‘100 Years of Inspiring Each’ Citywide Celebration to be held Sept. 28

Eden Prairie Schools invites the community to a Citywide Celebration marking 100 years since the founding of the Consolidated School in 1924.

The celebration will be held Saturday, Sept. 28, at Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) and will feature a stadium parade, music and dance performances, and a community resource fair.

The parade and performances will take place inside Aerie Stadium from 11 a.m. to noon. EP Schools Superintendent Josh Swanson and Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case will serve as grand marshals. Food trucks and concessions will also be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The parade will first feature the Eden Prairie Historical Society representing the district’s four original one-room schoolhouses, then the Consolidated School will be represented. Next, walkers including students, families, and staff from each of Eden Prairie’s schools will march in sequence from the oldest-founded school to the newest.

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There will also be performances from the EPHS Eagle Band, which will do its full floor show, the high school performance team, the cheer team, and the Eden Prairie Community Choir.

Since the event takes place over homecoming weekend and the morning after the school’s homecoming football game, high school homecoming royalty will be also presented. The prom queen and king from the Citywide Prom held last May, Kathie Case and Curt Connaughty, will also be part of the celebration.

The GIVE Gathering, an annual resource fair where the community can learn about volunteer opportunities and resources – including nonprofits, social service agencies, and civic organizations serving Eden Prairie – will follow from noon to 1 p.m.

Hosted in partnership with the City of Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie Community Foundation, and Eden Prairie Community Education, the event will feature more than 25 local nonprofit organizations, highlighting their missions and volunteer opportunities. Volunteer opportunities will also be available through the district’s Sharing Inspiration program.

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“We wanted to create something that would be really celebratory,” said Grace Becker, director of marketing and communications for EP Schools. “Folks can both enjoy the parade and then also have access to and connections to those community resources that are a part of the GIVE Gathering.”

Attendees will be allowed to bring food and drink into the stadium. Concessions will be provided by the boosters, and food trucks will include Taco Way, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pizza Karma, Smokin’ Hottdish, and Wild Harvest Lemonade.

Parking is available in the EPHS lots as well as at Round Lake Park.

The district has been celebrating its 100-year anniversary over the past school year with special events like the Citywide Prom, community gatherings, music performances, and historical recollections, as well as commemorative memorabilia.

Originally, a parade through city streets was planned for last April, but logistics and timing meant it was postponed, and the location was changed to the high school stadium. Becker said the district is happy with the change since the stadium has plenty of available free parking, existing audiovisual capabilities, doesn’t require any road closures, and gives people a chance to visit the high school and stadium.