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Santa Monica’s 150th Birthday
Published on July 14, 2025
Join us in celebrating the momentous occasion that is Santa Monica’s 150th Birthday.
July 14, 1875 marks the date when the town of Santa Monica was first mapped out and the initial plots of land were sold.
To commemorate Santa Monica’s 150th anniversary, the community is coming together from July through December 2025 to reflect on our shared history, honor achievements and share our stories.
Santa Monica’s annual State of the City event returns with a twist on Thursday, July 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. Putting a new spin on the State of the City tradition, the evening will start with an opening reception inside the beautifully revived Miles Memorial Playhouse, offering light refreshments, city information displays and a chance to meet and connect with Mayor Lana Negrete and incoming City Manager Oliver Chi.
The reception will be followed by live performances in the park, tours of the Miles Memorial Playhouse, a beer garden by Santa Monica Brew Works, interactive city department booths across Reed Park including a prize wheel, a succulent giveaway, police officers on horseback, a fire truck and more. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or beach chairs and a picnic to enjoy during the performances.
The State of the City is just the start of the celebrations. A vibrant lineup of free, family-friendly park events happening throughout the city is set for July through Oct. 2025 and will feature live performances, cultural experiences and creative programming, all at no cost to the public.
The upcoming season brings together new and beloved favorites in refreshed formats, offering residents and visitors opportunities to gather, explore and celebrate the best of Santa Monica’s public spaces:
- Gather & Grow – this biweekly series at Christine Emerson Reed Park invites families to enjoy hands-on artmaking, live music and interactive performances on select Saturdays July through Oct.:
- Endless Summer C.A.M.P (Community | Art | Music | Picnic) – this festive afternoon in Tongva Park on Aug. 23 produced in partnership with Community Arts Resources (CARS) brings together a variety of music, dance and performance from all around Los Angeles in one of Santa Monica’s most iconic green spaces.
- Americana in the Park – in partnership with McCabe’s Guitar Shop, this musical afternoon on Sept. 21 in Gandara Park celebrates Americana music from traditional roots, blues, jazz and folk to its modern forms.
- Vamos Al Parque – a lively cultural activation in Palisades Park produced in partnership with Go As If Productions, this family-focused event on Oct. 12 highlights Indigenous and Latinx heritage with music, dance and art installations near the historic Camera Obscura.
This anniversary is not just a reflection on where the City has been, but a launchpad for imagining what comes next. For more information on upcoming celebrations, visit the City of Santa Monica’s website here.