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City presents first-half 2025 special-events calendar; Townsquare Park reservations expanding
Summary
City staff outlined a first-half 2025 calendar of city and third‑party events, and said Townsquare Park is now accepting reservations under a city council–approved framework that limits vetted users and schedules around municipal events.
City staff on Jan. 16 outlined the Parks and Recreation Department’s special events calendar for the first half of 2025 and described reservation rules for Townsquare Park and the amphitheater.
Laura Frosso told commissioners the city’s lineup includes an Eggstravaganza and Rec Expo on April 19; a Memorial Day ceremony on May 26; a Father’s Day car show on June 14; and a 34th birthday bash on June 28. Saturdays in July are scheduled for the concerts-in-the-park series. Frosso also listed third‑party and downtown events that will use Townsquare Park: Taste of Soul and Black Business Expo (Feb. 1), a hazardous household waste event (Feb. 15), the 20th anniversary Torte Marietta festival (April 5–6), the Firefighters Barbecue (April 12), a tentative Holocaust Memorial groundbreaking (April 27, date to be confirmed), Lily Kelly Ministries 5K (May 3) and the County of Riverside’s 1 Life, 1 Heart 5K (June 7).
Frosso said Newman Hospitality Group intends to hold a Blues & Jazz Festival (tentatively March 29–30) and an Old Town Music Festival (tentatively May 17–18) at Townsquare Park. She reported the Taste of Soul event has grown to about 70 vendors and required moving from the community center to Townsquare Park.
Frosso reminded commissioners of a framework approved by the city council on April 4, 2023, that allows certain vetted groups to reserve the amphitheater or park for a limited number of uses per year; city and city-sponsored events remain fee‑exempt. Staff said reservations are accepted on a case‑by‑case basis and that event scheduling must be coordinated around existing city commitments.
Commissioners asked about fee schedules for nonprofits and schools. Frosso said there is a sliding scale and weekday discounts but she did not have the printed fee schedule at the meeting. Staff said they would follow up with an itemized fee schedule if commissioners want formal review.
Frosso and staff also described ongoing coordination with community partners seeking to use the amphitheater — for example, a school-district kickoff for transitional kindergarten — and said staff will continue to balance community demand with the city’s own event calendar.
