May 23, 2023 Downtown L.A. 's Largest Free Fourth of July Celebration Returns With Hundreds of Drones and An Homage to Hip-Hop Music's 50th Anniversary

Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party Aims for the Stars in High-Tech Fashion with Spectacular 3-D Drone Show; Music Headliners Bahamadia, Cut Chemist and Chali 2na; Live DJ Sets; Two Stages of Entertainment; Augmented Reality-Filled Digital Playground

LOS ANGELES (May 23, 2023)—Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4^th of July Block Party 3-D drone show!

Gloria Molina Grand Park, powered by The Music Center, is reinventing Downtown L.A.’s largest free Fourth of July celebration. For the first time in the park’s 10-year history, an incredible drone show—not traditional fireworks—will light up the night sky. The high-tech display will be comprised of 500 remote-controlled drones programmed to form larger-than-life 3-D representations flying above The Music Center, located directly across the street from the park. Provided by Grizzly Entertainment, the dynamic 12-minute drone show will be orchestrated to a special playlist of Hip-Hop music curated by The Beat Junkies’ co-founder DJ J Rocc as an homage to the revolutionary music genre’s 50^th anniversary and its powerful influence on the park’s many community partners, including L.A.-based performers, collectives and organizations.

“The dedicated staff of Gloria Molina Grand Park and The Music Center are forward-thinkers who continually strive to create fun, unique and unforgettable experiences for Angelenos and visitors of all ages, and Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4^th of July Block Party is a prime example,” said Rachel S. Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center. “A spectacular drone show is going to elevate the legacy of Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4^th of July Block Party and set it apart from all other celebrations in the county. Join us this 4^th of July at Gloria Molina Grand Park as we create buzz, literally, with hundreds of drones and light up Downtown L.A.’s night sky like never before—it will leave all of us in awe!”

L.A.’s ultimate July 4^th neighborhood party will be spread across the six city blocks that comprise Gloria Molina Grand Park. Attendees are welcome to bring a picnic or enjoy a variety of delectable food and snack options for purchase from L.A.’s favorite gourmet food trucks, including tacos, barbecue, burgers, vegan, desserts and more. Alcohol is not permitted in the park and will not be sold at the event. For a complete list of Gloria Molina Grand Park’s prohibited items and activities, visit grandparkla.org.

Gates to Gloria Molina Grand Park open at 4:00 p.m. Attendees may access the park’s grounds through four specially marked entrances:
 

• Olive and 1^st Streets
• Hill and Temple Streets
• Main and 1^st Streets
• Hill and 1^st Streets
   

“On the heels of the park’s momentous 10^th anniversary in 2022, Gloria Molina Grand Park is excited to celebrate another milestone: the 50^th anniversary of Hip-Hop. The park is proud to acknowledge Hip-Hop’s deep influence on the many artists, performances and experiences that The Music Center’s park team has curated over the past decade. It will be an honor to show our appreciation of all that Hip-Hop has contributed to L.A.’s music scene and culture,” said Robert Gonzalez, newly appointed director of Gloria Molina Grand Park. “As we look forward to the park’s next 10 years, we are paving the way to a new era of signature events at the park for everyone. The park, as always, will be the best place in L.A. to celebrate July 4^th with amazing music, top entertainment, food, friends and family. Our 3-D drone show will be icing on the cake!”

The nearly six-hour festivity geared for the whole family—and their four-legged friends—includes music performances on two stages showcasing L.A.’s global and diverse sounds. The lineup for the Backyard Stage (the park’s lawn next to City Hall, between Broadway and Spring Street) includes DJ Ethos; a talented cohort of local youth musicians known as The Harmony Project; dance troupe The GR818ers; and triple headliners: legendary Hip-Hop artist Bahamadia and famed DJ Cut Chemist with rapper Chali 2na. Backyard Stage host Maya Jupiter presents ARTIVISTA, featuring Medusa, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Jessa Calderon, who are planning a few surprises related to Hip-Hop’s 50^th anniversary!

Not to be outdone, the Front Yard Stage (the park’s Performance Lawn between Grand Avenue and Hill Street) will feature some of L.A.’s most popular DJs—The Beat Junkies, Institute of Sound and The Ladies of Sound—turning up the bass all night long.

Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party 2023 Line Up*
 

• THE BACKYARD STAGE (Block 4 – Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Event Lawn next to City Hall, between Broadway and Spring Street)
  
  4:00 – 4:10 p.m.:         Maya Jupiter (Host)
  4:10 – 4:25 p.m.:         DJ Ethos
  4:25 – 5:10 p.m.:         The Harmony Project
  5:30 – 5:50 p.m.:         The GR818ers
  6:10 – 7:00 p.m.:         Maya Jupiter presents ARTIVISTA featuring Medusa, Georgia Anne Muldrow and Jessa Calderon
  7:15 – 8:00 p.m.:         Bahamadia
  8:15 – 9:00 p.m.:         Cut Chemist + Chali 2na
  9:00 – 9:12 p.m.:         Spectacular drone light show with live Hip-Hop playlist curated by DJ J Rocc of The Beat Junkies
  9:12 – 9:30 p.m.:         DJ Ethos
   
• THE FRONT YARD STAGE (Block 2 – Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Performance Lawn between Grand Avenue and Hill Street)
  
  4:00 – 9:30 p.m.:         The Beat Junkies presents a celebration of the past, present and future of L.A.’s DJ culture featuring
                                          the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound, The Ladies of Sound and special guests.
   

* All artists and set times subject to change.

As an added attraction to Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4^th of July Block Party celebration, the park will showcase a digital playground for children and families to explore digital and Augmented Reality (AR) experiences, arts, crafts and games. The digital playground will feature EYEJACK, an art and technology company that loves to bring people together in playful ways by exploring interactive digital arts experiences for all ages. EYEJACK is presented in collaboration with The Music Center’s Digital Innovation Initiative.

The dynamic 3-D drone show will be accompanied by a live playlist curated by The Beat Junkies’ founder DJ J Rocc and will showcase Gloria Molina Grand Park’s yearlong theme—“Reflections”—acknowledging Angelenos’ inner strength and power as the community moves toward the future. The drone experience is provided by Grizzly Entertainment.

Public parking will be available at The Music Center garage (135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles 90012) and the Walt Disney Concert Hall garage (111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles 90012) at a flat rate of $10 per vehicle. Additional parking lots near Gloria Molina Grand Park will be available. However, given the large number of guests expected at the event, members of the public are highly encouraged to take public transportation. Gloria Molina Grand Park is located conveniently at the Civic Center/Grand Park station along the Metro B Line (Red) and Metro D Line (Purple).

For the latest information, visit grandparkla.org and follow Gloria Molina Grand Park on social media (Facebook: @GrandParkLosAngeles; Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @GrandPark_LA).

CALENDAR LISTING

WHAT:
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4^th of July Block Party
Downtown L.A.’s largest free Fourth of July celebration is reinvented! For the first time in Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 10-year history, an incredible drone show—not traditional fireworks—will light up the night sky. The dynamic and pet-friendly 12-minute drone show will fly above The Music Center and be orchestrated to a specially curated playlist of Hip-Hop music as an homage to the revolutionary music genre’s 50^th anniversary. Legendary Hip-Hop artist Bahamadia and famed DJ Cut Chemist with rapper Chali 2na are this year’s headliners. Food trucks, a Snack Alley, as well as an Augmented Reality-filled digital playground, will be available for everyone to enjoy.

WHEN:
Tuesday, July 4, 2023
4:00 – 9:30 p.m.

Gates open: 4:00 p.m.
Drone show: 9:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Gloria Molina Grand Park
200 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles 90012

For a complete list of Gloria Molina Grand Park’s prohibited items and activities, visit grandparkla.org.

TRANSPORTATION:

Public parking will be available at two locations for $10 per vehicle:

The Music Center garage        Walt Disney Concert Hall garage
135 N. Grand Ave.                   111 S. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles 90012                  Los Angeles 90012

Additional parking lots near Gloria Molina Grand Park will be available.

Given the large number of attendees expected, the public is highly encouraged to take public transportation. Gloria Molina Grand Park is located conveniently at the Civic Center/Grand Park station along the Metro B Line (Red) and Metro D Line (Purple).


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 10^th 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, Twitter, 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. The $70 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 and on a digital platform called The Music Center Offstage. 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 $2 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 Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @MusicCenterLA.

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