City of Pasadena Advances to Public Voting Phase for a Free Outdoor Music Series Funded by Multi-Year Grant Up to $120,000

[Link] Pasadena, CA - The City of Pasadena Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (PRCS), in collaboration Pasadena Recreation and Parks Foundation (PRPF) is competing to bring a vibrant, free outdoor music series to Pasadena beginning in 2026. This exciting opportunity is made possible through the Levitt Foundation, a national leader in using music and public spaces to strengthen communities. The foundation funds the largest free outdoor concert series in the U.S., and Pasadena is now in the running to become one of its next host cities through the Levitt Music Series Grant. To make this dream a reality, community support is essential. Residents are encouraged to cast their vote for PRPF's proposal during the public voting period, Friday, September 5 through Monday, Septermber 15, 2025, either online at Levitt.org/Vote or via text-to-vote at (877) 409-5525 with keyword PASADENA.

Levitt Music Series Grants are an exciting, multi-year matching grant created by the Levitt Foundation to bring the joy of free outdoor concerts to towns and cities across the country. For the 2026-2028 grant cycle, the Levitt Foundation will award U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits up to $120,000 over three years (up to $40,000 per year), to produce their own Levitt Music Series. Seven to ten free outdoor concerts annually featuring a diverse lineup of music genres with professional musicians, activating an underused public space, creating a vibrant, inclusive community destination for people of all ages and backgrounds.

PRPF submitted the proposal for the City of Pasadena to present the free music series in Memorial Park. The City of Pasadena's proposal is now posted on the Levitt Foundation website, where the public can vote and learn more about the proposals from across the country that have advanced to the voting phase. An individual may submit one vote for up to five proposals of their choosing.

Reflecting the Levitt Foundation's mission that all Levitt projects are community-driven, the public voting phase of the Levitt Music Series Grants selection process is an important way to measure community support. The number of online and text votes received for the City of Pasadena will be one of the key factors used when the Levitt Foundation determines the grant recipients this November. 50 finalists will be selected through the online and text-to-vote public voting phase. The Levitt Foundation will then review the top proposals to select the Levitt Music Series Grants recipients, which will be announced on November 18, 2025.

"Both PRPF and the City of Pasadena share a commitment to fostering inclusive, accessible, and high-quality public programming that enhances community engagement and celebrates musical diversity. As a past recipient of the Levitt Foundation grant funding, we hope to be able to bring the Levitt Music Series back home to Pasadena and provide free outdoor concerts to both Pasadena residents and neighbors alike," said Koko Panossian, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

PRCS and PRPF asks supporters to spread the word throughout the community to family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors, and rally the community to vote for the City of Pasadena's proposal. Learn more at Levitt.org/Vote.