Belmont Celebrates 100 Years with Centennial Event & Community Celebrations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 2, 2026
The City of Belmont is proud to celebrate 100 years as an incorporated city this year! The Centennial provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reflect on Belmont’s history while bringing residents, businesses, community organizations, and visitors together through special events and community-hosted celebrations.
“Belmont’s Centennial is a celebration of our entire community and a reflection of what makes Belmont so special,” said City Manager Afshin Oskoui. “For our birthday month this October, we invite everyone to take part, learn something new about Belmont, and celebrate the people and places that have shaped our city over the past 100 years.”
Belmont Centennial Fest
The City’s signature Centennial celebration will take place Saturday, October 24, throughout Belmont. The day will begin with a vintage car parade at 1:30 p.m., traveling from Chula Vista Drive and Alameda de las Pulgas to a car show near Sixth Ave. and Ralston Ave. A Centennial time capsule ceremony will follow at 3:30 p.m. in front of the Twin Pines Senior & Community Center. The celebration will then continue throughout Twin Pines Park with a festival featuring live music, food trucks, games, Alpha Acid, and more, culminating in a drone show featuring Belmont youth art at 7:30 p.m.! Additional event information is available in the FAQs on the City’s Centennial webpage.
Centennial Historic Walking Tour
Residents can step back in time during a guided historic walking tour on Sunday, October 18, at 2:30 p.m. The free tour will begin at the Twin Pines Senior Center, travel through Twin Pines Park and Belmont’s downtown neighborhood, and then continue to the train station. Volunteer historian Chuck Cotten will share stories from Belmont’s exciting past, including the city’s early neighborhoods, flower farms, military history, speakeasies, gangsters, rock stars, and Olympians! The tour will also stop at Jolly’s Old Fashioned Teas Cream to celebrate Belmont’s 100th birthday with ice cream and a screening of the silent film Pop Tuttle the Fire Chief, which was filmed in the neighborhood in 1923. The tour is free, but space is limited, and registration is required.
100 Community Celebrations
Belmont’s Centennial celebrations aren't limited to City-hosted events. The City is challenging the community to celebrate 100 times throughout the Centennial year. Residents can host a dinner with neighbors, organize a walk with friends, plan a coffee or happy hour gathering, throw a block party, or create any other gathering that brings people together to celebrate Belmont. The City is keeping a running tally of community celebrations and providing Centennial party bags with cups, napkins, stickers, and small Centennial swag items, while supplies last. To have a gathering counted toward the goal of 100 celebrations, community members can email centennial@belmont.gov with information about their celebration and to arrange a party bag pickup time. Participants are also encouraged to share photos from their gatherings.
More Ways to Celebrate Belmont’s Centennial
There are even more ways to celebrate Belmont’s 100th birthday! Explore the Centennial Stories Spotify Podcast, shop Centennial merchandise, learn about Belmont’s history, and discover upcoming events and community celebrations. Visit www.belmont.gov/100years for the latest Centennial news, events, activities, historical resources, and ways to get involved.
Special Thanks
Thank you to the sponsors who have helped make Belmont’s Centennial celebrations possible. Their contributions have played an important role in making these special events and activities possible and helping Belmont mark this once-in-a-generation milestone. We also extend our gratitude to the Rotary Club of Belmont & Redwood Shores for their donation, which made our Time Capsule memorial possible to enjoy for decades to come!
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Media Contact:
Elizabeth Tsachres
Communications & Community Affairs Officer
etsachres@belmont.gov
(650) 595-7435
The City of Belmont is located on the San Francisco Peninsula and features magnificent views of the Northern Santa Cruz mountains and San Francisco Bay. The City population is approximately 28,000 and is served by 144 city staff dedicated to providing Belmont with the highest quality service. Belmont is developing a thriving business community, sound infrastructure, and well-connected mobility options, while balancing sustainable fiscal operations and maintaining safe and serene neighborhoods with rich selections of recreational and cultural opportunities. These priorities work together to create a vibrant and enjoyable quality of life that is uniquely Belmont. For more information, please visit www.belmont.gov.
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