Fiesta at San Gabriel Mission marks 240th anniversary

Celebrating its 240th birthday on Labor Day weekend, the San Gabriel Mission throws its biggest party of the year complete with a wide range of entertainment, activities and history for family members young and old.Held Sept. 2-4, the fiesta begins on Friday night with the Ringing of the Bells ceremony at 6 p.m. and continues Saturday and Sunday with dancing, historical re-enactments, food booths, a children and pet’s costume contest, carnival rides, the ushering in of the San Gabriel Royal Court, dancing and singing. A history reception takes place Saturday at 4 p.m. when volunteers will be honored for their commitment to the mission grounds and history.Fiesta-goers will be treated to the customary free big birthday cake celebration at 5 p.m. on Saturday. On Sunday, the Founders’ Memorial Mass is celebrated at 9:30 a.m. in the old mission church. On both weekend days (1- 4 p.m.), members of the Gabrieleno-Tongva tribe will recreate scenes in the mission gardens.Admission fees to the mission’s museum and gardens are waived during the Fiesta. San Gabriel Mission is located at 428 S. Mission Dr., San Gabriel. For information, visit www.sangabrielmission.net or call (626) 457-3035. {gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2011/0902/sgmission/{/gallery}