Minneola's 100th birthday party runs from 2 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, at Trailhead Park, 315 E. Madison St. The city has spent much of 2026 renovating that park, and it has planned the day around local talent instead of booking a big headline act.
The city built its centennial for the people who live here. The official centennial page has the full program.
The Park Work Was Timed to the Date
Trailhead Park closed in June. At the June 16 City Council meeting, project manager Fred Miller said the contractor had mobilized, that the park would be closed for about six months, and that staff was still working through conservation easement and St. Johns River Water Management District stormwater permit issues.
By July 21 the work had a deadline. Miller told Council that crews had started on the ballfields, the softball fields and the basketball court, which didn't need the stormwater permit. He also said a list of improvements was planned for completion by December 5 for the centennial, focused on the key facilities the event needs. Restoration items such as wetlands and butterfly gardens would come afterward. The restrooms were being rebuilt under an insurance claim after a fire.
The city's request for proposals described a much larger plan than a quick refresh. The proposed scope included:
- expanded parking and a new pavilion
- accessible, inclusive play equipment and surfacing
- a 3,264-square-foot trike and scooter path
- six regulation pickleball courts
- baseball field work, basketball court resurfacing and better walking and biking paths
In April, Council chose the contractor's recommended playground equipment in an earth-tone color scheme. The most recent update, at the October 20 Council meeting, reported that the pickleball courts had been paved and storm drain work was underway. Staff was still working on water and power for the gazebo, an AED and water fountain, mitigation at Martin's Lake, and repairs and repainting of the existing play equipment.
If you haven't been to Trailhead Park since the spring, December 5 is your first look at what the city has done there.
The Budget Went to Local Acts, Not One Star
At its April 21 meeting, Council reviewed a $100,000 centennial budget and had to decide whether to book one headliner or spread the money around. The drone show was already under contract. Council agreed not to pay for a single headliner and to hire several strong local and regional bands and DJs instead. Staff was told to ask Pig on the Pond, the arts committee and similar event organizers for recommendations. Council also backed a broader car show with a wider range of classic cars.
The money came in under that ceiling. In September, staff estimated total centennial costs at about $75,000, with about $61,000 already committed by sponsors and more expected from merchandise sales.
The final schedule is four live sets plus the drone show:
| Time | What's happening |
|---|---|
| 2:00 p.m. | Food and activities open; Gilly & the Girl performs |
| 3:00 p.m. | Opening ceremony and welcome from the mayor |
| 3:30 p.m. | Chicken perlo cook-off begins; Tyme Peace performs |
| 4:30 p.m. | Cook-off ends and judging begins; Legacy Talks |
| 5:00 p.m. | iHeritage performs |
| 6:00 p.m. | Winners announced for the cook-off, scavenger hunt and car show |
| 6:30 p.m. | Corey Marshall Band performs |
| 7:30 p.m. | Closing remarks from the mayor |
| 8:00 p.m. | Drone show |
Food trucks are on the activity list. If you want to stay through the drone show, plan on most of the afternoon and evening at the park, with dinner from the trucks around the 6 p.m. awards.
Three Contests, One Just for Residents
The 6 p.m. announcements cover three contests. Each has its own entry rules, and the scavenger hunt is the one limited to Minneola residents.
The car show has 32 display spaces for vehicles built from 1920 through 1989. Spaces are first-come, first-served, and the city says it will consider a mix of decades when choosing cars. Entries go to [email protected]. Spreading entries across decades is the broader show Council asked for in April.
The chicken perlo cook-off is a timed contest with clear rules. The city's registration form and rules set out how it works:
- Individuals and teams must register in advance.
- All cooking happens within the 60-minute window that starts at 3:30 p.m.
- Contestants bring their own ingredients and equipment.
- Time-saving equipment, pre-chopped vegetables, pre-measured spices, store-bought stock or broth, and chicken prepared ahead of time are all allowed.
- City Council members judge, and the winner gets a HexClad set valued at $2,000.
The perlo cook-off was on the city's list of centennial plans in its January 7 announcement.
The scavenger hunt is open only to Minneola residents and has run all year. Players visit the city's landmarks, businesses and historical sites for a chance at prizes like the latest iPhone, an iPad Air, an Apple Watch and AirPods Pro. Entrants check off completed tasks and submit photos on the registration form.
The History Booth Collects What Outlasts the Party
The drone show ends the evening. What the city plans to keep is collected at the Oral History Booth, across from the vendor booths. Here is how the city describes it:
Step into the Oral History Booth and share your favorite memories of Minneola! Whether it's a story about growing up here, a special event, or a cherished family tradition, your story matters.
The city says recordings will be archived and may appear in future city projects. Photos, letters and memorabilia donated at the History Booth will become part of the Minneola Museum. If you have old family photos from around Lake Minneola, bring them that afternoon.
The history the booth adds to is older than the city. According to the city's own account, "Minneola" means "much water." Captain William G. Smith was the area's first settler. Henry Wilson arrived in 1881 and planted a grove that became a local mainstay. George W. Hull settled in 1882 near what was then called Cow House Lake, set up the first post office, and is credited with founding Minneola. Hull had the town surveyed and mapped in 1884 and named both the town and the lake Minneola, the name his wife chose. The town incorporated in 1926, and Archibald A. Pitt served as its first mayor. That 1926 incorporation is why the city celebrates its 100th birthday this year.
The Legacy Talks at 4:30 p.m. are part of the same idea. They give the afternoon a stretch where the city's past is the main event.
The Rest of the Season Runs Through Two Saturdays and Every Sunday
The centennial falls in the middle of the city's holiday calendar. Two other city events bookend it:
- Holiday Movie Night, Saturday, November 21, at 6 p.m. The city's event listing has the details.
- Moonlight Parade & Santa's Workshop, Saturday, December 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. The city's listing is the place to check for the route and location.
Out at the Turnpike end of town, Sunday mornings have something new. South Lake Tablet reported that Crooked Can Brewing Company scheduled a weekly farmers market at its Minneola venue starting Sunday, November 15, running 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday. The venue is at Hills City Center, 1600 Crooked Can Loop, and opened in July 2026. The announced opening-day lineup includes Gardner's Fresh Produce, a longtime Winter Garden Farmers Market vendor known for its sunflowers, along with 2 J's Seafood, European Breads, Farm Nine, Lookie Cookie Co., Ms. Grace Kettle Corn, Oh My Guac, The Sweet Bee Company, Trish's Orchids, What-A-Dill and others.
Founder Andrew Sheeter told South Lake Tablet that bringing a farmers market to Crooked Can Minneola "is all about building strong community connections." The indoor City Center Market food hall sits next to the market. Its announced lineup includes AJ's Pizza Joint, Braza, Daniel's Cheesesteak Express, Empanada & Co., Three Birds Express, This Little Piggy BBQ, Sir Benji's Donuts and The Local Butcher & Kitchen.
The weekly market at Hills City Center is new for 2026. The centennial at Trailhead Park celebrates 100 years. A Minneola household could spend Sunday morning at one and Saturday, December 5, at the other.
If you've lived in Minneola a while and are thinking about what your home is worth as the town turns 100, Nick Amburgey can walk you through it with the same local knowledge you'd expect from a neighbor. Schedule your free consultation, and if you're heading to Trailhead Park on December 5, bring those old Lake Minneola photos to the History Booth.
