It’s “thyme” to celebrate! The City of West Palm Beach kicked off its 125th Anniversary during the recent opening of this season’s GreenMarket, celebrating its own 25 years! Chartered on November 5, 1894, the City has a full calendar of celebrations to culminate at the Fourth on Flagler 2020.
At the recent GreenMarket celebration, Mayor Keith James spoke as local dignitaries put sentimental items and artifacts into a “thyme” capsule. Items included current zoning maps of the city, T-shirts, newspaper articles and postcards. Former mayors including Rep. Lois Frankel, Mayor Nancy Graham and Mayor Jeri Muoio were on hand to celebrate, as well as city commissioners and former city commissioners.
“This is an exciting time for the City as we celebrate the legacy of 125 years of West Palm Beach and 25 years of the GreenMarket,” said Mayor James. “Our city has come a long way since 1894, and there is so much for all of us to celebrate. I invite the public to come out and participate the many free and fun anniversary events scheduled for this next year.”
One of the largest markets in the region, the GreenMarket features 90 vendors offering a variety of products, including fresh produce, exotic plants and flowers, herbs and spices, baked goods, gourmet and specialty foods, coffee and teas, and much more. In addition to the local vendors, the GreenMarket also features live music, unlimited mimosas for $10, and plentiful green space and seating, which creates a morning full of fun and relaxation.
Due to Phase II of the Clematis Streetscape project to widen sidewalks and add shade trees, GreenMarket vendors will be temporarily located along Flagler Drive for part of the season. It is expected that the GreenMarket will return to its popular regular location in December, once road work is finished.
Events and activities of the 125th Anniversary include a comprehensive exhibit at the Historical Society of Palm Beach County, lectures at the Mandel Public Library, special boardwalk tours at Grassy Waters Preserve, neighborhood bike tours, an anniversary-themed light show shining on the Banyan/Quadrille parking garage and much more! Some of the celebrations will be a part of the City’s heritage events, such as Clematis by Night, and community leaders have rallied their support as well.
A full calendar of the special events confirmed to date can be found below. For the comprehensive list and to read the historic City timeline, visit http://www.wpb.org/125. Continue the celebration online by searching #WPB125.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
OCTOBER: Mandel Public Library hosts month-long book display related to City history with special images showcasing the past.
Historical Society of Palm Beach County hosts West Palm Beach 125 exhibit through June 27, 2020 at 300 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561-832-4164 or visit http://www.hspbc.org/.
October 19 – GreenMarket Quasquicentennial Walking Tour will spotlight the last 125 years of city history with landmark stops and stories. Tours begin at 10 a.m. by the banyan tree on the east end of Clematis Street, 101 N. Clematis St., and end at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, at 300 N. Dixie Hwy. Tickets are $10 per person and tours are rain or shine. Call 561-832-4164, ext. 2 for more information or reservations.
NOVEMBER: Historical Society of Palm Beach County hosts West Palm Beach 125 exhibit through June 27, 2020 at 300 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561-832-4164 or visit http://www.hspbc.org/.
November 5 – Facebook Live Event with Mayor James to Unveil historical documentary on City’s Quasquicentennial. Join us on your lunch break to step back in time and learn about your City’s history! Starting at noon, find the City of West Palm Beach’s page at https://www.facebook.com/CityofWPB/.
November 16 – GreenMarket Quasquicentennial Walking Tour will spotlight the last 125 years of city history with landmark stops and stories. Tours begin at 10 a.m. by the banyan tree on the east end of Clematis Street, 101 N. Clematis St., and end at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, at 300 N. Dixie Hwy. Tickets are $10 per person and tours are rain or shine. Call 561-832-4164, ext. 2 for more information or reservations.
DECEMBER: Historical Society of Palm Beach County hosts West Palm Beach 125 exhibit through
June 27, 2020 at 300 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561-832-4164 or visit http://www.hspbc.org/.
December 21 – GreenMarket Quasquicentennial Walking Tour will spotlight the last
125 years of city history with landmark stops and stories. Tours begin at 10 a.m. by the banyan tree on the east end of Clematis Street, 101 N. Clematis St., and end at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, at 300 N. Dixie Hwy. Tickets are $10 per person and tours are rain or shine. Call 561.832.4164, ext. 2 for more information or reservations.
2020
JANUARY: Historical Society of Palm Beach County hosts West Palm Beach 125 exhibit through June 27, 2020 at 300 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561-832-4164 or visit http://www.hspbc.org/.
January 11 – Historic Bicycle Tour of the north end of the city, led by City of West Palm Beach Historic Preservation Planner, Friederike Mittner. Group meets in the courtyard of City Hall at (time TBD) and join VisionZero for bicycle safety materials and giveaways.
January 18 – GreenMarket Quasquicentennial Walking Tour will spotlight the last
125 years of city history with landmark stops and stories. Tours begin at 10 a.m. by the banyan tree on the east end of Clematis Street, 101 N. Clematis St., and end at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, at 300 N. Dixie Hwy. Tickets are $10 per person and tours are rain or shine. Call 561-832-4164, ext. 2 for more information or reservations.
