There’s a lot to love about South Pasadena. One of them certainly has to be the free, day-long celebration of music and art that is the Eclectic Music Festival and Arts Crawl.
Make plans to spend 3-10pm on April 29th in the South Pass Business District for the 13th annual event.
“There’s something for everyone at Eclectic,” said Lori Wheeler, president of the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. “We’ll have 70 musicians on 15 stages, a kids’ zone, shopping, food trucks and beer and wine gardens. This is truly a great opportunity for people from all over Southern California to experience South Pasadena and for our community to come together. The Chamber is especially proud to offer this family-friendly, music-filled day for free to our community.”
Many musicians who will appear on stage are local favorites, including the jazzy Dave Tull Trio, which starts at 3 pm at Mamma’s Pizza, 1007 Fair Oaks Ave. Dave Tull is a drummer who has played with Chuck Mangione and Michael Bublé. South Pasadena’s Cole Gallagher opens the stage at Old Focals at 3:30 p.m. The Hollywood vintage eyewear store is at 1110 Mission St.
Chauncey Bowers with sharp lyrics and “fingers of a madman” performs at the South Pasadena Theater Workshop at 4 p.m., followed by South Pasadenan singer, songwriter and guitarist David Plein at 5 p.m.
The South Pasadena Transit Authority pays tribute to Chicago (the band, not the city) on the Gold Line Stage at 5:30 p.m.
Music, art and commerce intertwine during the festival, with South Pasadena’s shops, galleries and eateries offering visitors pop-up galleries and special performances throughout the day. The festival’s Artisan’s Alley, a curated market with 80 vendors offering unique and handcrafted items, and the South Pas Vintage Village, featuring 25 vintage vendors, give Eclectic patrons more to browse while enjoying the music.
Festival-goers are encouraged to bike, walk or take the Gold Line subway to South Pasadena Station in the heart of the fun. Those arriving by car can park at the Arroyo Golf Course, take the free Artmobile shuttle to Mission Street, or park in one of South Pasadena’s free public parking areas.
The Eclectic is organized and produced by the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, DeepMix Entertainment and the City of South Pasadena.
The event started in a parking lot with a few local bands and a few dozen attendees and has since become a signature event for the city, featuring dozens of diverse local and regional music acts, unique artisans and makers, interactive activities, outdoor galleries, beer and wine gardens, and family fun .
For more information, contact Nichole Clark or Laurie Wheeler at 626-441-2339 or email [email protected].
Click on the map icons for a music schedule and what’s happening at the venues: theeclectic.rocks/event-map/
Updates on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SoPasEclectic. theeclectic.rocks/
Anissa V. Rivera, columnist, Mom’s the Word, Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Whittier Daily News, Azusa Herald, Glendora Press and West Covina Highlander, San Dimas/La Verne Highlander. Southern California News Group, 181 W. Huntington Drive, Suite 209 Monrovia, CA 91016. 626-497-4869.