The sunshine, the sand, the boardwalk: Mission Beach is a staple of the San Diego scene. This year, the community celebrates its centennial, and it kicked off the festivities with a special event Saturday.

At 10 a.m., locals were invited to meet at either end of Ocean Front Walk where centennial leaders then led the way along the boardwalk to a dedication ceremony.

At 11 a.m., the monument and plaque dedication ceremony commemorating 100 years of fun in the sun at Mission Beach took place on the boardwalk at the southwest corner of Belmont Park. Local dignitaries, leaders and residents from the community were present for the permanent placement of this special plaque.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer was there, clad in a sunny Hawaiian shirt, sharing his love of Mission Beach alongside San Diegans.

The mayor called Mission Beach "one of the most iconic beach communities in the U.S." and said he was happy to see so many people there for Saturday's centennial event.

“When it comes to Mission Beach, in the summertime we have hundreds of thousands of San Diegans that come and visit the beach, and we have tourists from all over the country and the world," Faulconer told NBC 7. "When you think of Mission Beach, you think of a great community that just loves being a part of San Diego.”

The free event was open to the public and officially kicked off a yearlong centennial celebration that will bring a host of events to Mission Beach in 2014.

Upcoming events include the walkable food tasting tour, Taste of Mission Beach, set for Apr. 10, and the vintage car event, Father’s Day Cruise to Belmont Park, on Jun. 15.

On Jul. 15, the historic PLUNGE heated pool will host a “Dive-In Movie” for families and on Aug. 3, a Horseshoe Tournament will go down at Mariners Point. Additional events are scheduled for August and September.

Beginning Saturday, the Centennial Museum Booth at Belmont Park will also open to the public. The booth – open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 27 – will boast vintage relics and memorabilia from Mission Beach’s past. This includes more than 200 historical photos compiled into a DVD that’s available for purchase.

Mission Beach, built on a sandbar between the Pacific Ocean and Mission Bay, came to be in 1914. In June of that year, the official subdivision map of the community was surveyed. By December, 14, 2014, it was adopted by the Common Council of San Diego, becoming the first official map of Mission Beach.

Today, the popular beach community spans nearly two miles of ocean front views and boasts a boardwalk frequented bicyclists, joggers and casual strollers. Along the boardwalk, dozens of eateries and small shops offer snacks a trinkets, and a wall offers a relaxing place to rest and gaze out at the ocean.

For more details on the Mission Beach Centennial celebration, visit the event website.