May 2014

Centennial Birthday Festival

October 18, 2014 | View Album

Centennial Birthday Festival

Centennial City Council Meeting

October 21, 2014 | View Album

Centennial City council meeting October 2014

Centennial Grove Dedication

December 6, 2014 | View Album

Centennial Grove Dedication 2014

Sponsors & Donors

The Centennial Celebration would not have been possible without the generous support of the local business community and their contributions, which helped to fund Centennial special events, publicity efforts, and a Legacy Project.

SPONSOR OF THE CENTURY

LEGACY SPONSOR

HERITAGE SPONSOR

FESTIVAL SPONSOR

SIGNATURE SPONSORS

CELEBRATION SPONSORS

MEDIA SPONSORS

CENTURY CLUB

  • Changes Salon & Day Spa
  • Muir OB/GYN Medical Group
  • Proclaim Promotions
  • >Walnut Creek Christian Academy

FLAG CLUB

  • J. G. Barnett
  • Bay Commercial Bank
  • State Assemblymember Susan Bonilla
  • Bob & Cindy Brittain
  • State Assemblymember Joan Buchanan
  • Pete & Angie Coffee Family
  • Contra Costa Oncology
  • The Covello Group
  • De La Housaye & Associates
  • State Senator Mark DeSaulnier
  • Farm Creek Brewing Co.
  • U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein
  • Barry, Niki & Delaney Gordon
  • Greenfield Fresh Produce
  • Grossman Family
  • Harps etc.
  • Councilmember Loella & Ralph Haskew
  • Kevin Herman commercial real estate
  • Kathy & Jerry Hicks
  • Lyn, Brian, Julia & Kimiko Hirahara
  • Katie & Carson Hoffman
  • Matt, Melissa & Isabella Jose
  • Mayor Kristina Lawson
  • Steve & Mackenzie Lesher
  • Franz J. Mair & Family
  • Malucchi Family
  • Mancini’s Sleepworld
  • Jim & Barbara Mergens
  • Meyers Nave
  • Odne Family
  • Zaif & Dinah Omar
  • Dr. B. Powers Orthodontics
  • Rocco’s Ristorante Family & Staff
  • Rossmoor
  • Rotary Club of Walnut Creek
  • Rudney Associates
  • Kevin Sanchez UBS Financial
  • Chip, Carolyn & Jake Seefer
  • Sequoia Landscape Specialties
  • Councilmember Cindy & Tom Silva
  • Caitlin, Lauren & Gary Skrel
  • Katie Y. Smith
  • St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
  • Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
  • Walnut Creek Downtown
  • Weinberg-Lynn Families
  • Michael & Peggy White
  • Wig Works
  • Wunderbar’s Pet Hotel
  • Lance & Diane Young

CENTENNIAL GROVE DONORS

Community Organizations & Businesses

  • Action for Beauty Council
  • Broadway Plaza
  • Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
  • Contra Costa Association of Realtors
  • CSAA Insurance Group
  • Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation
  • Diablo Acupuncture Clinic
  • Diablo Magazine
  • Diablo Regional Arts Association
  • Friends of Civic Arts Education
  • Gardens at Heather Farm
  • Hall Equities Group: Builders
  • Lindsay Wildlife Museum
  • Mechanics Bank
  • Mortensen’s Encina Drug (1965-1993)
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Company
  • Rocco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
  • Rossmoor
  • Ruth Bancroft Garden
  • The Seven Hills School
  • Tuesday Forum – est. 1984
  • Union Bank
  • Walnut Creek Civic Pride Foundation
  • Walnut Creek Community Service Day
  • Walnut Creek Garden Club
  • Walnut Creek Historical Society
  • Walnut Creek Library Foundation
  • Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation
  • The Wixon Olin Financial Group

