By Clyde Noel

Los Altos can trace its roots back to Spanish land grants, but as an incorporated charter city its history goes back only to Dec. 1, 1952. The road to cityhood wasn’t smooth, longtime residents remember, calling the battle to incorporate “war.”

If the city hadn’t become incorporated, Los Altos could have been annexed to Mountain View and Palo Alto today.

The city will celebrate its 50 years of government with a community picnic 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, at the Los Altos Civic Center.

“This will be a day for our residents to build community with their city,” said King Lear, Los Altos City Councilman and events chairman.

The anniversary celebration will include the following events:

There will be tours of the library, history museum, police station and senior center.

The Santa Clara County Firefighters will host lunch - a half chicken, side dish and drink for $6; or a hot dog or veggie burger, side dish and drink for $4.

Ye Olde Towne Band will give a concert 1-3:30 p.m. on the soccer field.

Dancing DJ Richard Campbell will offer line dancing instruction with a sock hop at noon in the Hillview Multipurpose Room.

There will be a carnival atmosphere on the Hillview soccer field, with a giant slide, an inflated obstacle course, Spider-Man and Magic Castle bounce houses.

Skateboard Park will be open, with Colt Cannon, a professional skateboarder, demonstrating tricks for local skateboarders to attempt.

The battle to incorporate will be re-enacted, along with the music of the 1950s, with a “Music and Memories” program 11:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Bus Barn Theater.

Senior volunteers will serve iced tea and cookies in the senior center. The bocce ball courts, adjacent to the senior center, will be open for play, with instruction 1-2 p.m.

The history museum is presenting an exhibit titled “Los Altos: Celebrating 50 Years of Community,” starting Aug. 22. The exhibit will describe the city’s controversial incorporation election and significant events of the subsequent five decades. It will include authentic artifacts from each decade, as well as a hands-on activity center for children with typical toys from the past 50 years. The museum, normally open noon to 4 p.m., will open Sunday at 11 a.m.

There will be a community meeting on emergency preparedness 2:30-3 p.m. in the Youth Center. Don Johnson, chief of police, will host the meeting with the assistance of the Disaster Preparedness Committee and fire safety personnel.

Everything is free except food and drinks. Parking will be available around city hall, the Hillview parking lot and downtown plazas.