Monrovians will celebrate 122 years as a community in traditional fashion May 17 with a parade down the middle of Myrtle Avenue.
Monrovia has been celebrating its birthday with similar parades on the third Saturday in May since the first one on May 17, 1897.
The parade will kick off at 9 a.m. at the corner of Foothill Boulevard and Myrtle, and proceed south through Old Town to Chestnut Avenue.
It will be preceded by the traditional pancake breakfast at the Community Center, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.
The pancake breakfast is set to begin at 6:30 a.m.
Because of constriction of the new Public Library in Library Park, the day’s activities will be limited to the breakfast and the parade this year.
The community march down Myrtle is being dedicated this year to Monrovia’s children, with the theme “Celebrating Monrovia’s Youth: Our Future, Hope and Heroes.”
Hometown Grand Marshalls will be Monrovia High School “Students of Character.”
The parade will feature hundreds of children in youth groups, along with local dignitaries, equestrians, bands, classic autos and novelty entries.
Following this year’s parade, shoppers in Old Town will be able to participate in a game of “Birthday Bingo” by going from store to store along Myrtle and its side streets, and answering Monrovia trivia questions to win prizes.
Monrovia Day has commemorated the community’s founding in 1886 since it was first proclaimed a year later.
The celebration is coordinated by the Monrovia Day Committee, a group of volunteers who plan, organize and staff the events.
Chair of the Committee is Donna Baker.
