Event Archive

In 2017, El Cerrito is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a city! Our rich history has contributed to the City’s identity and quality of life, and there is much to be proud of. The City’s Centennial Celebration Planning Task Force has been busy planning ways to celebrate El Cerrito’s 100th year anniversary including talks, tours and more!

This page includes a list of the events that have already taken place - See the Events Page for a list of upcoming events.

Centennial Celebration Events Already Held


Jan 16 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade & Rally
  • 10am-1pm at Parade travels from City Hall to ECHS Performing Arts Theater (540 Ashbury)
  • Hosted by City of El Cerrito, St. Peter Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, El Cerrito NAACP & West Contra Costa County Unified School District el-cerrito.org/MLK
Jan 21 - Centennial Crab Feed
  • 5pm at El Cerrito Community Center (7007 Moeser Lane)
  • Hosted by Recreation Department
  • Tickets $50
Jan 21 - Walking Tour: Cerrito Creekside History and Natural History Stroll
  • 12pm-2pm at Creekside Park (3499 Santa Clara Ave. )
  • Stroll along Cerrito Creek toward the bay with the El Cerrito Trail Trekkers, Historical Society & Friends of Five Creeks
Jan 25 - Talk: City of Sin to City of Homes (with David Weinstein)
Jan 28 - Lunar New Year Celebration
  • 10am-1pm at Rialto Cinemas Cerrito (10070 San Pablo Ave)
  • Free screening of "Kubo and the Two Strings" followed by Lion Dance outside of theater. Hosted by Economic Development Committee
Jan 29 - St. John the Baptist Catholic School Open House
  • 11am-1pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic School (11150 San Pablo Ave)
  • Hosted by St. John the Baptist Catholic School
Feb 4 - Centennial Family Sweetheart Dance
  • 6pm-8pm at El Cerrito Community Center ( 7007 Moeser Lane)
  • Hosted by Recreation Department
  • Tickets $15/family of 4 or $5/person
Feb 5 - Community Worship Service
Feb 8 - Talk: A Mid-Century Modern Mecca (by David Thorne & David Weinstein)
Feb 9 - Talk: The El Cerrito Library - Serving the Community for over 100 Years (by Tom Panas)
  • 6:30pm-8:30pm at El Cerrito Library (6510 Stockton)
  • Historical talk and slideshow presented by Tom Panas; Hosted by El Cerrito Library
  • Talk ties history of the Library to the history of the city.
Feb 11 - rECexpo (Recreation Dept Expo)
  • 10am-1pm at El Cerrito Community Center (7007 Moeser Lane)
  • Sneak peak of 2017 summer camp and Recreation programs. At the expo, receive 10% featured camps.
Feb 11 - Crab Feed
  • 6pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic School (11156 San Pablo Ave)
  • Hosted by St. John the Baptist Catholic School. Ticket $50 per person; available at www.stjohnec.org
Mar 4 - Poetry & Place | El Cerrito
  • 3pm-5pm at El Cerrito Library (6501 Stockton Ave.)
  • Hosted by El Cerrito Poet Laureate, Maw Shein Win. Readers include Judith Tannenbaum and MK Chavez, plus open mic
  • Sponsored by Arts and Culture Commission
NEW! Mar 5 - Historical Pavers Walking Tour
Mar 7 through 14 Arbor Week
  • Check back in the spring for details about the Arbor Week celebration hosted by Tree Committee
Mar 9 - Talk: El Cerrito's Gambling Past (by Chris Treadway)
CANCELLED: Mar 10 - El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce Open House
  • This event has been cancelled.
Mar 11 - Stege Sanitary District Open House
  • 1-4pm at Stege Sanitary District (7500 Schmidt Lane)
  • Check out Stege's facilities and equipment to learn about the important service they provide to the community.
  • Also, from 2-3pm, tour the city's Recycling Center (7501 Schmidt Lane) to get "behind the scenes" of this busy and beloved center! Children must be accompanied by an adult; Please wear closed-toes shoes.
Mar 11 - Fairmont PTA's Red Carpet Silent Auction
  • 6:30pm-9:30pm at El Cerrito Community Center (7007 Moeser Lane)
  • Hosted by Fairmont School PTA
  • Adults $15/Kids $6
Mar 15 - Tour of Korematsu Middle School and Student Concert
  • 5:30pm Tour of the new school, followed by 7pm Concert at Korematsu Middle School (7125 Donal St.)
  • Hosted by Korematsu Middle School
Mar 18 - Walking Tour: Architecture in the Flatlands
Mar 18 - LUNAFEST Film Festival
Apr 15 - Centennial Spring Egg Hunt
  • 10am sharp at Arlington Park (1120 Arlington Blvd)
  • Hosted by Recreation Department
  • More information available here
Apr 19 - Talk: El Cerrito High Athletics - A History of Victory (by Larry Quirico)
Apr 20 - Poetry reading & conversation with California’s Poet Laureate, Dana Gioia
  • 6:30pm at El Cerrito Library (6510 Stockton Ave)
  • Hosted by California Poet Laureate Dana Gioia
