As the city of Paton gets ready to party with a milestone birthday, there are lots of fun activities planned for Saturday.

Paton is celebrating its Sesquicentennial, or its 150th birthday on Saturday and volunteer Deb Marquardt says the morning festivities kick-off with a 5K fun run/walk at 8am in front of the community center at the park, along with donuts and fruit will also be served at that time. She talks about a local celebrity, who was an astronaut, that will be joining the morning 5K.

“We have our claim to fame, Loren Shriver, native, has said him and his wife are going to do the 5K walk. So probably some good conversation with Loren Shriver as you’re walking, if anybody is interested. So, his first mission was in 1985, he was the commander in 1990 of the Hubble Space Telescope, and then he did command another flight in 1992.”       

Marquardt points out that next will be the parade starting at 10am, with the route to start near the park, head down Main Street and loop back to the park. She emphasizes that entries can just show up and it is free to be in the parade. Then starting at 11am, Marquardt says there will be a variety of kid activities, along with a car show that includes a $500 grand prize People’s Choice Award, food vendors and several tournaments, that includes bags, volleyball and pickleball. 

Marquardt notes that the Paton Alumni Banquet begins at 11:30am at the 209 Main restaurant, with guest speaker Shriver at 1pm, which is open to the public, with limited seating. There will also be bingo and inflatables in the afternoon, as well as the time capsule opening at 3pm. Marquardt states that there are two time capsules that will be opened, one from 50 years and the other from a century ago. She explains that a third time capsule will then be buried afterwards, marking the 150th anniversary of the town. 

The evening activities include supper starting at 4pm, followed by a musical act, Dueling Pianos from 4:30-7pm, and a free street dance will take place from 8-11pm on Main Street with the band, “Lost Wax” from Kansas City, Missouri. Click here more information.