Alison Casares, left, the Auburn Business Association’s 2018 Citizen of the Year, and Auburn native and standout Edward Little High School athlete Troy Barnies, right, who plays professional basketball in Hungary, assist Auburn City Manager Peter Crichton unveil the city’s logo for the 150th anniversary Monday night in the City Council Chamber. (Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)

AUBURN — City officials unveiled an official logo and a series of events Monday for Auburn’s 150th anniversary in 2019. 

With balloons, hats and banners sporting the new logo, Mayor Jason Levesque laid out the initial plans for a yearlong celebration beginning New Year’s Eve 2018, when Main Street will be closed for live music, ice sculptures and fireworks. 

A committee of volunteers and city staff has been planning four major events, which also include a party Feb. 22, Auburn’s official anniversary, a Memorial Day parade and homecoming events. 

The logo was unveiled Monday by Alison Casares, the Auburn Business Association’s 2018 Citizen of the Year, and by Auburn native and standout Edward Little High School athlete Troy Barnies, who plays professional basketball in Hungary.

Levesque said Barnies has agreed to serve as an “ambassador” for the celebration and hopes to create lots of social media buzz around the various events.

Officials said the logo will be used on marketing material, hats, T-shirts, street pole banners and in all promotional collateral to help ‘brand’ the 150th celebration and create a recognizable look for the community to embrace.

Levesque said following the announcement that the 150th anniversary is as much about marketing Auburn as it is about celebrating its history. He said much of the effort will go toward marketing the city “to attract more people to work and live here.” 

City Manager Peter Crichton said the celebration is perfect timing to highlight all the good things happening in Auburn. 

“With everything that’s happening, what an opportunity to celebrate the 150th anniversary,” he said. 

As for the logo, Levesque said many months of planning went into it.

“It’s a brand that helps represent Auburn,” he said. “Something we feel the entire city can rally around, and can bring us forward to the next 150 years.” 

In February 2018, Levesque said, there will be a “celebratory gift” given to any Auburn resident born that day. It will be an extra special gift if the baby is given “Auburn” as a middle name. 

A homecoming event, he said, would be part celebration of the new Edward Little High School, part highlighting the achievements of school alumni.  

Levesque said the city is looking for residents to participate, and the city also unveiled a new website for the celebration: Auburn150.com.

“We have some one-of-a-kind, regionally appealing events and programs planned for 2019,” Auburn Recreation Director Sabrina Best said in the news release.

“We are committed to making our existing events extra special, and we will launch FOUR great new events, including a ‘New Year’s Auburn’ event that will kick the year off with a bang!” 

Auburn mayor Jason Levesque, center, talks about what the city will be doing during the next year after the unveiling of the cities logo for their upcoming sesquicentennial Monday night in the city council chambers .(Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)

Auburn mayor Jason Levesque, center, talks about what the city will be doing during the next year after the unveiling of the cities logo for their upcoming sesquicentennial Monday night in the city council chambers.(Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal)

Auburn officials unveiled the official logo Monday for the city’s 150th anniversary celebration, taking place in 2019.