Indio celebrates it’s 85th anniversary as a city
On May 16, 85 years ago, the city of Indio was founded.
Saturday the city celebrated the anniversary with its second annual Discover Indio Community block party in the heart of Old Town Indio.
Community members came out for an afternoon filled with live music, classic cars and lots of fun.
Bill Tanghe has owned three businesses in Old Town for more than ten years.
He said events like these are exactly what the community needs.
“This is the second annual block party and I’d like to see it monthly, this would be fun. Because it gives everyone the opportunity to see the flavor of Indio and see the activity here. It’s really a nice city, it’s a good place to be and it’s a good place to have a business,” Tanghe said.
With all the foot traffic from Saturday Tanghe knows events like this are great for business and the local economy.
“I wish it was like this every day. The foot traffic is a really big boost to us and with the economy the way it is, it’s hard for us to advertise. So every bit of advertising from the city and the activities from the city makes a big difference for us,” Tanghe said.
As one of the oldest cities in the valley, Indio has changed a lot since it’s small town beginnings.
“We started as a small little town, little farming, railroad town back in the 1930s and have grown to where we are today; 85,000 people in our city this year and we just continue to grow,” Indio community services manager Jim Curtis said.
Many hope the annual block party will become a staple event in the city of festivals.
“Being able to see everyone come together in an environment like this. And of this event I’m most proud of the fact that it’s reflective of Indio. You know when you see the cars and the rides and the families and the cultures you know this is Indio,” Chamber of Commerce President Joshua Bonner said.
The celebrations don’t end this weekend, Indio will host events to celebrate the anniversary all year, capping it off with the Tamale Festival in December.
