To celebrate Los Angeles' 225th birthday, the 25th anniversary Pobladores Walk begins at 7 a.m. Sept. 4.

Participants will walk nine miles from San Gabriel Mission to the El Pueblo Historical Monument in downtown Los Angeles, being joined at the six-mile point by participants from Lincoln Park northeast of downtown. After the walk, the festivities will continue with a cake ceremony, food, a program with multicultural entertainment, and a Children's Fun Zone sponsored by Disney and the Department of Recreation and Parks.

The schedule:

---7 a.m.: Kickoff rally at San Gabriel Mission, 428 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel, followed by 9-mile Pobladores Walk to downtown Los Angeles.
---9 a.m.: Walkers from the Mission are joined by walkers at Lincoln Park (the second starting point, 3 miles from downtown L.A.), 3501 Valley Blvd., Los Angeles.
---10:30 a.m.: Birthday Cake Ceremony & Festival at El Pueblo Historical Monument, 125 Paseo de la Plaza, Los Angeles (shuttle back to Mission available).

As part of the Los Angeles' Bicentennial in 1981, author-historian T. Willard Hunter of Claremont --- in response to a challenge from Mayor Tom Bradley to commemorate the bicentennial in a meaningful way --- developed the idea to re-enact the city's founding with the Pobladores Walk from the mission to La Placita.

Since then, walkers representing a cross-section of the city's diverse cultures have taken part, led by the members of Los Pobladores 200, an ancestrial heritage association whose ancestors were the original settlers of Los Angeles, who made this trek two centuries ago. El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Association, Olvera Street, and the City of Los Angeles are cosponsors of the walk.

For more information call (213) 485-8372 or e-mail: 225@lacity.org. To register for the walk, visit the Los Angeles Birthday website, www.lacity.org/225.

San Gabriel Mission Fiesta
San Gabriel Mission will offer free admission to its museum and gardens Sept. 1 through Sept. 3 as the 235-year-old mission celebrates its founding with its annual fiesta.

After the bells herald the start of the week-long celebration Sept. 1, the grounds will be blessed and the fiesta --- complete with rides, games, entertainment --- will officially begin.

The celebration swings into full ear on Sept. 2 with a fiesta stage and children's and pet's costume contest, a blessing of the animals and historical reenactments. Later, the mission will honor volunteers who have given their time and talent to improving the mission. "Happy Birthday" will be sung on the fiesta stage and free cake --- while supplies last --- will be distributed.

On Sept. 3, the Founders' Memorial Mass is scheduled at 9:30 a.m. followed by more historical reenactments and appearance by the Fiesta Royal Court: Queen Lilia Gonzales of Alhambra, and princesses Shirley Mercado of Rosemead and Amanda Martinez of San Gabriel.

Also, on Sept. 2 and 3, Gabrieleno-Tongva Indians and re-enactors of early California history have been invited to be in the gardens from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to talk to visitors and offer presentations.

Fiesta hours are Sept. 1, 6-11:30 p.m.; Sept. 2, 3-11:30 p.m.; and Sept. 3, 2-11:30 p.m. San Gabriel Mission is located at 428 S. Mission Dr., San Gabriel. For information, call (626) 457-3035 or visit www.sangabrielmission.org.

San Gabriel Mission is the fourth oldest mission of 21 founded in California and is

located at 427 S. Junipero Serra Dr., San Gabriel, CA 91776, about one and a half miles north of the San Bernardino Freeway (10) at the Del Mar Avenue exit, travel north to Mission Road, then travel left (west) a half mile to the mission parking lot. More information is available at (626) 457-3035.