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.

 

The fall edition of ArtNight Pasadena takes place on Friday, October 10, citywide. This art and culture celebration features music, dance, visual art, theater, art-making, storytelling, and history. ArtNight is an ongoing partnership between many cultural institutions and the Cultural Affairs Division of the City of Pasadena. Enjoy a free evening of art, music, and entertainment as Pasadena’s most prominent arts and cultural institutions swing open their doors offering free admission from 6:00-10:00 PM.

ArtNight Pasadena occurs twice per year (spring and fall), where the city’s most prominent museums and cultural institutions open their doors for free and offer special programming. For information on ArtNight, please call the ArtNight Pasadena Hotline at (626) 744-7887 or visit ArtNightPasadena.org and see the complete line-up of events.

Here are a few highlights in and around Old Pasadena:

ARMORY CENTER FOR THE ARTS
145 N. Raymond Avenue
At the Armory, see two exhibitions, make your own art, and enjoy live sets by DJ Soltera. my hands are monsters who believe in magic is on view through December 14, 2025. This exhibition features works of Asian diasporic artists that explore the process of unmaking and remaking the self in their work.  Opening on October 10 in the Mezzanine, Sanctuaries is a group exhibition of Armory contemporary teaching artists who expand upon the meaning and imagination of sanctuaries, true and metaphysical, as spaces of protection, agency, preservation, and healing. Through painting, textile, ceramic, photography, risography, and mixed media, each artist offers a personal exploration of how sanctuaries take form and sustain us.
City-funded MiniGrant: DJ Soltera

CITY OF PASADENA CITY HALL
Transportation Hub
100 N. Garfield Avenue
Enjoy a spooky puppet show, live music, and seasonal art activities. Treat yourself to a snack and catch a free shuttle to another venue.
Food Truck: Pie ‘n Burger
City-funded MiniGrants: music by The Subs, performances by Bob Baker Marionettes

One Colorado

46 Smith Alley
Suite 250
Pasadena, CA 91103

626.564.1066
www.onecolorado.com

One Colorado is an outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment district spanning one and a half city blocks in Old Pasadena, roughly bounded by Colorado Boulevard, Union Street, De Lacey, and Fair Oaks Avenues. This award-winning destination unites the urban environment of 17 historic buildings with 32 contemporary fashion and dining attractions, including Anthropologie, Patagonia, Sushi Roku, and IPIC Theaters. One Colorado Food District includes a row of convenient concept restaurants, including Main Chick, Paper Rice, and Tacos 1986, along Union Street. Longstanding favorites, Russell's diner, renowned for breakfast, and 21 Choices Frozen Yogurt are found on Fair Oaks Avenue.

Shopping options are varied and include both national retailers and independent small businesses.  From Sephora and Aesop to Skin Laundry, beauty is covered. Jewelers include high-end Place Vendome, trendy Gorjana, and Brilliant Earth to fulfill your diamond needs.  

The One Colorado Courtyard, designed in the tradition of European town squares, is one of Old Pasadena’s public gathering spaces, offering regularly scheduled outdoor film screenings, live music, art markets, children’s programs, and site-specific art installations. 

The Unicorn Store

12 Douglas Alley
One Colorado
Pasadena, CA 91103

424.256.8798
www.theunicornstore.com

The Unicorn Store is a curated collection of whimsy and wonder to put a smile on someone’s face. Shoppers will be dazzled with its wide selection of wonders including coveted collectibles from Glitterville Studios, and favorites from a variety of well-known brands such as Great Pretenders costumes, Ooly art and craft sets, Gund plush toys, Bari Lynn accessories, daydream society party goods, Handstand Kitchen kids baking sets, Meri Meri partywear, and holiday decor from Kurt S. Adler. As we all know, unicorns have an incredible knack for adding a dash of magic to our everyday celebrations, and The Unicorn Store will merit repeat visits to outfit the season’s events, from kids’ Halloween costumes to birthday party supplies, plus must-have gifts, whimsical holiday decor and much, much more.

Thoughtfully wrapped and boxed gifts and goodies make every day a holiday. Decorations, costumes, fantasy play, there is something for everyone and every age!