As far as history goes, there’s not a youth baseball league in the state of Washington with the same bragging rights as Kirkland American Little League.

Kirkland American Little League celebrates its 65th anniversary this summer, making it the oldest league in Washington.

Opening day won’t feature a parade this season, but the league is throwing an appreciation day for the many fans, volunteers and parents on Saturday, April 30, at Everest Park.

John Rudolpf, president of Kirkland American, promised a fun atmosphere for the 65th anniversary.

“It’s all about saying thanks to the Kirkland residents that had to do with Little League — the parents and the families,” he said.

Each of the park’s four fields will hold games throughout the day, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and between games there’ll be plenty of entertainment — tricycle races around the bases, inflatables for climbing and sliding, dunk tanks and face painting.

The main festivities are scheduled to run between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. with no charge, but t-shirts will be available for purchase.

Founded in 1951 as Kirkland Little League, games were originally played at old Peter Kirk Field, now the site of Lee Johnson Field at Peter Kirk Park. The old field faced southeast, instead of northeast, and featured a large set of covered stands behind the backstop with bleachers extending past the first and third bases.

Kirkland fielded four teams in the summer of 1951 and the local all-star team made the District 8 championship game, losing to Walla Walla 2-1.

After splitting into American and National Leagues in 1957, Kirkland American moved to Everest Park — former government housing during World War II — in 1963, and has been at the park ever since.