Attachment 1. Draft America 250 Celebration Plan
250th Semiquincentennial Celebration Plan – Working Draft Assembled by: City Manager’s Office
Prepared by: City Manager’s Office, Parks & Recreation Department, Library, Police Department, Fire Department, and Public Works Department
Last revised: March 4, 2026
Staff has drafted a list of options for the year-long 250th Semiquincentennial Celebration. As we plan for these events, staff will be mindful to incorporate a diversity of celebrations so that we are consciously celebrating all American cultures.
Table of Contents:
• Draft List of Activities
• Potential Signage Options
• Communications
• Branded Giveaways
• Budget
• Attachment 1: July 4th Celebration
Draft List of Activities (by month)
January
• January 17 – Hamilton Musical Film Screening
February
• Black History Month programming at the Library
o Movies and crafts all month long celebrating Black Americans • Valentines for the Troops at the Senior Center
• February 25 – March 18 - Youth in Government
March
• Women’s History Month programming at the Library
o Movies and crafts all month long celebrating American women • March 14, 3:00 p.m. - The Inquisitor – film screening at the Library o Biopic about Barbara Jordon, Texas congresswoman; Councilmember Flor Nicolas will speak on Women in Government and introduce the film
• Youth Baseball Parade with music, flags, and bunting
April
• April 24 – May 1: The American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit • April 25, 1 p.m. - The Librarians – film screening at the Library o National Library Week event (19th– 25th)
o PBS Documentary about book banning; addresses civil rights, freedom to read in America May
• May 19, 6-8pm - America250 Trivia at the Library
• May 25 - Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast
• One Coast, One Book - They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei o History of Japanese American internment
o Free copies of the book for the public
o Media campaign
o Virtual author event with author George Takei (Star Trek), Sunday, May 31, 2:00 p.m. o AAPI Month event
June
• Pride Month-long programming at the Library
July
• July 4 – 250th Celebration – see more details in Attachment 1 • July 4 - Patriotic Pet Costume Contest at Centennial Way Dog Park • Red, White, and Blue Summer Camp Week
• Movie in the Park
• Americana at the Library
o Americana-themed socials (arts & crafts, games, book and conversation clubs) all month long
o Americana-themed storytimes
o Performer/speaker TBD
August
• August 4 – National Night Out
• Movie in the Park
September
• September 11 – Commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 – event TBD; led by Police and Fire Departments
• September 12 – Concert in the Park, with recognition via Mayor’s remarks, signage, and branded merchandise.
• September 17 – Constitution Day at the Library – activity TBD October
• Hispanic Heritage Month celebration w/ America 250 theme at the Library – TBD • FilAm History Month celebration w/ America 250 theme at the Library – TBD • Patriotic Pumpkin Decoration Contest at the Halloween Extravaganza November
• November 14 - Ruby Bridges Day - opportunity for America250 theme • Indigenous Peoples Day event at the Library – TBD
• Thanksgiving Fun Run
December
• More forthcoming
Date TBD
• Can consider a Mayor’s 250th Art Contest for Children either in the Parks and Recreation Department’s After School Program or citywide.
• Re-dedication of the Veterans Memorial at Orange Memorial Park Year-Round Activities
• Parks and Recreation is looking to host monthly film screenings with America 250 themes in the Council Chambers (examples include Selma, Apollo 13, Glory, etc.) Potential Signage Options
• Painting Sign Hill – anticipated cost: $4,000 excluding labor • Banner at City Hall – anticipated cost: $195 +tax (includes grommets, wind slits. Price may vary depending on design / how much color printing.)
• Hang bunting at City Hall year-round – anticipated cost: $500 • Red, white, and blue uplights at City Hall – No additional cost • Posters on BigBelly trashcans (if we did all trashcans/both sides) - anticipated cost: $1,400 • Banners on sign poles on Grand Avenue, Linden Avenue, Westborough Boulevard, and El Camino Real – around 240 signs; cost to print: $14,000, cost to install banners: $20,000 – total anticipated cost: $34,000
• Electronic billboard on 101 – No additional cost
• LPR electronic sign – No additional cost
Communications
Begin City outreach about the event as soon as the date, time, and details are decided.
Branded Giveaways
Some giveaway ideas could include: water bottles, reusable bags, stickers, bouncy balls for kids – anticipated cost:
$1 – unlimited
Budget
Category Item Budget Notes
Signage
Total cost for options
presented: $40,095
Painting Sign Hill letter $4,000 Excludes labor
Banner at City Hall $195 + tax
Banners on sign poles (240) – cost to print
banners $14,000
Banners on sign poles (240) – cost to
install banners $20,000
Posters on BigBelly trashcans $1,400
Bunting on City Hall $500
Red, white, and blue uplights at City Hall No add’l cost Electronic billboard on 101 No add’l cost
LPR electronic sign No add’l cost
Communications
SSF eConnections Newsletter, print
newsletter, social media, etc. No add’l cost
Branded Giveaways
Total cost for options
presented: $1 –
unlimited
TBD $1 - unlimited
Activities
Total cost for options
presented: Built into
budgets
See above for list of month-by-month
activities. Staff anticipates that, overall,
the activities will be paid for through
existing Department budgets, grants, or
the Friends of the Library (with the
exception of the July 4th celebration).
