Image courtesy of Paton Sesquicentennial Committee

Today the city of Paton is celebrating its 150th birthday with lots of family-fun activities.

Volunteer Deb Marquardt says after the 5K run/walk and parade kick off the morning festivities, the main items for the Sesquicentennial hits full throttle. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio there are a variety of kids activities in the park from 11am-2pm that includes a petting zoo, meet and greets with Disney princesses and Marvel characters, along with arts and crafts, face painting and a balloon artist. She notes that the car show, food vendors and three tournaments all go into the afternoon. 

Marquardt points out that from noon-2pm will be some inflatables for kids, as well as bingo, and a kids pedal pull are also in the afternoon. Then at 3pm, Marquardt says there will be the opening of the time capsule, as the city council is in charge of this program.

“I’m excited to open the time capsules. One of them is from 50 years ago and one of them is from 100 years ago, so nobody knows what we’re going to reveal with that. Then after that, we’re going to start another capsule. So that will have another capsule from the beginning of 2025.” 

Following the time capsule will be supper that is catered by 209 Main restaurant from 4-6:30pm, followed by the Dueling Piano performance from 4:30-7pm and a free dance on Main Street wraps up the Sesquicentennial with live music from the band “Lost Wax.” Most of the activities are centered around the city park, with the exception of the street dance happening on Main Street. Click here for more information.