Carpinteria seniors brought out the tie-dye and flower power prints Thursday afternoon to celebrate 60 years of cityhood.
Residents have been celebrating the city’s 60th anniversary this week, and Thursday’s festivities included a 1960s-themed party for seniors hosted by AgeWell, the city’s senior services program.
Jena Jenkins, the city’s Agewell program coordinator, put together Thursday’s event and hosted a Carpinteria-themed trivia game.
“I’m super excited that I get to be part of the city and celebrate this place that I love and call home,” Jenkins said. “I love Carpinteria.”
The event also included a flower crown crafting station, a game in which people had to guess which 1960s celebrity was taped on their back, plus 1960s music and a cake.
“A lot of these people are so much fun that they bring smiles to my face a lot, so I’m enjoying spending the afternoon and having fun with them,” Jenkins said.
Gail Jimenez and Eva Frazier are lifelong Carpinteria residents who said they remembered the city before it had any stoplights and everything shut down at 7 p.m.
They agreed that the people were the best part of growing up in Carpinteria.
“It was a fabulous place to grow up — safe, fun. It was fabulous,” Frazier said.
The celebrations kicked off on Monday when the Carpinteria City Council passed a resolution celebrating 60 years of self-government.
The resolution recognized the 41 residents who have served on the City Council, the hundreds who have served on advisory groups, and city employees of past and present.
Councilwoman Julia Mayer said she was thinking about her grandparents who came to Carpinteria in the 1940s.
“I was thinking about how proud they would be of all of us for what we’re doing to both steward this beautiful piece of land but also the community of people that live here,” Mayer said. “I feel very proud and lucky and honored to be part of this tradition of stewardship and legacy.”
Carpinteria Mayor Natalia Alcorn thanked city staff for their work over the years and reflected on growing up in Carpinteria.
“I’m really grateful to have grown up in this community,” Alcorn said. “I really never expected to be sitting up here, helping to shape the future of Carpinteria, but I’m grateful to be up here with my fellow colleagues and work so closely with staff.”
There are more festivities still to come.
On Friday, residents can join in on painting a 60th anniversary display at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center at 855 Linden Ave. from noon to 4 p.m.
Saturday will have a joint 60th anniversary and Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at the Carpinteria Community Library at 5141 Carpinteria Ave. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Monday, city leaders will discuss Carpinteria’s past, present and future at the State of the City event in Veterans Hall at 941 Walnut Ave. starting at 5:30 p.m.