  • More information available here
Apr 22 - Earth Day Work Parties & Lunch
  • Help to beautify your neighborhood and the community.
  • Work parties are from 9am-noon, followed by volunteer appreciation lunch from noon to 1:30pm.
  • More details and registration form are online at el-cerrito.org/EarthDay
NEW! Apr 23 - “This Ain’t No Mouse Music!”
  • 10am at Rialto Cinemas Cerrito (10070 San Pablo Avenue)
  • Free screening of the documentary about Chris Strachwitz and Arhoolie Records. Limited seating. Doors open approximately 15 minutes before the film starts.
  • Hosted by the Arts & Culture Commission & the El Cerrito Historical Society
  • Call 215-4318 or check here for more information.
Apr 24 - Centennial Dynamo Golf Scramble
  • 8am-2pm at Mira Vista Golf & Country Club (7901 Cutting Blvd)
  • Hosted by Recreation Department
  • Contact the Recreation Dept. for player/team registration information or see flyer here.
Apr 29 - Library Tour
May 11 - Contra Costa County and the City of El Cerrito Standing Together for Affordable Housing
  • 5pm-7:30pm at Supervisor Gioia's Office (11780 San Pablo Ave Suite D)
  • Open house and history display of affordable housing in El Cerrito hosted by Supervisor John Gioia
  • More information available here
May 20 - Public Safety Day: Fire Dept. tours and Police Dept vehicle display
  • 1m-3pm. Meet firefighters and police officers, see a vehicle display and tour the stations!
  • Police Station & Fire Station 71 (10900 San Pablo Avenue)
  • Fire Station 72 (1520 Arlington Blvd.) - Fire Dept only
May 20 - Spring Garage Sale
  • Shop at the annual citywide Garage Sale coordinated by City, at locations throughout the city
  • For more details and to register to host a sale, check here.
May 21 - Community Worship Service and Reception at St. Jerome Catholic Church
May 21 - Hillside Festival
  • 10am-5pm at Hillside Natural Area (meadow above the Schmidt Lane entrance 7451 Schmidt Lane)
  • Hosted by El Cerrito Trail Trekkers, Friends of Five Creeks, Environmental Quality Committee, National Park Service and others. The festival features talks, hikes, displays and outdoor activities.
May 21 - Celebration of Old Roses
May 23 - Cameron School Tour and Ice Cream Social
May 30 - Talk and Tour: Camp Herms
June 3 - Walking Tour: When Gamblers Ran Our Town
June 3 - Centennial Community Water Safety Day
  • 10am-2pm at El Cerrito Swim Center (7007 Moeser Lane)
  • Hosted by Recreation Department
  • Event includes free swim lesson (pre-registration. suggested) & discounted entrance for recreational swim - $3/person
June 11 - Loving Day Celebration
  • Celebrate and strengthen El Cerrito's multicultural community.
  • Check back in the spring for information about this event hosted by the Human Relations Commission at City Hall.
June 10 & 11 - Centennial Pickleball Tournament
  • 9am-4pm at ECHS Fields (540 Ashbury)
  • Hosted by Recreation Department
  • Contact the Recreation Dept. for details and to register
June 17 - Hike: It's Our Fault
June 20 - Law Enforcement Torch Run
  • Cheer on members of the El Cerrito Police Department as they run in support of Special Olympics of Northern California.
  • Route info will be posted online in June.
June 22 - Talk: Victor Ramon Castro and His Family at the Castro Adobe 1839-1928 (by Joanne Rubio)
June 24 - Community Celebration with Worship and Reception
  • 5pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (11150 San Pablo Ave)
  • Hosted by St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
June 25 - Holy Ghost Parade
  • Check back in the spring for details about where to watch the parade.
  • Hosted by St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
June 25 - St. John the Baptist School's Annual Vacation Day Camp Open House
  • 10am-2pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (11156 San Pablo Ave)
  • Hosted by St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
July 3 - Centennial 4th of July Festival Preview Concert
  • 5pm - 7pm at Cerrito Vista Park (950 Pomona Ave)
  • Hosted by the City of El Cerrito, worldOne Radio and our generous sponsors
July 4 - Centennial 4th of July Festival
  • 10am - 6pm at Cerrito Vista Park (950 Pomona Ave)
  • Hosted by the City of El Cerrito, worldOne Radio and our generous sponsors
  • Details online here.
July 19 - Talk: Where Recycling is a Pleasure (by David Weinstein)
  • 6pm-7:30pm at Recycling & Environmental Resource Center (7501 Schmidt Lane)
  • History talk hosted by El Cerrito Historical Society , co-sponsored by the Environmental Quality Committee
Aug 1 - National Night Out
  • Contact the Police Dept. about hosting a block party in your neighborhood!
  • Details online here

