History of the Diamond Bar Birthday Party Celebration

As Chairperson of the "Vote No Diamond Bar Incorporation 1989 Committee," Al Rumpilla was not a likely candidate as the unofficial ambassador for the first Diamond Bar City Anniversary.

However, the early president of the Diamond Bar Gadfly Association, with a reputation for holding City Council exactingly accountable, found that the original event "helped smooth concerns."

Rumpilla still has the first commemorative pin from the celebration, which jump-started his dearly admired collection of Americana pins.

Over the years, Rumpilla has come to see the event as a community reunion: a time for bonding and collaboration.

And today, Rumpilla's trademark baseball cap makes it easy to spot him around town. His largely patriotic pin collection, where 21 Diamond Bar Birthday Party pins predominate, holds the hat steady on his head even in a strong wind.

Remembering the first celebration

Mayor Pro-Tem at the time, John Forbing, remembers the kick-off anniversary well.

"The plan always was about the quality of life in Diamond Bar," Forbing said. "(The City Council) wanted the entire community to participate and be accepted at all levels.”

Planning for the first event began soon after the City of Diamond Bar incorporated on April 18, 1989 in a 3-1 victory. Under the leadership of the city’s first mayor, Phyllis Papen, the council appointed an “Anniversary Committee” aiming to entertain between 3,000 and 5,000 residents on a tight $5,000 budget at .

Chairwoman Sue Krolak Page invited the whole community, not just as attendees but as participants in the day's events. In fact, she and her committee made citizen participation the key to success in creating a family-friendly day.

For the inaugural celebration, held April 21, 1990, Shelly Arakelian organized the entertainment, including performances by the Shea School of Dance, Red Karate and other local talent. The Los Angeles Dodgers also provided celebrity players.

The first day brought together a community for a day of fun and memorable events.

Jeff Heffren coordinated 1K, 5K and 10K races sponsored by Alta Ski and Sport. Mayor Pro-Tem John Forbing took registration for the round-robin softball tournament where the Brahma Burger team took top honors.

Mike Berry worked with the business community to solicit trophies, donations, and to aid with logistics. Cub Scouts Pack 751 was even there to man a facepainting booth.

Gary Werner, who was named mayor just days before the event, engineered sound and power for the day. And Al Flores arranged for the DBHS Interact (junior Rotary) club to flip hot dogs and hamburgers on the barbecue before a raucous pie-eating contest.

Marya Basrai encouraged the emerging multi-cultural community to showcase the best of world cuisines with an array of ethnic desserts.

The high school served as the host of just one more "Anniversary Party" before the Diamond Bar Jaycees and the Diamond Bar Improvement Association co-sponsored the event at Sycamore Canyon Park.

The modern celebration

By 1993, the civic affair moved to the more spacious Peterson Park, where it stayed until 2002 when, as Public Information Manager Marsha Roa said, a field drainage construction project made unavailable and the city moved the celebration to .

"The move to Pantera Park was such a success with a much larger attendance," Roa said. "It was decided to keep it (there)."

But planning for the event was not always harmonious. Ms. Roa smiled, remembering the committee recommendation that the event’s name did not jive with the event’s character as “a fun celebration of Diamond Bar"

"‘Anniversary’ sounded too formal," Roa said. And so, the celebration became the Diamond Bar Birthday Party.

Since, birthday party themes ran the gamut, from “50’s sock-hop” and “Western Day” until in 2001, the “Spirit of Diamond Bar” became the apparent reflection of Diamond Bar’s lasting maturity.

Throughout the years, city council members distributed a limited selection of staff-designed cloisonné commemorative pins as artistic representations of the evolution of Diamond Bar’s civic identity.

The event has also become a way for the city and non-profits to work together. By manning ride and game areas, participating non-profits (which total 38 this year) earn proceeds from ticket sales. Last year, participating non-profits earned $11,000.

And the amount spent on the annual affair has grown as well. This year, the city has set aside $65,000 for everything from liability insurance to carnival ride rentals and tables and chairs.

This year, Diamond Bar anticipates upwards of 8,000 residents to join in the fun on April 16. For any collectors, Roa advised an early arrival, as the commemorative 22nd birthday edition "Spirit of Diamond Bar" pins are limited to 1,400.

This story would not have been possible without the donation of images, memorabilia and literature given to the City of Diamond Bar Historical Society by people like Dianne Forbing and Jolene Zirbes. Please consider donating or loaning items with potential historical merit. Contact Marsha Roa at the City of Diamond Bar 909.839.7055.