Ripon 175th anniversary celebration includes 1900s-style street fair event with carnival games, historic displays

RIPON – The city of Ripon was founded 175 years ago, and to celebrate the anniversary, Ripon Chamber of Commerce is turning back the clock.

The Celebrate Ripon event, the chamber's annual dinner, will honor the city's history and commemorate the successes of 2023 and the distant past at 5 p.m. May 22 at Vines & Rushes Winery, 410 County E.

The theme is "Ripon Street Fair," based on the popular fairs from the 1900s, and will include carnival games and prizes in addition to dinner and desserts. It will also feature live entertainment from Copper Box's Dan Jerabek on accordion, as well as a silent auction.

Historic displays will showcase the city's evolution amid the chamber's community update that looks at the immediate past and future.

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This year's guest speaker is Jeanne Lyke, who was honored as the 2024 Commonwealth Person of the Year for her contributions to the Ripon community.

Tickets are $50, available to both members and non-members on the Ripon Chamber of Commerce website.

Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com.