The City of Garden Grove will be hosting their second annual festival: “Re:Imagine Garden Grove By Day and By Night ” on Saturday, October 10, 2015, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Mark your calendar for a family fun filled event where residents and visitors will have the opportunity to experience a car-free, re-envisioned downtown environment celebrating the community, diverse cultures, and a healthy lifestyle.
The City has once again partnered with Los Angeles-based Community Arts Resources (CARS), the producers of L.A.’s famed CicLAvia open streets event, to produce the second annual festival.
Last year, “Re:Imagine Garden Grove – A Downtown Open Streets Event” showcased downtown Garden Grove like never before with nearly 10,000 pedestrians and bicyclists enjoying three miles of car-free streets activated with food, art, music, dance, workshops, action sports, games, and more. This year, guests can expect a block party atmosphere that will entertain all from day and into the night.
The eastbound side of Acacia Parkway, between Nelson and 7th Streets, will be “open streets” for non-motorized active transportation. Pick your favorite mode of transportation from: bicycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, running and walking as they will all be welcome along the south side of the Acacia Parkway median.
Historic Main Street, Acacia Parkway, Civic Center Park, and the Pacific Electric Right-of-Way Bike/Pedestrian Path will serve as the hub of “Re:Imagine Garden Grove By Day.” From 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. the car-free streets will host:
- Hands-on workshops
- Action sports demonstrations
- Strolling performers
- Kids’ zones
- Live music
- Interactive games
- Open House for the Garden Grove Public Works, Fire, and Police Departments.
- Historic Main Street restaurants will open out onto the streets with picnic tables for outdoor dining. Local favorite food trucks and street carts will be on-hand for additional culinary options.
As the sun begins to set around 6:00 pm, a New Orleans Second Line inspired parade will lead event-goers from the eastern and western edges of the event towards Historic Main Street, where Re:Imagine Garden Grove By Night will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. between Acacia Parkway and Garden Grove Blvd. Live music, DJ’s and a mid-street dance floor will set the tone for the evening’s downtown block party under the stars. Amidst the entertainment, event-goers can take part in light-inspired workshops, interactive games, photo booths, and a pop-up arcade. The restaurants, bars, and businesses will spill out onto the streets and offer outdoor picnic tables and a beer garden.
“Re:Imagine Garden Grove By Day and By Night” will introduce the new Garden Grove Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan developed in partnership with Alta Planning + Design and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG). As part of the Open Streets Event, Alta will host fun, interactive planning workshops along the PE Right-of-Way and on Historic Main Street for attendees to provide their input on walking and biking conditions throughout Garden Grove. In addition, Alta will construct temporary pedestrian crossing improvements – pop-up installations that the public can test out in a safe and car-free environment.
For more information, and to get involved, please visit https://www.ggopenstreets.com.
ABOUT GARDEN GROVE:
The City of Garden Grove, CA, located just one mile from the Disneyland Resort, home to the Grove Resort District, complements Southern California’s most popular tourist zone. Several brand-name hotels, restaurants, and the arrival of the Great Wolf Lodge Southern California in early 2016, highlight the resort area. As the fifth largest city in Orange County, Garden Grove boasts many of the most recognized cultural and spiritual centers, including Little Saigon, the Korean Business District, and the Christ Cathedral (formerly the Crystal Cathedral). Some of the most affordable new housing developments in Southern California, the third largest school district in the county with one of the highest college graduation rates in the state, and a strong, business-friendly atmosphere make Garden Grove an ideal place for new and current residents, businesses, and visitors.
