Antioch goes big to celebrate July 4
Free concerts, walk/run, bike event and more set
ANTIOCH >> The Fourth of July has always been special in Antioch, one of the state's oldest riverfront cities, but when it comes in the year of the 150th anniversary of its cityhood, it's not surprising that organizers have gone all-out.
The city's sesquicentennial celebration kicked off officially with an old-fashioned picnic in April, but a slew of other events are planned in the days leading up to Independence Day, including a 5K run/walk on the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta on Saturday a morning community bike ride on Sunday at Prewett Park, a concert at Williamson Ranch Park on July 2, a military band concert July 3 in downtown Antioch, and a full day of activities July 4, starting with a pancake breakfast, continuing with a parade, two stages of musical entertainment, fire dancers, food trucks and fireworks.
“From humble beginnings to a thriving and bustling city, we are excited to honor our legacy as we mark our sesquicentennial,” a spokesman for the event organizers Celebrate Antioch Foundation and the city of Antioch said in a statement.
Antioch got its start in 1849 when Dr. John Marsh offered twin brothers and New Hampshire natives William Wiggin Smith and Joseph Smith land to build a new settlement at a site where Miwok, Julpan and Ompin peoples had lived. First called Smith's Landing or Marsh's Landing, the future city on the banks of the Joaquin River was renamed by William Smith and others during a community picnic in 1851 in honor of the ancient biblical city of Antioch in Syria.
But land disputes kept William Smith and other settlers from receiving land titles of the area until Nov. 18, 1869, according to Antioch historian Elizabeth Rimbault. As a result, the city did not incorporate until Feb. 6, 1872.
“I think it's important to celebrate these moments — for people to look back at this history,” Joy Motts said when the sesquicentennial events first kicked off. “We're a beautiful, diverse community. We want to celebrate our city and where we've been and where we are headed to.”
Pamphlets about the city's his
tory will be given out during the July events and commemorative coins, calendars and almanacs will be available for purchase, organizers said.
Celebrate Antioch and the city of Antioch as well as others such as the Antioch Historical Society and Delta Veterans Group — and dozens of volunteers — have joined forces to help plan and put on the events, Motts said.
“We've incorporated multiple events throughout the community — not just downtown, but throughout the city, different things that would bring the community out and bring the community together,” Celebrate Antioch volunteer Michael Ganrielson said.
“It's a community-driven event,” Motts added.
Next up is Saturday's Sesquicentennial 5K Run, which starts at the Corteva Wetlands Preserve at 9 a.m. with parking at the Antioch marina. Registration is $35, which provides a custom Tshirt and finisher medal.
Go to antiochsesquicentennial5krun.itsyourrace. com/.
On Sunday, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Prewett Park at 4701 Lone Tree Way, is a family bike ride. Registration
is at 8 a.m. on site and riders can choose between a 3-mile bike ride or 6-mile bike ride.
Then, on July 2, people are encouraged to take chairs and blankets for a free concert at Williamson Ranch Park from 3 to 8:30 p.m. Blind to Reason kicks off the event, followed by Groove Ride at 5 p.m. and
Project 4 Band at 7 p.m. Food trucks will be selling items or people can take their own picnics.
On July 3, the free music continues on a stage at Second and E streets downtown, with a musical tribute to the military from 3 to 9 p.m. The U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West will headline the day, with other entertainers being the Illusions and the Grove Room Band.
Gabrielson said the U.S. Air Force Band is made up of active-duty servicemen who are musicians, and it is much sought-after.
July 4 begins with a downtown pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m., followed by the parade from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; music on two stages beginning at 12:30 p.m., including Vocal Ease, RJay Haas Band, Orquestra Latin Heat and the Groove Doctors on the city stage, and the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra, Foreverland, Lydia Pence and Cold Blood, Juan Escovedo All-Stars Band and Sacred Fire Dancers on the main stage.
The events will culminate with a bang as celebratory fireworks shot from a barge on the San Joaquin River light up the downtown waterfront starting at 9:30 p.m.
A complete list of events can be found at Celebrate Antioch's website at celebrateantioch.org.