Imagine stepping onto a major boulevard in the heart of Southern California and hearing not the hum of engines or honking horns but the bright sounds of live mariachi music, children reading poetry and the laughter of neighbors meeting in the middle of the street. This is the vision behind Let’s Go Glendale, a brand-new open streets event taking place on Saturday, May 31, 2025, that invites residents and visitors to reclaim the road not with cars but with community.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., a vibrant stretch of S. Glendale Avenue, between Lexington Drive and Chevy Chase Drive, will transform into a 1.3-mile car-free playground of art, food, culture and movement. And the best part? It’s completely free to attend.
A New Way to Explore the City
Presented by Metro and produced by Community Arts Resources (CARS), Let’s Go Glendale is more than a street closure. It’s a celebration of what happens when you remove the barriers both physical and symbolic that often separate people in a bustling city.
The event encourages everyone to move freely and joyfully: ride your bike, push a stroller, roll on a scooter or simply walk hand in hand. However you get around, this is your moment to explore one of Southern California’s most diverse and dynamic cities in a way that feels refreshingly personal.
An Urban Festival of Sights, Sounds and Soul
Along the 1.3-mile route, Glendale becomes a living festival. Picture this: an all-female mariachi band, Las Colibrí, filling the streets with high-energy rhythms. Nearby, the elegant footwork and rich costumes of Armenian folk dancers from Lernazang Ensemble capture the cultural tapestry that makes Glendale so unique.
At one end of the avenue, the Hoover Tornado Marching Band kicks off a jubilant procession. Around the corner, elementary school students from Cerritos, Marshall and Mann read heartfelt poems about their city, their hopes and their dreams. It’s a symphony of sounds and stories, all unfolding under a blue May sky.
A City Connected Through Experience
The festival also provides opportunities to connect with city services and local programs in ways that are interactive and engaging. You can chat with firefighters from the Glendale Fire Department get career guidance at the Verdugo Jobs Center booth or learn how to shape the city’s future through the General Plan Update. For those interested in sustainability and public works updates on the Garden River Bridge Project will also be available.
And of course, no summer street festival is complete without delicious bites and community staples. A selection of local food trucks will be parked along the route offering everything from artisan tacos to fresh Mediterranean dishes. Plus, free water stations, bike repair, first aid and shady rest spots ensure everyone can comfortably enjoy the day.
A New Chapter in Glendale’s Cultural Life Whereas numerous cities have had open streets events in the past, this is Glendale's first and it's one with a long-term purpose. Let's Go Glendale is not only about having a car-free Saturday. It's about reimaging how public space can be utilized when people are put first.
Over the past decade, open streets events have gained popularity throughout California as means of advancing health, local enterprise and social bonding. Glendale, however, creates its own twist on the model, providing a blend of historic and modern cultures that mirror the city's strong immigrant heritage and burgeoning arts community.
From Morning Coffee to Sunset Strolls
Whether you’re planning to roll out early for a bike ride and breakfast burrito or you prefer to wander through the late afternoon enjoying music and a cold drink, there’s something for every pace and personality.
Families will find it especially inviting safe, engaging and filled with enriching experiences for kids. Couples can stroll the route hand-in-hand, stopping to listen to live jazz or pick up a handmade gift. And locals and visitors alike will discover new corners of the city they might have driven past a thousand times but never really seen.
Know Before You Go
Planning to attend? Here are a few key tips to make the most of your day:
Street closures begin at 6 a.m. with full route closures in place by 9 a.m.
The streets open to foot and wheel traffic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The area will be returned to vehicles by approximately 6 p.m.
There is no admission fee
Comfortable shoes, sun protection, and a reusable water bottle are highly recommended
A New Tradition Begins
For those who live for the finer things in life, community, culture, art, and connection, Let’s Go Glendale offers an experience that feeds the soul. It’s not about extravagance. It’s about simple pleasures elevated by thoughtful design, local pride and open arms.
So mark your calendar for May 31. Leave the car keys at home. And come ready to rediscover Glendale, not as a place to pass through, but as a place to belong. For full details, schedule updates and transportation tips, visit the event website or check your local Metro listings.
(0) comments
We welcome your comments
Log In
Post a comment as Guest
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.