Royal City turns 50

ROYAL CITY - Royal City celebrated its 50th anniversary at SummerFest on Saturday with residents and area friends turning out to wish the city happy birthday in style. The event, titled the "Birthday Bash," included events for all ages through the entire weekend.

"It's the biggest day of the year," resident Pam Hurt said of SummerFest, and this year's Birthday Bash theme to the celebration made it bigger than ever.

The first day of celebration saw a free community breakfast, a volleyball tournament, a community barbeque, the burial of the city's time capsule in Lion's Park by Mayor Michael E. Stark, and performances by Los Canarios de Michoacan and Royal's Got Talent, all capped off by a fireworks display at dusk.

Saturday brought a new lineup of fun to Royal City. The day kicked off with a Grand Parade through town, showcasing everyone from members of the high school band to firefighters and mariachis. Next there was a ping-pong ball drop for Royal City's younger birthday party guests. Residents and visitors also enjoyed a dunk tank, games, food vendors, the "Run Royale" fun runs (Both 5K and 1K distances), an Amazing Race scavenger hunt, and all manner of live entertainment.

"I always like watching the dancing horses," Hurt said about her favorite part of the parade, "and of course, the Royal City float is great."

Fellow resident Ken Hempel said that he has been watching the Royal City SummerFest parade for nearly 30 years now. His father moved his family from California to the area in 1959 to farm and Hempel refers to his subsequent years in Royal City as "an extended vacation."

Hempel took part in other SummerFest events as well, such as the community barbecue and enjoying the fireworks show.

"I ate the free breakfast too," he said, nudging his wife, Anna. "She wouldn't get up!"

Many of the people present to celebrate the Birthday Bash commented on the small-town charm of Royal City.

"No matter what it is, everyone shows up to support the town, especially if it's for the kids," Hurt said. "Everybody knows everybody, so we're a very close-knit community."