Public birthday celebration for Maddy Middleton

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - The mother of the 8-year-old Santa Cruz girl who was murdered in July, is hoping to start a new tradition called "Maddy's Day."

Maddyson Middleton would have turned 9-years-old on Monday. 

Her mother, Laura Jordan, is hosting a huge celebration in her daughter's honor that includes jump houses, a petting zoo, face painting, food trucks and ice cream, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Santa Cruz mayor Don Lane proclaimed October 5th as "Maddy's Day" during her memorial service,

The celebration is from 4- 7pm at Harvey West Park in Santa Cruz.