While events celebrating Mineola’s sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) will go on throughout the year, some key dates are shaping up that will be among the highlights.

During March, the contestants for the royal court will be wrapping up their merchandise sales to see which youngsters will get to represent the city.

The Mineola Chamber of Commerce will conclude the month with its annual banquet, and the theme is a nod to the city celebration: 1873 Origin Story.

The Mineola Memorial Library also hosts its own anniversary open house on March 18 as the first project of the Meredith Foundation, which is still going strong today, 63 years later.

The city also hopes to launch its new phone app during the month.

April gets off to a rollicking start with the Mineola Main Street event Dueling Pianos on April 1 (no foolin’).

The Iron Horse Square Park mini-train gets its traditional start to the season with the first Easter train on April 8, where riders will get to use the new depot.

Following lots of traditional activities, the month will end with the coronation of the royal court at the civic center on April 29.

Many traditional activities such as May Fiesta on May 6 will include sesquicentennial themed events.

The chamber of commerce is adding a new event on May 16, Savior on the Bricks, an outdoor dinner catered by local restaurants.

Also in mid-May the Mineola High School Class of 2023 will open a time capsule planted by the Class of 1998 and place a new one for another 25 years.

The big day for May, and one of the biggest for the year, is Saturday, May 20 (marking the day the city was organized).

The days starts with a fun run and disc golf tournament at the Mineola Nature Preserve, then moves downtown for a parade, beard contest, fashion through the decades contest, music, food and more.

Jorgie’s at the Mineola Golf Club will also host a car show that day, and the day will conclude with a hot-air balloon glow at the civic center.

July 1 will see a Mineola Landmark Commission celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the installation of the brick streets in downtown Mineola, as well as the completion of the railroad 150 years ago.

Sept. 2 will see a concert at the nature preserve by a big-name star, to be announced soon. That is also Mineola High School homecoming weekend.

The Iron Horse Heritage Festival is among the September events on the 23rd.

The Texas MG Register returns to Mineola for a car show on Oct. 7.

To wrap up the year will be a gala at the civic center on Dec. 9.

The app will be one source for checking the regular monthly events, and the city’s calendar on its website is also being updated to include all the goings on.