Greer's OC

For the second year in a row, the City of Garden Grove will bring back the open streets event, “Re:Imagine Garden Grove By Day and By Night” on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015, from 3 to 10 p.m. The festival invites residents and visitors to explore a car-free, re-envisioned downtown environment and experience the tactical urbanism movement that focuses on urban change through low-cost, temporary transformations to improve neighborhoods and community gathering places.

The 2015 festival will replace one-mile of car traffic in Downtown with food, art, music, dance, workshops, action sports, games and more in a block party atmosphere that will showcase the diversity and excitement of the Garden Grove community and promote active transportation during the day and into the night.

Highlights of the event include:

The Pacific Electric Right-of-Way Bike/Pedestrian Path will serve as one of the activity centers of “Re:Imagine Garden Grove By Day,” from 3 to 6 p.m. The path will be open for walking and biking and will be lined with ping-pong tables, food trucks, picnic tables, and umbrellas.

Also on the Right-of-Way, Alta Planning + Design will host an interactive workshop about the Garden Grove Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan – Garden Grove Active Streets.

OCTA will host an information booth and bus display with tours and demonstrations. McCarty BMX will offer BMX freestyle stunt shows throughout the day. Garden Grove’s Old Grove Auto will present a collaborative paint workshop and Richard’s Cyclery will offer complimentary bicycle repairs.

Historic Main Street, between Acacia Parkway and Garden Grove Boulevard, will bring the restaurants and businesses out onto the street with picnic tables, umbrellas, and outdoor service. Strolling performers will include the traditional Vietnamese Vanguards Lion Dance group. The main stage will host the percussion group P.O.P Unplugged; Los Angeles-based blue grass band, The Dust Bowl Cavaliers; and local favorite, “Elvis,” who performs regularly at Azteca Restaurant and Lounge on Historic Main Street.

Historic Main Street will offer a temporary tattoo workshop, courtesy of Black Umbrella Tattoo and Gallery, a mosaic workshop with Garden Grove artist Robin Marcario, and a complimentary hair chalk and braiding station with Mint Salon.

The Gem Theatre parking lot will feature Cirque Du Soleil’s “Kurios” themed photo booth. Acacia Parkway, between Main and Euclid Streets, will present the Re:Imagine Play Zone with a rock wall, chalk zone, jump ropes, and hula-hoops. A Chill Zone will house tents with Astroturf, lounge seating, and games and food carts, where festival-goers can relax in a shaded and comfortable area.

Civic Center Park will welcome interactive programs and workshops with the Garden Grove Public Library, DIY workshops with Home Depot, and an unstructured free-play area with a repurposed parts playground, courtesy of Recess Revolution.

As the sun begins to set, P.O.P Unplugged will lead a New Orleans second line- inspired parade which will transition Historic Main Street into “Re:Imagine Garden Grove By Night,” from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tropical Afro-Latin rhythmic ensemble, QUITAPENAS, will perform live, followed by a special DJ set by Raul Campos, host of Nocturna on Los Angeles’ public radio station, KCRW. The restaurants, bars, and businesses will spill out onto the streets and offer outdoor picnic tables and a beer garden.

For more information, and to get involved, please visit ggopenstreets.com.