2025 State of the City event to celebrate resilience, growth and Santa Monica’s 150th anniversary
July 2, 2025 3:35 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (July 2, 2025) – Santa Monica’s annual State of the City event returns with a twist on Thursday, July 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Christine Emerson Reed Park and the newly reopened Miles Memorial Playhouse, launching a six-month long celebration of Santa Monica’s 150th anniversary.
Putting a new spin on the State of the City tradition, the evening will start with an opening reception inside the beautifully revived Miles Memorial Playhouse, offering light refreshments, city information displays and a chance to meet and connect with Mayor Lana Negrete and incoming City Manager Oliver Chi.
The reception will be followed by live performances in the park, tours of the Miles Memorial Playhouse, a beer garden by Santa Monica Brew Works, interactive city department booths across Reed Park including a prize wheel, a succulent giveaway, police officers on horseback, a fire truck and more.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or beach chairs and a picnic to enjoy during the performances.
"This year’s State of the City goes beyond a status report, it’s a tribute,” Mayor Lana Negrete said. “As we mark our 150th year, we’re honoring the resilience of our community, the renewal of beloved spaces like the Miles Playhouse and the energy of a city that continues to grow and evolve with intention.”
Event Schedule:
4–5 p.m.
- Opening reception in the Miles Memorial Playhouse
- Meet and greet with Mayor Lana Negrete and City Manager Oliver Chi
- Light refreshments, city information displays
- City and partner booths with youth and family activities in the park
- Music by DJ Bukue One
5–5:30 p.m.
- Welcome remarks from Mayor Negrete and city officials
- Special reading by Santa Monica Poet Laureate Anne Carmack
5:30–7 p.m.
- Live performances in Reed Park featuring:
- Downbeat 720, Santa Monica’s long-running teen performance lab, approaching 25 years in Santa Monica, hosted by Joe Hernandez-Kolski, Joshua Silverstein and DJ Jedi, who will also be the evening’s emcees
- String Theory, a multidisciplinary musical and visual arts collective returning to Reed Park to delight audiences once again
- Artists from Los Angeles Performance Practice’s BRIDGE THE GAPS initiative, which supports artists impacted by the wildfires with residencies at the Miles.
- Guided tours of the historic Miles Memorial Playhouse by Santa Monica Conservancy docents
- Trivia, giveaways, kids’ activities
- A lively beer garden hosted by Santa Monica Brew Works
"Resilience has always been at the heart of Santa Monica,” incoming City Manager Oliver Chi said. “The restoration of the Miles Memorial Playhouse is a powerful reflection of that spirit, showing how, through hard work, vision and creativity, we can breathe new life into something meaningful to us all. This event is an opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate that resilience and look ahead with optimism for what’s to come."
Metered street parking is limited in the area and preferential parking rules will be enforced. Paid public parking is available at the Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd., which is less than a 10 minute walk from the park.
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.
Admission is free and the event is open to all ages. For additional details click here.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov
Categories
Arts, Culture & Fun, City Parks, Library, Programs, The Arts
Departments
City Manager's Office, Community Development, Library, Recreation and Arts
