The City of Sammamish is getting ready for one of the biggest parties in its short history.

The 10th birthday celebration on August 29 will mark a decade since the city was incorporated.

Since then much has changed on the Plateau, and the anniversary will be a time for reflection as well as celebration.

Festivities will begin at 10 a.m., when a Kids’ Parade will be held along 228th Avenue from Mary Queen of Peace Church to City Hall.

“The parade route was designed to fit little legs,” said one of the organizers, Joanna Puthoff.

She said that parade was especially for babies through to elementary school children.

The theme of the parade is “Future of Sammamish,” so children are encouraged to dress up as what they want to be when they are older.

Already there has been one entrant who wants to be a penguin when she grows up.

“Parents are welcome to walk the route with their child no matter what age, but for kids under 5 years old, we are requiring parental accompaniment,” Puthoff said.

Organizers are hoping they can get a few more parents to register their children to take part in the parade – there’s a lot more room.

Puthoff said that by registering before the event, she could make sure each child gets a goodie bag and has a chance to win one of the grand prizes valued at more than $200.

10 grand prizes, five for “Best Costume” and five for “Most Unique”, will be awarded.

Registration and parade fees are required prior to the event and can be turned into City Hall 8:30 am – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

At City Hall there will be live entertainment, cake and punch, kids’ activities, an art display and food vendors.

Over he past few months the people of Sammamish have been donating items for a time capsule – things that will portray how life was in 2009 for the residents of the future.

At 1 p.m. there will be a ceremony for the burying of the time capsule.

The capsule will also contain video messages from current residents.

Those messages will be heard when the time capsule is opened in 2049.

Winners of the art, essay and math competitions will also receive recognition as the party rolls along through the afternoon.

In the evening the Sammamish Chamber of Commerce will host “Sammamish Nights – Smooth Jazz Under the Stars” at City Hall.

This is a ticketed event for adults only, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Chris Elliott Fund for Glioblastoma Brain Cancer research.

The best way to find out more about what is going down on August 29 is by going to the city’s event page on their web site, at www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/10YearEvent.