COLONIAL HEIGHTS -- This city of 17,000 is celebrating its 60th birthday this week, culminating tomorrow and Sunday at the Fort Clifton Arts, Music and Crafts Festival.

Although Colonial Heights' existence as an independent city is relatively new, the community got its name during the Revolutionary War when the Colonials -- French troops under the command of Gen. Marquis de Lafayette -- retreated north and deployed artillery on the heights overlooking Petersburg. The name "Colonial Heights" stuck.

The Fort Clifton festival will be held at Berberich Park, behind Tussing Elementary School off Conduit Road.