 | | | Photos Jeff Heyman | | | | | | A town only gets to celebrate its Big 5-0 once. And so it was a day of celebration and festivities on Saturday, Sept. 28, when the Town of Moraga celebrated the 50th anniversary of its incorporation with a mile-long parade and a packed Pear and Wine Festival.
The anniversary bash began promptly at 10 a.m. with a boisterous parade of more than 700 people from a cross section of Moraga and Lamorinda community organizations. A hook and ladder from the Moraga-Orinda Fire District led the proceedings. Winding their way through Moraga's crowd-lined streets were familiar local groups: Moraga Scouts Troop 246, Los Perales Girl Scout Troops, the Moraga Country Club, the Moraga Chamber of Commerce, the Moraga Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis clubs, and many more.
Huge contingents marched from St. Mary's College and Campolindo High School. Joining in the parade fun was Moraga Mayor Teresa Onoda and the Town Council, along with other public agencies such as the Moraga Planning Commission, the Friends of the Moraga Library, the Moraga Garden Club, the Moraga Park Foundation, Lamorinda CERT, the community emergency organization, and the Acalanes High School District and Moraga School Boards.
The crowd cheered and there was plenty of flag waving. Kids went wild scrambling for the candy that the parade marchers threw their way. Seniors mingled with young families on the sidelines, telling stories of how Moraga has - and hasn't - changed.
The party then moved to the Moraga Commons Park for the annual Pear and Wine Festival, which celebrates the Town's history as a pear producing capital. This is where celebration turned to sheer fun as families enjoyed the perfect weather to indulge in water slides, jumpy houses, and all manner of outdoor activities that the Commons has to offer.
Pear pies from Nations flew out of the Moraga Park Foundation booth faster than the burgers came off the grill or pear salads could be assembled. To quench their thirst, merrymakers fancied a "Community Crush," a cider made from Moraga's neighborhood pear and apple trees. Eight pies vied for the top spot in a pie tasting contest. The team of judges awarded Tina Elliot the blue ribbon for her blueberry mango tango pie - yum!
To add to the festive mood, bands played at the Bartlett Pear Stage - which was surrounded by hay bales - as kids of all ages danced. Dozens of booths provided information and fun, featuring rock painting, face painting, jewelry making, and other activities put on by the Moraga Parks and Recreation Department, which organized the festival. The Town's booth, "Pear Essentials," had lines of beaming festival-goers eager to snap up Moraga- and pear-themed tee shirts, cookbooks, jams, posters, mugs, and even hand-poured pear and cardamom candles. Lamorinda 4-H Club's petting zoo and the Sky High Circus at the bandshell stage were also particularly popular.
With one shot at celebrating its 50th anniversary, Moraga hit it out of the park with a parade and festival for the ages, one surely to be remembered as the best celebration seen in Moraga for many a year. |
| Moragans who have lived here for 50 years or more were recognized and honored at the Anniversary Celebration by Mayor Teresa Oneda, Past Mayor Renata Sos, and Ellen Beans of the Moraga Citizens Network. The group of residents attending were former Mayors, Town Council Members, Planning Commissioners, Park & Rec Commissioners, Town Treasurers, and many others who have volunteered their service for the Town. The Moragan who has lived here the longest is Sue Sperry, having been born to local residents in 1944. She is still active in the Moraga Historical Society. Photo and text provided by Gary Irwin |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA