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Pico Rivera previews World Spirit Festival: watch parties, open‑streets closures and free family programming
Summary
City staff outlined a two‑day World Spirit Festival featuring FIFA clinics, watch parties with a jumbo screen, Open Streets on Whittier Boulevard, vendor activations, a car show and free Metro shuttles; admission is free and staff posted an interactive map online.
City staff gave council members a detailed briefing on the upcoming World Spirit Festival, a two‑day community event featuring FIFA-sponsored youth clinics, watch parties for international matches, a car show, vendor activations and an Open Streets program that will close sections of Whittier Boulevard and adjacent streets.
Javier, the staff member leading the presentation, said Friday’s activities begin at 4:00 p.m., with the first televised match at 5:00 p.m. and another at 8:00 p.m., and that Saturday’s larger Open Streets footprint will run from 12:00 p.m. and include a closed-vehicle zone on Whittier Boulevard, Passons Boulevard and Mines Avenue. A jumbo screen will be installed on the former Rite Aid parking-lot wall and a watch party will be hosted on the infield at Smith Park’s baseball diamond.
Staff highlighted accommodations and logistics for residents: limited public parking at the library during the festival days, coordinated parking at local school sites for impacted residents, vendor locations along Whittier Boulevard, and additional Metro shuttle service (branded with FIFA World Cup livery) to move people between the festival footprint. Admission to the festival is free; food, beverages and vendor goods will be available for purchase.
Javier said the event website includes an interactive map and a schedule of activities; staff provided the site for public use (city website address corrected below). Councilmembers asked staff for a one‑page fact sheet and layout for distribution to residents; staff agreed to provide that material.
Event details provided by staff: • Friday: programming begins at 4:00 p.m.; watch parties at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; entertainment on the Mines Avenue stage through about 11:00 p.m. • Saturday: Open Streets from roughly 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (with festival activities continuing into the evening at Smith Park until about 11:00 p.m.).
Staff said attendees should expect road closures with limited access for residents on some streets and that the city worked with the school district to provide parking for impacted residents. For planning and route information staff directed residents to the event page (corrected for punctuation and spacing): www.picorivera.org/wsf. Javier also said a community pool groundbreaking is set for July 8 at 3:00 p.m.
What to expect: staff recommended residents consult the interactive map for business activations, watch‑party locations, park access and shuttle times; staff will issue additional advisories regarding closures and transit service ahead of the festival.
