State of the City: A Celebration of Resilience and Growth
This year's State of the City: A Celebration of Resilience and Growth event is set for Thursday, July 17, from 4-7 p.m. at Christine Emerson Reed Park and the newly reopened Miles Memorial Playhouse.
In a change from past years, this year's event will feature an opening reception with the Mayor and incoming City Manager Oliver Chi inside the newly revived Miles Memorial Playhouse, followed by performances. Bring your own picnic and beach chair or blanket, and we'll provide the entertainment and activities! It's also a kickoff celebration for the community's 150th anniversary celebration, which will last through December 2025.
Timeline for the event:
4-5 p.m.
- Opening reception in the Miles Memorial Playhouse with light refreshments, city information boards, and opportunities for attendees to meet and chat with Mayor Lana Negrete and new City Manager Oliver Chi
- City department and partner booths are open throughout the park offering activities for all ages and information on city initiatives and programs
- Music by DJ Bukue One in the park
5-5:30 p.m.
- Welcome remarks by Mayor Negrete and city officials
- Poem by city of Santa Monica Poet Laureate Anne Carmack
5:30-7 p.m.
Performances in Reed Park:
- Downbeat 720 is an open mic/performance lab for teens that the city of Santa Monica has sponsored since 2001. Enjoy a high-energy performance by youth artists and professional artists Joe Hernandez-Kolski, Joshua Silverstein, and DJ Jedi, who will also be our emcees for the evening.
- String Theory is a hybrid performance ensemble combining music and movement that travels the U.S. and abroad creating giant immersive musical installations, collaborating and performing.
- Performers from Los Angeles Performance Practice (LAPP) BRIDGE THE GAPS initiative, which supports artists impacted by the L.A. wildfires with space residencies at the Miles Memorial Playhouse. LAPP is a non-profit organization devoted to the production and presentation of contemporary performance by artists whose work advances and challenges multi-disciplinary artistic practices.
There will also be 15-minute tours of the Historic Miles Memorial Playhouse, led by Santa Monica Conservancy docents, throughout the event. No RSVP necessary! Get updates on more Conservancy events here.
Also enjoy trivia, giveaways, a beer garden by Santa Monica Brew Works, food from Border Grill and Hot Dog on a Stick and more!
Getting there:
Metered street parking is limited in the area and preferential parking rules will be enforced.
FREE public parking is available at the Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., which is less than a 10-minute walk from the park. See the full list of Santa Monica parking lots here.
Attendees are encouraged to carpool, rideshare, bike or take public transit.
Rides on Big Blue Bus will be free for those who inform the driver they’re going to the State of the City event. Big Blue Bus Routes 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 18, and 41 all have stops within a 10-minute walk of Reed Park. Plan your trip at bigbluebus.com.
Cyclists will appreciate the convenient on-site Santa Monica Spoke bike valet service along California Ave., providing a safe and easy way to park their bikes while enjoying the event.
A passenger loading and drop-off zone will be available on the west side of Lincoln Blvd. (approximately 1130 Lincoln Blvd.) for those utilizing a ridesharing service or dropping off friends or family members.
Veo is offering a $5 credit with promo code "SOTC25," for anyone taking one of their shared scooters or e-bikes to Reed Park for the State of the City.
Accessibility:
The park, Miles Memorial Playhouse, and restrooms are wheelchair accessible. For those using a wheeled mobility device, the walking or bike paths can be used to traverse the park. To view the performances, short travel over grass will be required and there will be an ADA viewing section near the stage. The ground can be uneven in some areas of the park.