Community Members

  • Haytham and Heather Abed
  • Parents of Matthew J. Aganon
  • Chuck, Alice, Ben & Elizabeth Allen
  • Sheryl Bolen Almon and Family
  • Liz Andrade
  • Norm and Mary Azevedo
  • Heather & Hal Ballenger
  • The Barambani Family
  • The Benaderets
  • Charmaine Berry
  • Dr. Welby Bigelow Family
  • Don & Betty Blubaugh
  • Bob & Cindy Brittain
  • Bob, Kim, Ian & Hudson Brown
  • Ron and Sharon Brown
  • Terley, Larry & Pepper Brown
  • Karen and Ron Cassano
  • Harvey and Phyllis Ceaser
  • Drs. Anna Chang and Steven Lee
  • Aidinh & Meilianne Huynh Chen
  • Carol Clark
  • Pete and Angie Coffee Family
  • Angela De La Housaye & Sons
  • The Donna M. Dell Family
  • The Edrington Family
  • The Egli, Eitzel, & Solera Families
  • Steve and Paula Evangelou
  • Primo E. Facchini
  • The Wayne Farnholtz Family
  • Fil & Mildred Fong
  • Karlyn Ford
  • William Foster
  • Tasha Jo Gauthier & Jo Ann Anthony
  • Callie Gilbert & Bill Sederowitz
  • Roy and Mary Ann Giomi
  • Marc, Wendy, Brendan & Nate Greenburg
  • Carol Haig
  • The Halverson Family
  • Alden and Laurel Harken
  • Ralph & Loella Haskew
  • Susan and Wilbur E. Hertstein
  • Lyn, Brian, Julia & Kimiko Hirahara
  • Kathy & Jerry Hicks
  • Morris and Rosey Hirsch
    Bruce Hoffman
  • Katie & Carson Hoffman
    Colin and Julia Holland
  • Lois and Merle G. Holt
  • Don & Jane Houser and Family
  • Rosalie & Barry, J & T Howarth
  • Bob, Sandi and Tess Jacobsen
  • Chip, Lainie & Tre Johnson
  • Pete Johnson and Susan Neyer
  • Jackie Jones
  • The Jones Family
  • Jerry, Carolina, Jordan & Cameron Katz
  • The Kenneth & Irma Kimura Family
  • Sammy K. & Kathleen Kirk
  • Kopchik Family
  • Ben, Judy and Emily Kronick
  • The Lawson Family
  • Natasha and Jackie Lee
  • Cameron and Griffin Lesher
  • Cynthia Ann Lesher
  • Steve and Mackenzie Lesher
  • Patrick and Kathy Linsday
  • Charlotte Long
  • David and Joan Lucchese
  • Tom & Sandy Magill
  • Susan, Richard & Bubby Louise Mason
  • Don & Ana McIlraith, MJ Ryan & KD Scott
  • McGranahan Family
  • McGrath Children, Christy & Scott
  • Susan Mott
  • Lee and Mary Nash
  • John and Kara Navolio
  • The Nerlands
  • The Niles Family
  • John and Kathleen Odne
  • The Gary & Joan Ostenberg Family
  • Criss, Sandra & Kelsea Parker
  • David and Joan Pierce
  • Bob Podlech
  • Gary, Jean & David Pokorny
  • Evert, Lynne, Kim & Ian Prins
  • The Puppala Family
  • Richard and Susan Rainey
  • The Richard Ravitz Family
  • Gwen and Edmund Regalia
  • Bob and Pat Rezak Family
  • K. S. “Dusty” Rhodes
  • F. & I. Rossiter Family
  • Peyton, Brayden & Tristan Ruane
  • John & Kathy Scheirman
  • Walter & Bobbie Schmidt
  • Carolyn, Chip, and Jake Seefer
  • Stephen M. Shields
  • Cindy & Tom Silva
  • Kathy Simons & Jeff Gustafik
  • Bob Simmons and Judy Whelan
  • Roberta Anne Snyder
  • Corby, Heather and Claire Stead
  • The Stokol Family
  • Ruth E. Truscott
  • The Walters Family
  • Ken and Paulette Waters
  • David P. & Carol A. Williams Family
  • Janice Cook Williams
  • Ben, Mala, Rohan & Ravi Winig
  • Donna and Douglas Witt
  • The Vallarino Family
  • Gayle Vassar & Eric Brink
  • Flavia Zaro

Contributions were made in honor of:

  • Dan Ashley
  • Bill and Ruth Collins
  • E.J. and Joyce Cox
  • Hannah Caroline 2/25/2014
  • Nathan, Kevin, Emily, Tommy & Joe Hora
  • Kris Lesher-Aring and family

Contributions were made in honor of:

  • Louise Anderson
  • Larry Benson
  • Art & Lyle Bjerke
  • Sandra Y. N. Chee
  • May Dunn
  • Jean S. Erickson
  • Johanne Hohlt
  • Eleanore Morgan
  • John Ott
  • William C. Plumb
  • Nancy Prise
  • Thomas Randolph aka “Tombstone Tom”
  • Sally and Harry Rantzman
  • Aurora Borrego Rodriguez
  • Bev Rovai
  • Jim Rovai
  • Janene Scovel
  • Sean David Servetnick
  • Bill Wright

FRIENDS OF THE CENTENNIAL

  • Laptop Lounge
  • Hardy & Paula Miller
  • Cindy Mosser
  • Seven Hills School

We will be closed on the
following dates:

September 24, 2023
October 1, 2023