Burien will kick off its 15-year birthday celebration Friday, March 28, with a 14-foot high traveling birthday "cake" parked at the intersection of Southwest 152nd Street and Ambaum Boulevard.

City Arts Commissioners Dane Johnson and Kathy Justin brought the cake -a decorated retired Metro bus that was created during the Burning Man Festival in Nevada last year - to Burien.

The birthday celebration will continue Friday evening when city residents join community leaders and celebrate Burien's 15th birthday at the city's and Discover Burien Association's annual dinner, auction and citizen awards ceremony Friday, March 28.

Karuna Yoga Studio in Olde Burien will be transformed into a one-night banquet facility for the event, which runs from 6 to 10 p.m.

The dinner will feature food from local restaurants, including Mick Kelly's Irish Pub, Angelo's, Sal's Deli and Mark Restaurant & Bar.

Burien's own singer-pianist Sandra Locklear will provide jazzy dinner entertainment.

A silent auction will provide opportunities to bid on items ranging from vacation trips and jewelry to theater tickets and restaurant gift certificates. There will also be a dessert auction.

Following dinner, Burien City Council members will bestow the city's annual awards on local residents who have made a difference as community, educational, environmental and business leaders.

Robinson Newspapers, which publishes the Times/News, will present its own award recognizing a community member who has contributed to Burien.

The bus will be lighted and remain on display during the annual dinner/auction and citizen awards ceremony.

Tickets for the event are $25 each and may be purchased at Discover Burien, 455 S.W. 152nd St., or Burien City Hall, 15811 Ambaum Blvd. S.W., Suite C.

Karuna Yoga Studio is located at 819 S.W. 152nd St.

Proceeds will support Discover Burien, a nonprofit organization that works on the economic development, promotion and marketing of the city.

For more information, call Discover Burien at 206-433-2882 or Debra George of Marketing Innovations at 206-941-7199.

On Saturday, Burien officials and business leaders will ride down 152nd Street on the "cake" to the city's birthday party celebration.

A festive afternoon of fun is scheduled from 12 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Highline High School cafeteria, 225 S. 152nd St. A free birthday commemorative t-shirt will be given to the first 100 kids who arrive.

Music and dance performances will include Danza de los Viejitos, festive Latino clog dancers adorned with masks and costumes; YouthSounds Northwest Choral Group; New City Dance Company; Baile Folkorico, popular Mexican folklore dancers; the Hi-Liners Youth Musical Theater; and Momentum Dance Academy.

Carnival games, kids' inflatables, food booths, and birthday cake will also be available.

Everyone can make their own party hats, crowns, vests, capes, pinatas, and paper flowers to take home.

Since Burien celebrated 10 years of incorporation, a lot has happened.

Construction of the city's Town Square is in full swing following last year's demolition of the former Gottschalk's building and Puget Sound ESD building.

Seahurst Beach has been restored to its natural state by removing the long-standing seawall, the new Eagle Landing, Mathison and Jacob Ambaum parks have been opened, and repair of earthquake damage on Maplewild Drive has been completed.

And work continues on improvements and utility conversion on First Avenue South, while plans for a new Community Recreation Center are being finalized.

For more information, call 206-988-3700 or visit www.burienparks.net.