Arvada has come a long way since Lewis Ralston, a Georgia prospector on his way to California, first fished a handful of gold out of a local stream near the mouth of Clear Creek.

From its humble beginnings of a town of less than 500 people, Arvada is now home to more than 120,000 people, 3,000 businesses and 100+ parks.

So, things have truly panned out for the vibrant community, and this year, city officials and local partners are gearing up to celebrate Arvada’s 120th year with not just one party, but a summerlong series of celebrations.

“We’re feeling excited and hopeful,” said Rachael Kuroiwa, director of communications and engagement for the City of Arvada. “This celebration is an opportunity to think about our past and celebrate what we have now. It’s also an opportunity to connect our residents — both long-term and newer residents — to a shared history.”

The city will kick off its milestone anniversary celebration on Friday, June 7 with its all-day First Friday Creative Crawl, embracing the best of Olde Town’s creative endeavors from art to live music to craft beverages and more.

Events will be held throughout the summer, with special recognition of the 120th anniversary during the Arvada Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of Arvada on July 11, the Arvada Festivals Commission’s Arvada on Tap on July 13, and culminating with a celebration that will be held Aug. 24 during Arvada Days with free, old-fashioned family fun at Clear Creek Valley Park.

Arvada holds a lot of history, from the state’s first documented gold strike to the first King Soopers grocery store and the first traffic light in Jefferson County at the intersection of Grandview and Olde Wadsworth. Kuroiwa said the town was also the first “Celery Capital of the World.”

As prospectors and miners made their way west, seeking fame and fortune in California, many gave up, settled in Arvada and transitioned into farming, Kuroiwa explained.

“So, we have a couple of significant farms that grew celery and it was a special kind of celery that was trenched,” she said. “It was very tender, and sweeter than celery than what we’re used to, and history has it that celery from Arvada was sent to the White House to be served during holiday dinners.”

Detailed event information can be found year-round at visitarvada.org.