Events

UPDATE:  Pasadena is one of the 50 finalists! The Levitt Foundation will review the finalists and announce the Levitt Music Series grant recipients on November 18, 2025.

The City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCS), in collaboration Pasadena Recreation and Parks Foundation (PRPF) is competing to bring a vibrant, free outdoor music series to the Memorial Park Band Shell in Old Pasadena beginning in 2026.

To make this dream a reality, community support is essential.

Residents are encouraged to cast their vote during the public voting period:

FRI SEP 05 ~10 AM - MON SEP 15 ~ 5 PM

Vote online at https://vote.levitt.org, or 

TEXT-to-VOTE at (877) 409-5525 with keyword PASADENA

Voting Takes Place September 5–15!

Reflecting their commitment that all Levitt programs be community-driven, the top 50 Levitt Music Series finalists will be selected through public voting (online and text-to-vote) this September 5 – 15, 2025.  The Levitt Foundation will review the finalists and announce the Levitt Music Series grant recipients on November 18, 2025. (Levitt Foundation, 2025, https://vote.levitt.org/sign-up)

History of the Levitt in Memorial Park

"As the first venture philanthropy project of the Levitt Foundation, Levitt Pavilion Pasadena launched in 2003. Since its opening, the venue has been celebrated for bringing vitality and high-caliber programming back to Memorial Park, which for years prior was largely abandoned and a magnet for crime. Through 2017, free Levitt concerts at the restored WPA-era gold bandshell brought people of all ages and backgrounds together from both Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles metro region, attracting over 75,000 people each summer. The Levitt Foundation is proud of our investment in the Pasadena community, providing significant annual funding to Levitt Pavilion Pasadena for nearly 15 years, and the meaningful social and economic impact created by the Levitt program in Memorial Park." (Levitt Foundation, 2025, https://levitt.org/pasadena-past)

Please click here to read the full press release on the City of Pasadena's website.

The City of Pasadena Department of Transportation in partnership with Day One and the Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition (PasCSC) invites all of Pasadena to get out and WALK in October! Walktober is celebrating its 8th year in the City of Pasadena established by the PasCSC, its volunteers, and its partners. The City is sponsoring this year’s events with funding and staff support.

Walktober is an annual international promotion to encourage walking. Communities across the world from Portland, Oregon to Raleigh, North Carolina, to Adelaide, Australia, organize events celebrating and bringing awareness to walking through fun events. Here in Pasadena, the City supported by Day One, and PasCSC has partnered with local organizations and community members to put together a month-long calendar of in-person walks, tours, and community events.

The slate of events reflects a wide range of reasons and ways to enjoy walking and moving in the City. Be it for everyday exercise, mental health, meeting new people, learning about the city, or simply to get to work or school, the goal is to inspire the Pasadena community by providing a variety of fun exciting events highlighting the City’s rich history, cultural amenities, and natural beauty. Early registration for all events is highly encouraged.

Check out the complete listing of all the guided in-person walks. Use the “Register” buttons to RSVP on the corresponding Eventbrite pages. You are encouraged to register early as space is limited on some of the walks.

Highlights include:

• Cruising Colorado: Route 66 & Old Pasadena's Car Scene
  Pasadena Walking Tours
  SUN OCT 05 ~ 5:00-7:00 PM - SOLD-OUT
  Location:  Provided with Registration
  
  In November 1926, Route 66 was established as part of the U.S. numbered highways system, connecting cities like Pasadena to far flung locations across the country. The highway soon burst into pop culture and attained legendary status, featured in books, movies, and music over the course of the 20th century.
  
  On this tour, we’ll walk a section of Route 66 - known as the "Mother Road" and the “Main Street of America” - around present-day Old Pasadena. In addition to Route 66 lore, we’ll talk more broadly about car culture in Pasadena, and the dealerships, manufacturers, and service stations that helped drive a thriving city throughout the 20th century and into a new millennium.  This tour is generously sponsored by the Old Pasadena Management District.

• Hidden Secrets of Old Pasadena
  Pasadena Walking Tours
  SUN OCT 19 ~ 5:00-7:00 PM
  Location: Provided with registration

  Step off the beaten path and uncover the enchanting stories of Old Pasadena! Join us for a captivating two-hour journey through this historic district, where every corner has a tale to tell. Discover hidden public art that often goes unnoticed, wander through the charming network of Victorian-era alleys that echo with the footsteps of history, and explore remnants of old buildings that reveal stories of days gone by.
  
  Whether you’re a history buff or just curious, “The Secrets of Old Pasadena” will unveil the magic of history hidden in plain sight. Join us and unlock the mysteries of this fascinating district! This tour is generously sponsored by the Old Pasadena Management District.
  
  

• Green Makers: Walking the Early History of Japanese Americans in Pasadena
  WED OCT 29 ~ 9:00 AM
  Location:  NE corner of Pasadena Central Park
  Join local author Naomi Hirahara on a walking exploration of Japanese American people and times in the heart of Old Pasadena.