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Daytona Beach staff outline yearlong plans, ambassador committee for 150th anniversary
Summary
City communications staff presented a marketing and events plan for Daytona Beach’s sesquicentennial, proposing an ambassador committee, yearlong programming, digital campaigns, and merchandise; commissioners asked for materials and volunteer liaisons.
City communications staff on Feb. 19 presented a yearlong plan to mark Daytona Beach’s sesquicentennial in 2026, including a volunteer ambassador committee, weekend festival events in July 2026, digital campaigns and a dedicated website with merchandise sales.
Julie Barley, communications and marketing coordinator for the City of Daytona Beach, told the commission the city team recommends creating a “sesquicentennial ambassador committee” made up of residents, business owners or agents of businesses that would advise staff, help obtain sponsorships and promote events. Barley said each commissioner would recruit and nominate one member and the commission would appoint the panel; the planned term would run through Jan. 1, 2027, with meetings no less than quarterly.
Barley outlined a mix of programming the communications team expects to use: integrating sesquicentennial branding into existing events (for example, the Easter Beach Run and the mayor’s fitness challenge), a three-day summer kick-off in July 2026 with concerts and a fireworks show at the Band Shell and a community day at the Daisy Stocking Park, plus digital elements such as an augmented-reality “Agents of Discovery” trail and AI-enabled mayoral portrait features on a sesquicentennial website.
The staff presentation included ideas for a scholarship program selecting 10 students from the city’s two high schools, “Milestone Monday” business spotlights, a published yearbook-style book documenting the year, and a merchandise shop integrated into the proposed website. Barley said staff hopes to have the ambassador committee appointed by April and meet beginning in May to begin sponsorship outreach and marketing.
Commissioners generally praised the plan and asked for print copies of the presentation and additional details on implementation. Commissioner Paula Reid volunteered to serve as a commission liaison to the project; Mayor Derek L. Henry also supported appointment of a commissioner representative. Commissioner Lehi (first name not provided in transcript) and others urged broad outreach to longtime residents and past leaders, and suggested the city invite prominent former officials to participate in events.
Barley said staff will provide the full presentation to commissioners digitally after the meeting and will return to a future meeting to seek formal establishment of the ambassador committee and any related actions.
Barley also displayed a proposed sesquicentennial emblem and wordmark and said staff had produced 3-D-printed versions for commissioners to view. She described the website as a calendar and merchandising platform and said the team intends to use social media, newsletters and printed timelines or murals for historical interpretation.
Commissioners asked staff to circulate the presentation, to review potential sponsor partnerships for large physical signage and to consider merchandise and branding for city staff and first responders. Barley said staff would bring the item back at a subsequent meeting to establish the committee if that is the commission’s will.
