The Cultural Center, one of the oldest buildings in Lake Elsinore, was decked out for History Days. (Photo by Emily Baierl)
Main Street became a walk through Lake Elsinore’s past during the inaugural Lake Elsinore History Days event Saturday, April 25.
The idea originally came from Studio 395 but grew into a larger collaboration with the Lake Elsinore Historical Society, the City, and other local groups.
“We’ve been putting this together over the last two years,” said Kimberly McElroy, president of the Lake Elsinore Historical Society. “I hope the community learns a little bit about our history and comes to enjoy the fact that Lake Elsinore has a really interesting history.”
The day kicked off with a non-motorized parade featuring students from across the Lake Elsinore Unified School District. Bands, cheer teams, student leadership groups, ballet folklorico dancers, and sports teams made their way through downtown, tying into this year’s theme of 135 years of schools in Lake Elsinore.
“[Lake Elsinore] was one of the few cities that had a school back in the day,” McElroy said. “This year is the 135th anniversary of Elsinore High School, and so we’re celebrating that in particular. We hope every year to celebrate a different aspect of our history.”
Main Street was lined with vendors as visitors moved between booths and performances. Studio 395 set up booths with a vintage-style carnival theme, offering games and other creative activities.
“We wanted kids to see what having fun was like before electricity,” said Dru Bradford, special events coordinator for Studio 395. “We were just so excited to see this event come to life.”
Vendors lined Main Street with booths. (Photo by Emily Baierl)
Community organizations also took part in the event, including the Lakeland Village Library, which opened in November 2025.
“We’re so invested in the history of Lake Elsinore and our community,” said Monica Ibanez, branch manager. “We felt it would be appropriate for the library to come out to this event because we have a lot of resources. We have a lot of programming for all ages and we want more people to know about the free resources we offer.”
Entertainment was spread throughout the event, with student performances staged in front of the new City Hall building. Groups included the Elsinore High School jazz band, Elsinore Middle School band, Terra Cotta Middle School advanced band, and ballet folklórico performers.
The Bourbon Street Jazz band entertained guests. (Photo by Emily Baierl)
The Bourbon Street Jazz Band performed at the Crescent Bath House, while local theater groups such as the Ophelia Theater Group and Vagabond Theater performed at the Cultural Center.
Historic sites were open to the public, including the Crescent Bath House and the Tank House, giving residents a chance to step inside and explore. The Lake Elsinore History Museum also opened its doors, showcasing artifacts and hosting a one-day book signing with local author Jeanie Corral.
“I think what I’ve liked most about this is that you get to go inside and check out some of the historic buildings,” said Sharon, a Lake Elsinore resident. “I’ve never been inside before, so this was a cool opportunity.”
Historical attire and furnishings were on display. (Photos by Emily Baierl)
Interactive elements were also part of the event, with booths displaying cards about important figures in Lake Elsinore’s history. Twelve cards were available to collect, and each included photos, key facts and QR codes that linked to AI-generated videos that brought the figures to life.
Malyna Rivera, operations and marketing director for the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the event aimed to both educate residents and show what the city has to offer.
“There’s so much [history] that nobody knows or realizes has happened or how long the city’s been here,” Rivera said. “There’s just so much here. We’re trying to build it up and get people outside and see where they live.”
Many items were on display in the History Museum. (Photo by Emily Baierl)
For many residents, the event was as much about community as it was about history.
“I’m having a good time here,” said Ethan, a longtime Lake Elsinore resident. “It’s cool to see the community out and about like this and see Main Street kind of lively. There’s some things I’m learning about Lake Elsinore history too that I wouldn’t have known.”
Organizers said they hope to keep growing the event in the years ahead, adding new themes and activities that continue to highlight Lake Elsinore’s history.
