626 Golden Streets Returns | Take to the Streets With Your Wheels of Choice May 19!

Dust off those bicycles and get ready to roll because, as South Pasadena City Council member Michael Cacciotti reminded residents during last week’s council meeting, the 626 Golden Streets is back!

PHOTO: City of South Pasadena | SouthPasadenan.com News | Gabe the Sasquatch, the official spokesperson for the event, was back in town Wednesday night, this time to promote the next 626 Golden Streets, a five-mile effort scheduled for Sunday, May 19, from South Pasadena through parts of Alhambra to the San Gabriel Mission.

Sunday!

The event, linking three cities, is slated from 9 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, is not only limited to cyclists, as participants will also have an opportunity to walk, run, skate, scoot, dance and play along five miles of car-free open streets from South Pasadena’s launching point on Mission Street near the local Gold Line station to the San Gabriel Mission – appropriately giving the event the nickname “Mission to Mission.”

Going the distance or five miles, participants will move east on Mission Street in the city, past Fremont Avenue, Fair Oaks Avenue, and Garfield Park, before heading south on Marengo Avenue, past Monterey Road and Huntington Drive. They will then go east on Alhambra Road, south on Olive Street, take a quick jog over to 5th Street, continuing into Alhambra, east along Las Tunas and south on Mission Drive into San Gabriel to their the final destination.

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PHOTO: Bill Glazier | SouthPasadenan.com News | South Pasadena City Council member Diana Mahmud holds up a 626 Golden Streets t-shirt to help spread the word the big event, slated from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will start in South Pasadena on May 19. Participants will have an opportunity to bicycle, walk, run, skate, scoot, dance and play along five miles of car-free open streets

“It’s going to be fun and we want everyone out there to enjoy a great day,” said Cacciotti, noting that people can start and finish “anywhere they want” along the 5-mile route. Streets will be closed to vehicles throughout the family-friendly event.

Three activity zones providing live music, free fitness and dance classes, pop-up art installations, food, kids play zones and more will be featured at various points along the way.

PHOTO: City of South Pasadena | SouthPasadenan.com News | Gabe the Sasquatch, the official spokesperson for the event,  came to town to promote 626 Golden Streets, a five-mile effort scheduled for Sunday, May 19, from South Pasadena through parts of Alhambra to the San Gabriel Mission.

Each activity zone will feature a variety of attractions to see and do for participants of all ages, including:

  • Live performers, artists, and entertainment.
  • Inflatable obstacle courses, climbing walls, and games.
  • Arts activities, chalk artists, and crafts
  • Vendors and exhibitors.
  • Electric bike/scooter/car demos.
  • City sticker challenge: collect a free city sticker (while supplies last) in each hub a person visits.
PHOTO: Bill Glazier | SouthPasadenan.com News | South Pasadena City Council member Michael Cacciotti talks about the importance of everyone coming out for the 626 Golden Streets event on Sunday, May 19. With a 626 Golden Street t-shirt draped around his next, Cacciotti encouraged everyone to grab a bike and enjoy the fun. Participants can also run, walk, skate, scoot, dance and play along the 5-mile, car-free route

An opening ceremony to celebrate the first ciclovia event featuring the cities of Alhambra, San Gabriel, and South Pasadena will be held at on Mission Street, near the city’s Gold Line Metro station. The event, kicking off at 8:30 a.m., will include special guests, exclusive giveaways, a free bike raffle, 5k Run, and live performances.

Dignitaries at the ceremony will include South Pasadena Mayor Dr. Marina Khubesrian, City of Alhambra Mayor Adele Andrade Stadler, City of San Gabriel Mayor Jason Pu, Metro Board Director John Fasana, Assembly Member (41st District) Chris Holden, South Coast Air Quality Management District Board Member and South Pasadena City Council member Michael Cacciotti, Mayor of the San Gabriel Mountains Gabe the Sasquatch and Active SGV Executive Director David Diaz.

In March 2017, more than 100,000 people came out to enjoy the 626 Golden Streets featuring an 18-mile route through South Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa.

After more than a two-year hiatus the 626 Golden Streets is returning in 2019!

It’s not a race as there are no medals or awards – only miles of smiles on open streets.

“The best part, it’s free!” exclaimed Cacciotti. “People really do have a good time. It should be a really fun event for people to get out and exercise.”