January 25 – Historic Bicycle Tour of the south end of the city, led by City of West Palm Beach Historic Preservation Planner, Friederike Mittner. Group meets in the courtyard of City Hall at (time TBD) and join VisionZero for bicycle safety materials and giveaways.
FEBRUARY: Historical Society of Palm Beach County hosts West Palm Beach 125 exhibit through June 27, 2020 at 300 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561-832-4164 or visit http://www.hspbc.org/.
Community Redevelopment Agency in partnership with the Bob Carter’s Actor’s Workshop and Repertory presents the life stories of James “Cracker” Johnson, Augusta Savage and Hazel Augustus through three African-American playwrights.
February 1, 15 and 29 – Grassy Waters Preserve Presents A Walk Through Time: Feb. 1 and 15 from 10-11 a.m. and Feb. 29 from 3-4 p.m. Join a Grassy Waters naturalist for a FREE family-friendly hike on our accessible boardwalk through the Florida Everglades. From pre-historic time through the 21st century, Grassy Waters is the place to be to celebrate the City’s 125th anniversary. Registration is required as space is limited. Visit http://wpb.org/grassywaters/.
February 15 – GreenMarket Quasquicentennial Walking Tour will spotlight the last 125 years of city history with landmark stops and stories. Tours begin at 10 a.m. by the banyan tree on the east end of Clematis Street, 101 N. Clematis St., and end at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, at 300 N. Dixie Hwy. Tickets are $10 per person and tours are rain or shine. Call 561-832-4164, ext. 2 for more information or reservations.
February 23 – Mandel Public Library Presents Floribbean Cuisine Lecture from 2-3:30 p.m.; Library’s Clematis Room; 411 Clematis Street. FREE. Join Lori J. Durante, Taste History Culinary Tour creator and Executive Director of the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History, to learn about the significance of food in West Palm Beach history. This lecture will discuss the migration of Caribbean cuisine to the Palm Beach area and the influences of the early African-American residents. The discussion also covers how food emigrates, the importance of how foods are prepared, and the concept of foodways (the cultural, social, historic, and economic practices tied to traditions and the production and consumption of food). The cuisine takes the elements from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and Asia and includes dishes like key lime pie, conch fritters, mango salsa, jerk chicken, and seafood gumbos and salads. For more information, visit http://wpbcitylibrary.org/ or call 561-868-7701.
MARCH: Historical Society of Palm Beach County hosts West Palm Beach 125 exhibit through June 27, 2020 at 300 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561-832-4164 or visit http://www.hspbc.org/.
March 21 – GreenMarket Quasquicentennial Walking Tour will spotlight the last 125 years of city history with landmark stops and stories. Tours begin at 10 a.m. by the banyan tree on the east end of Clematis Street, 101 N. Clematis St., and end at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, at 300 N. Dixie Hwy. Tickets are $10 per person and tours are rain or shine. Call 561-832-4164, ext. 2 for more information or reservations.
March 26 & 27 – Historic West Palm Beach Fishing Club FREE Open House to Celebrate 125 Years of West Palm Beach from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at 201 Fifth Street, West Palm Beach (corner of Fifth Street and North Flagler Drive). Catch a glimpse of the city’s past and enjoy a tour of the historic West Palm Beach Fishing Club (WPBFC), one of the oldest fishing clubs in America. This organization was founded by city leaders in 1934 as a civic anecdote to the Great Depression and helped fuel the region’s economic recovery through sportfishing tourism. On site volunteers will share the Fishing Club’s unique historical role in the city and in the development of the sportfishing industry. The WPBFC is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is an official historic landmark in the City of West Palm Beach. Free snacks and drinks will be available during the open house. For more information, call 561-832-6780 or visit http://www.westpalmbeachfishingclub.org/.
APRIL/MAY Historical Society of Palm Beach County hosts West Palm Beach 125 exhibit through
June 27, 2020 at 300 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561-832-4164 or visit http://www.hspbc.org/.
April 18 – GreenMarket Quasquicentennial Walking Tour will spotlight the last 125 years of city history with landmark stops and stories. Tours begin at 10 a.m. by the banyan tree on the east end of Clematis Street, 101 N. Clematis St., and end at the Richard and Pat Johnson Palm Beach County History Museum, at 300 N. Dixie Hwy. Tickets are $10 per person and tours are rain or shine. Call 561-832-4164, ext. 2 for more information or reservations.
JUNE: LAST CHANCE: Historical Society of Palm Beach County hosts West Palm Beach 125 exhibit through June 27, 2020 at 300 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach. For more information, call 561-832-4164 or visit http://www.hspbc.org/.
June 4: Celebrate Clematis by Night’s 25th Anniversary with 125th theme. Celebrate the last 125 years of West Palm Beach history with music, activities and giveaways.
JULY: July 4: 4th on Flagler Presents a Fantastic Finale in honor of 125th Anniversary