A park is like summer’s ultimate living room: a central gathering place for anyone hoping to read the next chapter in their book or spend a lazy afternoon away from the office. Dubbed “The Park For Everyone”, Grand Park is one such destination. Stretching from The Civic Center on the west to City Hall on the east, it features plenty of tree-shaded walkways, lawn space, and even moveable furniture – not your typical living room coming in at 12 acres, but a welcome resting spot nonetheless. Here are our top 4 reasons why you should plan a visit to Downtown’s Grand Park this summer:
1. The Renegade Craft FairLeather goods? Art prints? Hand-painted pots? It’s all coming to Grand Park later this month and you want to miss this opportunity to meet and shop some of the best craft-based businesses in the area. With host cities ranging from Chicago to London, The Renegade Craft Fair draws the best of the DIY craft community—be prepared to find things that you never knew you always wanted. Go here to browse this event’s line-up of authentically awesome makers.
Every Wednesday and Thursday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the park resembles a grown-up recess of sorts with its fleet of food trucks serving the adventurous lunch break community. Lunch A La Park also recently expanded their outdoor offerings to include coffee and pastries for everyone seeking that morning jolt! You can be sure to catch the food trucks either on Olive Street (between Grand and Hill) and the Marketplace (between Spring and Broadway).
3. Outdoor CinemaSkip the stuffy movie theaters and embrace that drive-in movie feel of yesteryear with Movies In The Park. Presented by Grand Park and Street Food Cinema, the weekly series features double screenings of your favorite sci-fi flicks. Plop down on a blanket and enjoy nightly themes like Animation, Star Trek, Comedy, and Classics, part of Grand Park’s completely free summer programming. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with the first screening beginning at sundown.
4. Jay-Z In ConcertGrand Park will host the inaugural Los Angeles installment of the Budweiser Made In America Festival over Labor Day weekend (August 30-31). Curated by uber rapper and producer Jay-Z, the event is expected to draw up to 50,000 people. “Made in America will showcase our city, shine a spotlight on Grand Park and Downtown L.A., the best neighborhood anywhere in America,” said Mayor Garcetti at a press conference at City Hall. See headliners John Mayer and Imagine Dragons, along with artists Juanes, Kendrick Lamar, Capital Cities, Rise Against, and Afrojack, just to name a few.
Grand Park is located in Downtown Los Angeles // open from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. veey day.
