Where are all the Safety Harbor centennial events?

The City of Safety Harbor will celebrate its 100^th birthday in 2017, an occasion that is typically marked by one, or sometimes several, special centennial-themed events.

For example, Clearwater celebrated its centennial in 2015 with a huge parade, a ceremony at Bright House Field and the unveiling of a 48-foot-tall, $575,000 centennial monument on the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

In neighboring Oldsmar, a special committee was formed two years prior to the city’s centennial in 2016, resulting in a yearlong celebration that featured dinner dances, parades, multiple concerts, including a $50,000 legends of rock show at Tampa Bay Downs, and a time capsule-closing ceremony.

But here in Safety Harbor, there is no centennial committee, no statue to unveil and no major special events being planned and/or organized by city officials.

In fact, a section of the city’s website dedicated to the centennial lists three events, all organized by the Historical Society—a Victorian tea and strawberry shortcake social, a bucket brigade reenactment and a tour of historic homes.

The issue was recently addressed by Safety Harbor City Commissioner Cliff Merz, who questioned when, and if, there would be more centennial themed events added to the city’s extensive 2017 special event calendar.

“I had a couple of comments from some of the residents about the upcoming centennial, and the different events which are available,” Merz said during his Commission Report on December 19.

“They talked a little about the webpage and being able to access it, and there’s three events which are listed on there,” he added. “Are there other events in the works?”

City Manager Matt Spoor explained there are 100 events scheduled in 2017, and some will have centennial celebrations incorporated in them.

“Is the question, are there centennial events?” Spoor asked, adding, “all the events will incorporate the centennial celebration.”

“So if you’re talking about specifically centennial events, then any individual that have events they want to do if they’re not already on the schedule they need to get with (special events coordinator) Joe Cooper and they can fill out an event application…but there will be other city-wide events that will incorporate the centennial celebration into it.”

Merz then requested some clarification.

“I guess that was one of the questions was, are there separate events or are all our events being considered centennial events?” Merz asked.

“I think the answer is both,” Spoor replied.  “All of our events are considered centennial events, and there are a few events that are new this year that are, I guess, a celebration of the centennial. They’ll probably continue after the 100th. It’s not like they’re gonna happen this year and then stop. In following years, they’ll probably continue.”

To be clear, there are events planned in 2017 that will have a centennial angle to them.

Harbor Bar owner Jon Zemzicki organized a celebrity softball tournament, scheduled for June 10, and organizers of at least 10 more events have sought approval to use the city’s centennial logo in its marketing, including the Folk and Fruit Brew Fest on Feb. 11 and the Centennial Scavenger Hunt on Feb. 28. There is also a community grapefruit project planned, the results of which will be revealed on the actual date of the city’s 100^th birthday, June 17.

However, there isn’t one big, city-sponsored shindig that residents and visitors can pinpoint as Safety Harbor’s definitive centennial celebration, a fact that baffled Oldsmar City Council member Dan Saracki.

As chairman of the Oldsmar100 committee, Saracki, who recently participated in the Safety Harbor Holiday Parade, oversaw the coordination of dozens of special events held in Oldsmar this year, including four “Fifth Friday” concerts, a black-tie dinner dance at the Nielsen Company headquarters and a parade featuring rare, classic cars as well as descendants of city founder and automotive pioneer, Ransom E. Olds.

“I met with Safety Harbor officials earlier this year and offered to help them coordinate their centennial activities, because I had the experience with Oldsmar100 as well as other big events I’ve organized,” Saracki told Safety Harbor Connect.

“I was basically told thanks for the offer, but we won’t need your help, because all the events are already planned, or they are being organized by private organizations or individuals.”

The response left the local lawmaker perplexed.

“I said okay, if you’re sure you don’t need my help, fine,” Saracki said.

“But I mean a centennial anniversary only comes around once. It’s not like you get a second chance to celebrate it the right way!”

Related content:

• Commission selects Safety Harbor Centennial logo(s)
• Safety Harbor to host 100 special events in 2017