Hundreds of Columbia residents showed up Sunday to celebrate the city?s 40th birthday with a revival of the city fair and a slice of birthday cake.
“We?re so glad we were able to bring this back,” Columbia Association President Maggie Brown said before the cake-cutting ceremony. “We plan on giving out a lot of cupcakes.”
The city fair was an annual event until Columbia?s 25th birthday, when other entertainment took the spotlight, such as Festival of the Arts, Brown said.
“I asked for another city fair two years ago and put money in the budget,” said Pearl Atkinson-Stewart, aColumbia Association board member of 28 years. “I?m just glad it?s finally here.”
The fair-goers enjoyed carnival rides, face painting, clowns, musical acts and local vendor shopping.
“We?re here for the cake, and because I?ve lived here my whole life,” said 19-year-old Jennifer Thompson of Columbia, who showed up early to get a seat.
Before cutting the seven-tiered cake and distributing 3,000 cupcakes, the county?s leaders indulged in the fun.
County Council Chairman Calvin Ball spent the day with his 4-year-old daughter, Alexis. State Del. Elizabeth Bobo and Maggie Brown grabbed hula hoops and joined the kids.
“I tried to hula hoop, but I guess after a certain amount of time you lose that motion,” Brown said laughing.
The cake-cutting tradition was a chance for many to honor Columbia?s founder, Jim Rouse, who died in 1996. His widow, Patty Rouse, was there to help cut the cake.
“Jim Rouse is the reason the experiment of Columbia is so vibrant still today,” said Rep. John Sarbanes, who joined Sen. Ben Cardin and Rep. Elijah Cummings in praising Columbia?s growth.
Columbia?s first birthday was in 1968, when the city?s population was only about 1,000 people. Forty years after its founding, the city is home to almost 100,000 people, Brown said.
“May God bless this wonderful community and may God bless America,” Cummings said.