Aug 17 - Tour of the Sundar Shadi History Room

  • 3:30pm-4:30pm lesson on curating and collecting; 4:30pm tour of the Society archives. The Shadi History Room is located on the 2nd floor at City Hall (10890 San Pablo Ave)
  • Hosted by El Cerrito Historical Society

Aug 23 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY EL CERRITO!


Aug 23 - Centennial Time Capsule Dedication
  • 5:30pm-6:30pm at City Hall (10890 San Pablo Ave)
  • Time Capsule Dedication and tour of City Hall. Dedication will be at 6pm.
  • Download the list of contents in the Time Capsule.
Aug 26 - Centennial Celebration Honoring the Legacy of African Americans
  • 1pm-4pm at El Cerrito Community Center (7007 Moeser Lane)
  • St. Peter C.M.E. Church and El Cerrito NAACP will host a cultural event to honor the legacy of African Americans in El Cerrito. Everyone is invited to share in this meaningful and joyous celebration! Enjoy a taste of soul food, art exhibits, a legacy museum, keynote speaker Regina Mason, Executive Producer and Author of “Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave”, special guest Belva Davis-Moore and One Hitter Entertainment performing artist Da Michanic.
  • See event flyer or call Event Coordinator, Patricia Durham at 510-234-2518 for more details.
Aug 27 - Open Service & Talk at St. Peter CME Church
  • 11am Open church service for the community, followed by a talk about the church's history in El Cerrito
  • Hosted by St. Peter C.M.E. Church (5324 Cypress St.)
Aug 29 - Open House and Ice Cream Social
Sept 9 & 10 - Staged reading of the 1917 Broadway hit, Hamilton
  • Saturday, Sept 9 at 8pm, repeated Sunday, Sept 10 at 2pm at Contra Costa Civic Theatre (951 Pomona Ave)
  • Hear a staged reading of the 1917 Broadway hit, HAMILTON --the play, not the musical-- by Mary P. Hamlin and George Arliss.
  • Hosted by Contra Costa Civic Theatre
  • Tickets $2.50 per person (the price you would have paid to see the show on Broadway in 1917)
Sept 10 - Back-to-School Water Play
  • 12pm-2pm at Arlington Park & Clubhouse (1120 Arlington Blvd.)
  • Join El Cerrito Public Safety for a giant back-to-school water play in Arlington Park. Bring your own prefilled water soaker. No realistic guns allowed. There will be fill stations. An adult must accompany children under the age of 12. Prior to play, all participants will need to have their squirt guns checked by an ECPD officer to ensure safety.
  • Free; RSVP requested