Riverside is celebrating a monumental milestone this year — the sesquicentennial of its incorporation. With a packed calendar of events, the village is bringing residents to reflect on its rich history and community.
The Sesquicentennial Planning Committee, co-chaired by Trustees Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga and Alex Gallegos, is organizing Riverside’s 150th anniversary celebrations in 2025. The committee, composed of community leaders and volunteers, aims to highlight the village’s history and encourage community involvement throughout the year.
“We’re engaging the community at every level and making them a part of really a living history. For the sesquicentennial weekend itself, that is taking place on Aug. 8-9, that’s really the 150th anniversary of the Village’s incorporation,” Marsh-Ozga said.
The Sesquicentennial opened on Jan. 15 with the lighting of the Historic Water Tower, featuring a special 150th Anniversary logo. The Riverside-Brookfield High School marching band performed, and Centennial Plaza was illuminated with luminaria.
The main celebration taking place on August 8-9 includes a homecoming concert at Big Ball Park, a nostalgic festival at Guthrie Park, and a vintage car show on Bloomingbank Road. There will also be an elegant soirée at the train station and a pizza and popcorn party for kids.
The celebration extends beyond the weekend, with historical programming featured regularly at the Riverside Farmers Market on Wednesdays, running from June through October. Reenactors and artifacts from the Historical Commission will be incorporated to educate the community about Riverside’s heritage at the market as well.
Besides the celebrations, another component of the event includes commemorative memorabilia.
“This year, our local businesses are contributing unique commemorative pieces. Higgins is producing special glass plates that people can purchase and Colorsmith Stained Glass Studio has also designed a glass plate to mark the 150th anniversary,” Gallegos said.
Gallegos notes that people can purchase these items directly from the vendor and Higgins has donated items for special auctions or raffles and at their special events, attendees will have the chance to enter these raffles.
Another exciting component to the festivities is classic street signs that are being retired will be auctioned off, providing a unique opportunity for community members to own a piece of Riverside’s history.
Residents can purchase a Time Caplet for $150 to be sealed inside a stainless-steel Heritage Time Capsule, which will be opened in 75 years. This project offers a unique opportunity to preserve personal items and stories for future generations.
Reflecting on the significance of the 150th anniversary, Gallegos responded that Riverside’s unique identity as “a village in a forest” remains central to the celebrations.
“There’s a delicate balance between preserving our historic significance and embracing progress. And we, as a community, have always been strong in our resilience. We always return to the original design—a village in a forest. Now, it’s time to celebrate 150 years of that tradition,” Gallegos said.
