20,000 ANGELENOS AND VISITORS CELEBRATE
GLORIA MOLINA GRAND PARK’S 4TH OF JULY BLOCK PARTY WITH
NEARLY 700 DRONES DEPICTING THE LOVE FOR L.A.
Plus, a Recently Awarded $100K Grant from Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis
Gives the ‘Park for Everyone’ 100,000 More Reasons to Celebrate
LOS ANGELES (July 8, 2024) – Gloria Molina Grand Park, powered by The Music Center, announced today that 20,000 Angelenos and visitors attended Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party—with the event once again serving as the West Coast’s largest free Fourth of July celebration. A 75-foot-tall Ferris wheel, a 90-foot-long Super Slide and more than three dozen food trucks surpassed spectators’ experiences at the park for everyone.
The highlight of the evening, undoubtedly, was the 12-minute drone show depicted in the night sky high above the crowd. Nearly 700 drones, launched from Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center located directly across the street from the park, formed larger-than-life configurations of images, such as Downtown L.A.’s skyline, palm trees, surfboards, sunsets and the park’s iconic fountain, that elevated L.A.’s global status as a unique arts and cultural destination.
Footage of the drone show may be downloaded here (credit: Will Tee Yang for Gloria Molina Grand Park)
Select event photos may be downloaded here (credit: John McCoy for Gloria Molina Grand Park).
Adding to the thrills and excitement, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis recently awarded $100,000 to Gloria Molina Grand Park in support of this program and future programming and operations. The generous grant, which will keep the park active with community programming, is part of Supervisor Solis’ Community Grant Program, established in 2014, to help develop and support services of non-profit organizations that meet the diverse needs of First District residents in key areas such as the arts, health, immigration and education, among others.
“Since its opening in 2014, Gloria Molina Grand Park has become Los Angeles’ central gathering place and a dynamic cultural and global crossroads, where everyone is welcome: children, families, youth groups, school groups, older adults, daily commuters and tourists,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, who represents the First District. “The park’s free year-round programming, including Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s NYELA and Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos, among other experiences—as well as its role as a welcoming place where Angelenos can peacefully unite in support of social change and greater awareness—fulfills Los Angeles County’s vision for a park for everyone. I congratulate The Music Center and its Gloria Molina Grand Park team for their incredible work and look forward to more amazing programming in the years to come.”
“On behalf of the Gloria Molina Grand Park team and all of The Music Center, I want to express my deep gratitude to Supervisor Solis for her recognition and support of the cultural programming that the park offers, which is enjoyed by more than one million visitors annually,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “We are honored to have the County’s trust to program and operate Gloria Molina Grand Park. This generous funding will enable the park team to continue its exemplary work that uplifts our communities and enriches our souls.”
“Supervisor Solis’ unwavering support has been instrumental in making our park a year-round hub for families across Los Angeles County,” added Robert Gonzalez, director of Gloria Molina Grand Park. “Thanks to her commitment, we can offer high-quality, family-friendly programs that also uplift local artists and small businesses through our initiatives. We are grateful for her partnership and look forward to continuing the cultivation of this vital green space for everyone to enjoy.”
ABOUT GLORIA MOLINA GRAND PARK
A vibrant outdoor gathering place, Gloria Molina Grand Park is a beautiful public park for the entire community in Los Angeles County. With expansive green space for gatherings large and small, Gloria Molina Grand Park celebrates the county’s cultural vitality and is host to community events, cultural experiences, holiday celebrations and many other activities that engage and attract visitors from all communities. The 12-acre Gloria Molina Grand Park, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2022, stretches from The Music Center on the west to City Hall on the east and is easily accessible by Metro via the B/D (formerly Red/Purple) line to the Civic Center/Grand Park station. The park was named one of American Planning Association’s 10 “Great Public Spaces” in the U.S. for 2013. Working closely with the county, The Music Center is responsible for all operations and programming for the park. For more information, visit grandparkla.org. Follow Gloria Molina Grand Park on Instagram, X, Twitch, TikTok, Spotify and Mixcloud (@grandpark_la) as well as YouTube and Facebook (@grandparkLosAngeles).
ABOUT THE MUSIC CENTER
The Music Center convenes artists, communities and ideas with the goal of deepening the cultural lives of every resident in Los Angeles County. Celebrating its 60th year in 2024, the $80 million non-profit performing arts organization has two divisions: TMC Arts and TMC Ops. TMC Arts, The Music Center’s programming engine, provides year-round programming inside The Music Center’s four theatres, on Jerry Moss Plaza, outside at Gloria Molina Grand Park—a 12-acre adjacent green space—in schools and other locations all over Los Angeles County. TMC Arts presents world-class dance with Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center, free and low-cost public concerts and events, as well as live and digital K–12 arts education programs, workshops, performances, interactive experiences and special events. TMC Ops manages the theatres, the Plaza and Gloria Molina Grand Park, which comprise $3 billion in county assets, on behalf of the County of Los Angeles. The Music Center is also home to four renowned resident companies—Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles Master Chorale, LA Opera and LA Phil. For more information, visit musiccenter.org. Follow The Music Center on social media @MusicCenterLA.
