Wilton marks its 100th birthday Saturday with a hometown celebration reminiscent of yesteryear.

There will be a spelling bee, a classic country band, a fiddle competition, a rooster crowing contest and a hometown parade, among other activities.

"We started planning 18 months ago," said Julia Craig, an eight-year resident of Wilton and chairwoman of the event. "Our goal is making this a community celebration for the whole family. Good old country fair stuff."

The daylong event will take place between C.W. Dillard Elementary School and the Wilton Fire Station on Dillard Road.

"That's our Main Street," said Mary Morgan, a member of the Wilton History Group and chairwoman of the Wilton-Cosumnes Parks Advisory Council, Area B.

Beginning at 11 a.m., that street will be filled with children on bicycles decorated with colorful streamers, animals in costumes, vintage tractors and decked-out saddle horses.

The parade will be followed by music, a chili cook-off and a classic car show.

"We have 20 entries for the chili cook-off," said Ellen Mehr, cook-off chairwoman. "We will sell 700 kits that day. All the money goes to the firefighters association to benefit burn victims and its children's summer camp."

The evening before the celebration, the Alta Mesa Gun Club will host a tri-tip dinner.

"Many organizations have come together for this day," Craig said.

A silent auction and drawing will offer gift baskets and certificates. A handmade Wilton Community Centennial quilt will be included in the drawing.

Wilton's history began when the railroad lines twisted their way through the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys in the early 20th century. The land was rich with agricultural products to be shipped across the United States, loaded from way stations in thriving communities.

In 1908, the Central California Traction Railroad line chose to build a station on the property of a small rancher named Seth Wilton. A settlement grew up around Wilton Station and became the community of Wilton.

The railroad and its station disappeared many years ago, but the community and its people celebrate a proud heritage.

A history presentation will be on display at C.W. Dillard Elementary School, sponsored by members of the Wilton History Group.

In recent years, Wilton became primarily a collection of small 2- to 5-acre ranches, owned by people who like the country lifestyle. Rambling two-lane asphalt roads take Wilton visitors into a rural land of grazing horses, old oak trees and glimpses of the Cosumnes River levees.

Most of the children of Wilton attend the single public elementary school and are bused into Elk Grove for high school.

Many young people belong to the 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs, as well as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

The Parks Advisory Council is working to build a park on 24 acres on Clay Station Road. In addition, they plan to try to buy the old boarded-up Wilton Hall where community meetings can take place as in the old days.

Wilton has its own ZIP code of 95693 and a population of 4,450. It runs from Meis Road to the Cosumnes River, to Arno Road and Clay Station Road.

"We want to stay rural Wilton," said Morgan, a resident of 26 years. "We don't mind new families coming here who want to enjoy the rural life."

Many who live here may agree with Alice Kutzer when she says, "The mornings in Wilton are so peaceful, you can often hear the roosters practicing for the rooster crowing contest."

It's been that way, they say, for 100 years.

Wilton Centennial schedule

Friday

• 6 p.m. – Dinner at the Alta Mesa Gun Club, 1011 Reigl Road, Wilton

Saturday

• 7 to 10 a.m. – Breakfast at Wilton Christian School

• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Wilton History Day exhibits, souvenir sales at C.W. Dillard Elementary

• 8:30 a.m. – Opening ceremonies with dignitaries and community groups

• 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Antiques appraisals (no firearms) at Dillard School

• 9 a.m. – Rooster crowing contest

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Displays, craft booths, Children's Soot Camp, classic car show, concessions at Wilton Fire Station

• 10 a.m. – Band jam session

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Free shredding and electronic waste collection

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Crafts on sale at Dillard School

• 11 a.m. – Parade from Dillard School to Wilton Fire Station

• 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Wilton schools reunion

• Noon to 1 p.m. – Spelling bee at Dillard School

• Noon to 3 p.m. – Wilton chili cook-off at fire station

• 1 to 3 p.m. – Recognition for residents older than 80 and country music

• 1 to 4 p.m. – Sheriff's identification and fingerprinting

• 1:45 – Alta Mesa queens honored at outdoor stage

• 2 p.m. – Sher-Khan Karate demonstration at outdoor stage

• 2 p.m. – Quilt drawing

• 2:30 p.m. – Miss Lisa's Dance School at outdoor stage

• 3 p.m. – Wilton Christian School choir at outdoor stage

• 3:30 p.m. – High school rock band at outdoor stage

Nan Mahon is a freelance writer living in Elk Grove.