Looking Back at Lucy 2011: The 100th Birthday Festival Celebration

Most county residents and visitors will remember the Lucy Festival that celebrated Lucille Ball’s 100th birthday. I do because I was there. The year was 2011 and 916 people dressed as Lucy, setting a world record for the most Lucy look-alikes. The special event included a parade that featured several drum and bugle corps and the hilarious comedians Joan Rivers and Paula Poundstone.

In that year, Sirius XM Radio channel 82 hosted by Greg Bell launched “Redhead Radio: 100 Years of Lucille Ball” from The Lucille Ball Festival of Comedy. It was a limited-run channel celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the comedy legend with non-stop broadcasts for two days of classic radio shows featuring the comedienne at key moments in her storied career, as well as interviews with her fans, devotees and fellow comedians. Redhead Radio launched at 12:00 a.m. ET on Aug. 6, 2011.

I have two memorable experiences to share during Lucy Fest in 2011. The first was being able to greet Lucie Arnaz as she entered the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum on the corner of Main and Third Street. The second was meeting a young gal who had traveled to Jamestown from Australia. As a festival volunteer that year, I took the time to welcome her to Jamestown.

We came together to honor Lucy’s 100th birthday 15 years ago only to realize that she was the one bringing us together all along. Lucy’s story isn’t measured just in years, but in memories shared. As a family of Lucy fans we know that homes are built with walls, but they are remembered through the love, laughter and memories shared within them and Lucy has given us more than a century’s worth.

In 2026, as we celebrate Lucy’s 115th birthday, we know 115 candles couldn’t burn brighter than Lucy’s smile. Here’s to Lucy and a spirit that keeps shining, long after the party ends. For today, let’s keep the party going as we sing the opening lyrics to the “I Love Lucy” theme song just in time for the 2026 Lucy Fest … “I love Lucy and she loves me.”