Monrovia updates Friday night street fair, Station Square farmers market and proposes family festival during summer concerts

City staff and Raw Inspiration on April 1 updated the Monrovia City Council on the Friday night street fair in Old Town, progress and adjustments at the Station Square farmers market, and a proposed family festival to run concurrently with summer concerts at Station Square.

Tina Cherry (city staff) and Melissa Farwell (director of coordination and development, Raw Inspiration) summarized nine years of the Old Town street fair partnership and the second year of the Station Square farmers market. Cherry told the council that the events are operated by Raw Inspiration and “we are getting all the benefit of all these activities, and we're not having to put any of the city general fund money towards these initiatives.”

Planned operational changes and vendor notes - Friday night street fair: Raw Inspiration operates roughly 80 vendors weekly, with a balance of farmers, prepackaged goods, prepared food and crafters. Merchant feedback requested more outreach to Monrovia‑based businesses, more plant/flower vendors, and continued vendor parking away from Old Town’s main pedestrian corridor. The fair will extend hours in May, moving closing from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. - Station Square farmers market relaunch: Staff and Raw Inspiration acknowledged lower attendance at the market launched in 2024 and cited weather and nearby construction as factors. They will relaunch on the coming weekend with revised hours — opening at 8 a.m. and closing at noon — with new vendor additions (prepared foods, pastries, produce and craft vendors) and new market branding and banners. The market accepts EBT. - Family festival proposal: To increase park activation and support summer concerts, staff proposed a family festival at Station Square starting May 25. The operator would run a family‑oriented festival from about 4–9 p.m. while the concert would continue its 7–8:30 p.m. slot. The family festival would add prepared food and children’s activities and be funded and operated by Raw Inspiration; staff described the concept as having no net cost to the city and as a strategy to populate the park, cross‑promote the Saturday market, and reduce loitering.

Community concerns and city response Council members and residents raised parking and shade concerns at Station Square; staff said temporary tents and umbrellas will be used but noted permanent shading remains a longer‑term infrastructure issue. Staff also affirmed safety checks for inflatable amusements (a “watchdog” alarm is required to detect deflation) and described coordination with merchants to reduce sidewalk congestion.

Why it matters City leaders said strengthened events programming supports small businesses, offers low‑cost recreation, and provides channels for displaced vendors following the Eaton Fire; Raw Inspiration absorbed 12 vendors displaced by regional fires into Monrovia’s Friday fair. The farmers market and family festival are part of a wider effort to activate Station Square and support neighborhood services in South Monrovia.

Next steps The farmers market will change to 8 a.m.–noon hours for the relaunch; the Friday night street fair will extend to 10 p.m. in May; staff will distribute new flyers and promote performers and vendors. The city and operator will monitor attendance and vendor participation and report back to council as programming develops.