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Summer To-Do In Santa Monica Downtown & Third Street Promenade

Celebrate the last days of Summer with free salsa classes, outdoor comedy shows, live music or some quality time lounging in new outdoor seating options on Third Street Promenade in Downtown Santa Monica. Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. 

santa monica events

(DTSM) in partnership with local organizations, bands, and instructors, will host two months of free community programming and activations on The Experiment Stage at Third Street Promenade beginning August 11 through September 30 of this year. All events are free and open to the public.

DTSM, Inc. continues to curate innovative programming by introducing new elements to serve the next generation of residents and visitors amid the ever-evolving retail environment of Third Street Promenade. First introduced in September 2018, "The Experiment" is Downtown Santa Monica's public space laboratory comprised of interactive seating and live entertainment elements created to test public enjoyment and gather feedback to shape the direction of Promenade 3.0, the project behind a  reimagined design for the Third Street Promenade of the future. 

"The Experiment Stage is just one of the ways we hope everyone is able to enjoy and discover the Third Street Promenade as an active and welcoming community space," said Mackenzie Carter, Director of Marketing & Communications for Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. "The activities offered are for all ages and our goal is to provide increased opportunities for our residents, neighbors and visitors of Santa Monica to come together through engaging programming while helping shape the next generation of the Promenade's legacy."

On Sunday, August 11, The Experiment Stage will officially launch at Third Street Promenade with Shimmy and Salsa Sundays. The Experiment Stage will come alive every day with thematic performances and interactive events spanning group fitness classes, family fun nights, comedy shows, live bands, guest lectures and more. The events will be designed for everyone to enjoy from adults looking for a night out or a family with kids and teens in tow.

The Experiment Stage is located on the Third Street Promenade at Wilshire Blvd., north of Arizona Ave. Programming highlights include:

  • Shimmy and Salsa Sundays:
    Get ready to exercise like never before with Dane Sorensen, a former figure skater, gymnast, dancer and certified pilates instructor whose high-energy classes are loaded with good music and lots of laughs. 
    Sundays, 12 – 1 pm

    Ignite the evening with Salsa Familia for a night of dancing under the stars on the Third Street Promenade.
    Sundays, Instruction 4 – 6 pm I Dancing 6 pm
     

  • Kid Fit: 
    Enjoy memory-making fun with your favorite little one at this free exercise series for parents and their kids. 
    Mondays, 1 – 2 pm 
    (No class on Labor Day)

     
  • Trivia Tuesday:
    Test your knowledge of fun facts, pop culture, history, Santa Monica and more! Team up with friends and family for a night of frustrating fun and a chance to win gift cards to local Downtown Santa Monica businesses. 
    Tuesdays, 7 pm
     
  • Work it Wednesdays: 
    Get the extra boost to push over that midweek hump with free fitness classes hosted by local fitness experts. 
    Wednesdays, 6 – 7 pm
     
  • Laugh Out Loud:
    Westside Comedy Theatre presents Mission Improvable, the Westside's best improvisational comedy show. 
    Thursdays, 7 – 8:30 pm
     
  • Fridays with Family:
    Spend Friday nights on the Third Street Promenade with a series of family-friendly events. For event details, visit DowntownSM.com.
     
  • Heard That:
    Enjoy live music from some of the area's hottest bands — funk, rock, bluegrass and other genres.
    Saturdays, 8 pm

All activities are free and open to the public. Programming will rotate daily from August 11 – September 30. Please bike, walk or take public transit. If you must drive, parking is widely available in the downtown structures, however, you may want to try the Santa Monica Public Library or Parking Structures 9 and 10 just north of Wilshire Boulevard as they are usually easier to access. 

For more information and the full schedule of events visit www.downtownsm.com/events-calendar or follow us on social media on FacebookTwitter, or Instagram.

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