"Meet Me in Larkspur," the slogan for this year's Centennial celebration, originally appeared on buttons advertising Larkspur's early Fourth of July activities. No doubt (though no historical record exists) the phrase would have been heard before the "Booster Days" that were held soon after the city was incorporated in 1908 to promote the new town and raise money for firefighting equipment with dancing and parades. Those events started a tradition of hospitality that has made Larkspur a destination for festivities ever since.

     The Saturday night Rose Bowl dances, sponsored by Larkspur's volunteer firemen from 1913 to 1963, drew crowds from all over the Bay Area - and will be re-created in September at the historic Escalle Winery. A newer tradition, but one that carries out the theme of music, food, and fun, is the annual Larkspur Flower and Food Festival, scheduled for June 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., which made its first appearance in 1991. This year's theme, appropriately enough, is "Meet Me in Larkspur," and the emphasis will be on historical displays and memorabilia along with music that would have sounded familiar a century ago and food from several of Larkspur's top restaurants.

     The festival and its sponsoring organization, the Larkspur Community Association, were the brainchildren of Maryjane Dunstan, who epitomized Larkspur's tradition of citizen involvement until her death in 2002. Always a visionary as well as a dedicated activist, Maryjane moved to Marin in the 1960s to start the Communications Department at College of Marin. Her class on "Inventing the Future" inspired many future advocates for social change, and she brought her creative imagination and energy to downtown Larkspur when she opened her Artist's Proof bookstore in the 1970s.

     Artist's Proof was soon known as a haven for authors and readers alike; its Literary Lunches program attracted the likes of Louise Erdrich, Martin Cruz Smith, Gail Tsukiyama, and Anne Lamott. Maryjane became an outspoken advocate for affordable housing and helped to launch the Safe Routes to School program. In the early 1980s, after Larkspur's downtown was recognized as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places, Maryjane saw the importance of gaining public support for maintaining the economic vitality and environmental health of the area. She founded the community association in 1986. "She literally walked the streets of Larkspur to persuade merchants and residents to join together for the good of the community," remembers her former business partner and longtime friend Sherana Frances.

     The first Flower and Food Festival, held at Escalle's in 1991, was a low-key affair but attracted so many visitors that admission to the second event had to be limited to 1,500. Community members gathered for food-and-wine tastings and demonstrations of flower arranging and food preparation in events aimed at building support for the association. But the festival had outgrown the confines of the historic winery and in 1993 moved to Magnolia Avenue between Ward and King Streets in the Historic District. "We called it the biggest little festival in town," recalls hair stylist Joanie Connor, who was one of Maryjane's first recruits and now heads the community association. After ten years of operating strictly with volunteer labor, the festival grew to the point that professional management was needed. Team Pro Event, a local production company, now handles much of the planning and set-up.

     Although the festival now attracts thousands from all over Marin, space limitations have kept the number of exhibitors small and the quality high. In addition to 30 to 40 arts and crafts booths, activities for children, and the annual Larkspur Library book sale on the steps of City Hall, the Flower and Food Festival will live up to its name again this year with exhibits by local florists and gourmet food items for tasting and purchase as well as delicious offerings from three of Larkspur's finest restaurants:

Fernando Plazola, owner and chef of Ward Street Café, will be serving up his popular Asian influenced pulled pork sandwiches with a Thai coleslaw as well as his light and refreshing summer salad.

Yankee Pier's chef Brian Beach will offer the freshest ceviche and libations of regular and mango lemonade.

The Left Bank is returning to the festival with their signature sandwiches and sodas.

     Music has long been an important part of the festival, and this year is no exception. The toe tapping starts at 12:45 with The Rowan Brothers, a Marin County acoustic roots/Americana band with a splash of bluegrass. Then at 2:15 former Larkspur resident Elmo Shropshire ("Dr. Elmo") will lead the county's premiere bluegrass band Wild Blue. A highlight will be their performance of "Meet Me in Larkspur," the Centennial tribute song co-written by Dr. Elmo and Rita Abrams. Sexy chanteuse Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers will swing the Festival to a close with a set starting at 4:00 p. m. Lavay Smith has become an internationally recognized interpreter of jazz and blues in the authentic style of the 1940's and 1950's.

     This year's festival will honor the Centennial in many ways. The Centennial Committee will be selling caps, note cards, t-shirts, and tote bags commemorating Larkspur's incorporation in 1908. In the Fire House, visitors will watch films celebrating Larkspur and browse historic displays and memorabilia. Photos of the historic Magnolia streetscape will be on display, giving visitors a chance to compare yesterday's shopping district with today's. "The Festival is a great example of Larkspur's spirit of community, "said Kathy Hartzell, Larkspur mayor and Centennial chair. "It's a perfect opportunity to share stories and pictures about our history and celebrate our first hundred years."

     For more information about the Larkspur Flower and Food Festival, contact Joanie Connor, Larkspur Community Association president, at 924-3803 or visit:
http://www.teamproevent.com.

Click here for a complete Centennial Year Calendar.