No add’l cost
July 4th Celebration
Total cost for options
presented: $12,000 -
$74,000
• Parade from City Hall to Orange
Memorial Park
• Picnic celebration at Orange
Memorial Park
$64K - $74K
The budget will
vary (as shown in
the ranges) based
on whether we
have a band & a
DJ, or only a band,
or only a DJ.
• Parade around City Hall (Grand
Avenue – Spruce Avenue – Miller
Avenue – Maple Avenue)
• Picnic celebration on Grand
Avenue
$41K - $51K
• Picnic celebration at Orange
Memorial Park $12K - $22K
Attachment 1. July 4th Celebration
Event: July 4, 2026 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Budget
Initial Draft Options & Budget
Option Location Budget*
1 • Parade from City Hall to Orange Memorial Park
• Picnic celebration at Orange Memorial Park $64K - $74K 2 • Parade around City Hall (Grand Avenue – Spruce
Avenue – Miller Avenue – Maple Avenue)
• Picnic celebration on Grand Avenue
$41K - $51K
3 • Picnic celebration at Orange Memorial Park $12K - $22K *The budget will vary (as shown in the ranges) based on whether we have a band & a DJ, or only a band, or only a DJ.
Budget includes:
• Staff time – Police, Fire, Parks & Recreation (does not include time for salaried staff) • Renting barricades for the parade options
• Food and supplies
• Activities
• Band or DJ
Fire Support
• Anticipate having about 15-20 CERT members volunteer for the event. • Ken Anderson, Emergency Services Captain, and the mobile emergency response trailer to support.
Option 1: Parade from City Hall to Orange Memorial Park & Picnic Celebration at Orange Memorial Park Budget: $64K - $74K
Street closure
• Approximate street closure for the parade: 7:00 – 11:00 am • This will require 25 streets be barricaded between City Hall and OMP. • Staff anticipates renting the barricades because the County barricades are already spoken for. • Each barricade would be staffed by Police, CERT, and others, if needed. • 314 residential addresses within 100 feet of the parade route – City would notify residents who live on the route that access to their house will be very limited during street closure period.
Option 2: Parade around City Hall & Picnic Celebration on Grand Avenue Budget: $41K - $51K
Street closure
• Approximate street closure for the parade: 7:00 – 11:00 am ; approximate Grand Ave street closure for the picnic celebration: 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
• This will require 10 streets be barricaded around City Hall • Staff anticipates renting the barricades because the County barricades are already spoken for. • Each barricade would be staffed by Police, CERT, and others, if needed. • 96 residential addresses within 100 feet of the parade route – City would notify residents who live on the route that access to their house will be very limited during street closure period.
Option 3: Picnic Celebration at Orange Memorial Park (no parade) Budget: $12K - $22K
Street closure
• No street closure needed.
• No / limited communication to nearby residents – same as other events, such as Concert in the Park.
Draft Parade & Picnic Celebration Details
Parade
• Set-Up: 7:00 am – 10:00 am
o Clear streets of vehicles & mark street for parade
o Check Sound System (speakers/microphones)
o Move Chairs to patio/landing
• Program: 10:00 am – 10:15 am
o Welcome (Mayor)
o Reading of the Declaration of Independence
o Other (Singing of National Anthem, American the Beautiful, etc.) • Parade: 10:30 am – 11:00 am
o Potential Parade Participants:
o City Officials in vehicles
o Fire captain SUV
o Fire truck
o Police Corvette
o Police Vehicle (other)
o Car club vehicles
o SSFUSD:
• SSFHS Marching Band
• ECHS Marching Band
o Service Clubs
• Rotary
• Kiwanis
• Chamber of Commerce
• Italian-American Citizens Club
• Maltese-American Club
• Women’s Club
• Others?
o Others?
• Picnic Celebration 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
o Set-up: 8:00 – 11:00 am; Breakdown: 2:00 –3:30 pm
o Free activities:
o Swimming at Orange Pool (or New Aquatic Center)
o Lawn Games:
• Sack Races
• 3-Legged Race
• Water Balloon Toss (weather pending)
• Tug-of-war
• Cornhole
• Obstacle Course
• Softball games (baseball field)
• Ring Toss
• Egg Race
o Face Painting
o Balloon Animals
o Jump Houses
o Free food:
o Hot Dogs
o Chips
o Watermelon
o Water/Juice
o Popsicle (firecracker-red, white, blue)
o Cotton Candy
o Popcorn
o Music/Entertainment:
o Paid band or DJ
o Potential P&R class performances:
• Belly Dance
• Mexican Folk Dance
• Hawaiian Hula
• Salsa/Bachata
• E. Coast Swing/Waltz
o Free flags to attendees
• Parking & Transportation
o Shuttle - Parking Company of America is willing to donate their shuttle services for the event for free (assuming for sponsorship recognition).
o Public Parking:
o Fernekes Building Parking Lot
o Eucalyptus Avenue & W. Orange Avenue
o SSF High School
o Miller Garage (shuttle)
o Downtown Street parking