2026 Banning Museum Summer Bash Celebrates America’s 250th and Phineas Banning’s 196th Birthday

This year’s Banning Museum Summer Bash, held on August 15th, marked two occasions at once: Phineas Banning’s 196th birthday and America’s 250th anniversary.

“This year’s Summer Bash celebrates both our nation’s history and Wilmington’s own,” said Julia Banning, President of Friends of Banning Museum. “By introducing our first Pie Baking Contest, we’re creating a new tradition that brings neighbors together while honoring Phineas Banning’s lasting impact on our community. We hope families will come celebrate, make memories, and experience the museum in a fun and welcoming way.”
And celebrate we did!

Abraham Lincoln Made an Appearance

After the National Anthem sung by opera singer Hugo Castillo, actor Robert Broski appeared as President Abraham Lincoln on the balcony of the Banning Mansion to deliver the Gettysburg Address. He stayed in character for the rest of the evening, chatting and dancing with guests.

Live Music from The Gaslighters

The Gaslighters played live music through the evening, and guests joined in on some dancing on the lawn. Fun fact: drummer Patrick Wilson is a Board Member of the Friends of Banning Museum!

Entrepreneurial Spirit Award: Monarca’s Mexican Food
This year’s Phineas Banning Entrepreneurial Spirit Award went to Santiago and Beatriz Rodriguez of Monarca’s Mexican Food.
The couple has been connected to the museum since the late 1990s, when they began catering events here. In 2000, they opened their first restaurant in Harbor City, and it has since grown into a business serving customers throughout the Harbor Area. Over the years they’ve catered every Victorian Christmas and Banning Heritage Week wrap-up lunch, often bringing their children along — kids who have since grown up and started families of their own. The museum recognized Santiago and Beatriz for building a lasting business rooted in family and hard work, and for their long relationship with the museum.
First-Ever Pie Baking Contest
New this year was the Summer Bash Pie Baking Contest, where local home bakers entered homemade pies for blind judging. The museum hopes to make it an annual tradition.
2026 winners:
● 1st Place: Paulina Miranda — Cookie Butter Pie
● 2nd Place: Teresa Rosas — Flower Pie
● 3rd Place: Jo Franco — Dutch Apple Pie in a Bag
● Honorable Mention: Anvitha Ramachandran — Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Pecan Pie

The judges were Marie Dizon of Teofilo Coffee Company, Jenny Rosoff of Village Green Foods, and Chris Epting, author and host of Hidden Huntington Beach and OC History Hunters on PBS.

Looking Ahead
Between Lincoln’s appearance, live music, the entrepreneurial award, and the new pie contest, it was a fun evening on the museum grounds — a nice mix of history and community, and a reminder of why people keep coming back to the Banning Museum Summer Bash year after year.
Summer Bash 2026 was supported by sponsors including the Port of Los Angeles, the Valero Wilmington Refinery, ILWU Credit Union and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.