Only in South LA can you enjoy sunny weather at the beginning of December. CicLAvia—South LA (Leimert Park <—> Historic South Central) was a success thanks to all of our partners, participants, and more importantly, the community of South LA. Our 49th and final event of 2023 began with speeches from Romel Pascual (CicLAvia Executive Director), Laura Rubio-Cornejo (LADOT General Manager), and Frank Ching (Deputy Executive Officer, LA Metro). Romel gave thanks for all the support saying the 2023 CicLAvia season was, “Very ambitious, very magical, and very successful.”
There was plenty to see and do along the route. Amid eye-catching murals, folks dressed up for the holidays, furry friends hanging out alongside their owners, and homemade bbq, life was thriving on the streets of South Los Angeles.
The LA Skate Hunnies brought the holiday spirit with a performance to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and promoted their upcoming skating events around Los Angeles.
Did you complete the scavenger hunt? Our friends at Los Angeles Conservancy designed an interactive scavenger hunt for CicLAvia participants to explore the history surrounding your ride, walk, run, or stroll through historic South L.A. neighborhoods. Those who completed the activity received a special gift. Locations included the 27th St. Bakery, Leimert Park Plaza, Lincoln Theatre, Sika, and more!
The Cultural Treasures of South LA booth brought tunes, musical performances, and spoken word from many local and talented artists such as DJ Don Thomas, Project Knucklehead, the Anansi Writers Workshop, and more. Their booth also had a large map of South LA where attendees were able to label and share their own cultural treasures in the area.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory booth gave us insight into the tough driving conditions on Mars and the Moon with their wheel designs and prototypes.
Special thanks to the rest of our partners: ACLU Southern California, SoCal Edison International, Gatorade, Health Net, KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles, LA Care Health Plan, and Lucas Museum of Narrative Art for coming out and showing support for open streets in Los Angeles!
Thank you to Wells Fargo, Topo Chico, the Dulanville Food Truck, and John C. Argue Swim Stadium for providing such a great space for our CicLAvia Street Stars to enjoy a Friends of CicLAvia Lunch. What is a Friends of CicLAvia Lunch? These are special gatherings for CicLAvia Street Stars, our monthly donors. Start your monthly donations so that you are invited in 2024!
HUGE thanks to Ride On! Bike Shop / Co-Op, Los Angeles Bicycle Academy, and East Side Riders Bike Club for keeping the wheels turning by offering bike repair services throughout the route.
As a non-profit organization, CicLAvia events are made possible by the incredible support from people like you. Your generosity ensures we can provide new memorable celebrations in the upcoming year. Click here to make a one-time tax-deductible donation or learn more about the perks of becoming a CicLAvia Street Star. Cheers to an even brighter 2024!
Many thanks to all of our amazing volunteers and those from the California Conservation Corps (CCC) who helped bring the streets of Los Angeles to life, kept us safe at intersections, and for providing hydration for us! Interested in volunteering at a future event? Click here for more information!
As we exit 2023, we can't wait to see you next year. Be sure to join our mailing list so you can be first in getting all the details (routes, maps, dates, and more) and never miss a CicLAvia Sunday in 2024!
Curious about what else the event had? See the full list of activations and community partners here.
Say cheese! Did you enjoy these photos? There are plenty more to see in our Flickr album!
Photos by: Sandy Altamirano, Jon Endow, Kristian Ranker, Farah Sosa, and Snap Yourself!