There’s a birthday party coming up in Batavia, but you might have to clear out a party store’s entire stock to find enough candles for the cake.

Batavia is 175 this year; and to celebrate city officials have put together activities for Labor Day weekend, including a pageant, pioneer parade, half-marathon, community picnic, community church service, tour of a newly reconstructed bridge and fireworks.

“(The planners) wanted a picnic and historical games and a parade — they wanted it to be a more old-fashioned celebration because of the 175 years,” said Batavia MainStreet Executive Director Britta McKenna.

When officials from the city, MainStreet, Park District, library, School District 101, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society and Depot Museum got together to brainstorm, McKenna said, the event evolved.

“Everybody at the table brought a perspective of what they wanted and everybody’s ideas got incorporated,” she said.

Batavia’s resident historian and author Marilyn Robinson has even adapted her book, “Little Town in a Big Woods” into a pageant for the weekend. A cast of local children and adults will portray Batavia’s colorful history, including pioneer Christopher Payne, life in the 1890s, the birth of industrial Batavia, Mary Todd Lincoln’s stay in town and the first town meeting through song, dance and drama. The pageant is sponsored by the Historical Society.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, and Saturday, Aug. 30, in Rotolo Middle School, 1501 S. Raddant Road. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Robinson will be on hand with copies of her book and the Historical Society will have gifts for sale.

“We’re trying to capture moments within our rich history and be able to give that to you in a story form,” said Lori Holm, pageant director and producer. “(Batavia’s history is) like a big quilt and we’re presenting a couple of patches for you to be able to see.”

The “Chuck the Duck Derby” is set for at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, as part of the celebration.

There is no fee to register, but participants must have an officially numbered construction race duck. Race registration is from noon to 2:45 p.m. the day of the race and at the Batavia Public Library this week. Three duck racers receive prize baskets. Participants are able to get their ducks back at the Clark Island finish area, but there is no guarantee every duck will be retrieved.

At 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Peg Bond Center, actors will portray famous people who have come through Batavia in the last 175 years, including Mark Twain, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy.

“I think people will find it quite entertaining,” said Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke. “It’s going to be fun.”

At 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31, city officials will place a time capsule and host a tour of the newly reconstructed Wilson Street bridge.