In 1876, a general store and post office opened at the corner of Colorado and Fair Oaks, and the street then known as Colorado Street began turning into Pasadena's commercial center. Fifty years later, in 1926, that same street became part of U.S. Route 66, which put Pasadena's main street on the road that carried travelers west. In 2026 both anniversaries fall in the same year: the boulevard turns 150 and Route 66 turns 100.
On Sunday, November 15, from 9am to 3pm, the street gets the kind of celebration that suits a road. CicLAvia is closing a 2.7-mile route, covering Colorado Boulevard and a stretch of Raymond Avenue, so people can walk, bike, skate and roll down the center line. The route runs along the oldest part of the boulevard, and its layout links the other anniversary events planned for this fall.
Eleven years since the last one
The last CicLAvia in Pasadena was held on May 31, 2015. That route was 3.5 miles along Colorado Boulevard, with side legs up Raymond Avenue and Lake Street toward parks. This year's route is shorter and more compact. It covers Colorado Boulevard from Pasadena Avenue to Allen Avenue, plus Raymond Avenue from Pacific Alley to East Dayton Street. According to the City of Pasadena's announcement, the route passes through Old Pasadena, Playhouse Village and South Lake Avenue and connects Metro's Memorial Park and Del Mar stations.
CicLAvia's executive director, Romel Pascual, tied the event to the anniversaries in that same city release: "It's been 11 years since CicLAvia held a Pasadena event, and we are thrilled to be returning." He also pointed out that Colorado Boulevard "is celebrating its 150th Anniversary, and is part of Route 66 which is celebrating its centennial this year."
There are two activity hubs, one at each end of the main stretch. The Memorial Park Hub is at 145 N. Raymond Ave., and the Colorado Hub is at 1778 E. Colorado Blvd. Both hubs have water refill stations, restrooms, first aid, basic bike repair, bike parking and places to sit. Each hub's information booth also offers free pedicab rides. CicLAvia hasn't posted the hub activity lineup yet, so check the event page the week before.
The route, read west to east
Walking the route from west to east roughly follows the street's history in order.
Old Pasadena. The boulevard's 1876 starting point at Fair Oaks is in this section. Two newer restaurants are on the route here. Tierra Caliente soft-opened at 115 E. Colorado Blvd. on July 24. Milk Brew, at 263 E. Colorado Blvd., held its grand opening the weekend of August 1 and 2 and serves coffee steeped in milk overnight, according to Pasadena Now. Three of the six business specials CicLAvia lists are in Old Pasadena's alleys and side streets:
- The Bar Method, 32 Mills Place: a free class
- Bokãos Aveda, 52 Hugus Alley: a free consultation or styling and 15% off, plus a drawing for a $1,000 extensions makeover
- Jenette Bras, 18 E. Holly St.: $50 gift certificates for the first 10 attendees and 15% off sports garments
The Raymond Avenue spur. This leg runs north to the Memorial Park Hub, next to the A Line station of the same name, and south toward Dayton Street.
Playhouse Village. Heading east, the route passes through the Playhouse District. It includes Pasadena Playhouse, Boston Court Pasadena, USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Southern California Children's Museum, Vroman's Bookstore and The Ice House Comedy Club. The Playhouse Village Association describes Vroman's as the oldest independent bookstore in Southern California and The Ice House as the nation's oldest operating comedy club. Carbon Health, at 600 E. Colorado Blvd., Suite 120, plans to hand out water and Liquid IV, offer first aid and give priority to walk-in care. If you want to plan a return visit to the district, our fall arts calendar covers the Playhouse season.
East Colorado to Allen. Strong Sports Gym, at 985 E. Colorado Blvd., will keep its store open and offer mini lessons. Tea Spots, at 1443 Colorado Blvd., is offering Pasadena residents 10% off. The Colorado Hub is at the eastern end of the route.
Back in September, Pasadena Now reported that businesses were invited to stay open, move activities outdoors and post specials, and that the Old Pasadena Management District and the Playhouse Village Association supported the event. Businesses can submit specials through Thursday, November 12, so the list above may grow before Sunday.
The two Slow Streets extend the route
The city is also setting up two "Slow Streets," which are pop-up bike lanes separated from regular traffic with cones and signs. Cars still use these streets.
The west Slow Street runs one mile along Walnut Avenue from Raymond Avenue to Orange Grove Boulevard, then continues to Rosemont Avenue, a few blocks from the Rose Bowl. On the way it passes the Pasadena Museum of History at 470 W. Walnut St. The museum's current exhibition, "Where History Meets the Road: Celebrating Route 66 & Colorado Boulevard," runs through January 24, 2027. Since you can bike to it on a protected lane during the car-free day, the exhibit works as an add-on to the ride.
The east Slow Street runs one mile along Colorado Boulevard from Allen Avenue to San Gabriel Boulevard, linking the end of the route to the Lamanda Park neighborhood.
Make it a two-day weekend, starting Saturday at Central Park
The Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair takes over Old Pasadena's Central Park, at 275 S. Raymond Ave., on Saturday and Sunday, November 14 and 15, from 10am to 4pm. Admission is free. Old Pasadena says the fair features more than 200 hand-selected local artisans, along with food and live music from local musicians. The Old Pasadena event page points out the overlap with CicLAvia on Sunday and invites visitors to enjoy both.
One way to split the weekend is to shop Jackalope on Saturday while the streets are still open to cars, then come back Sunday for the route. Both events are within easy walking distance of Del Mar Station.
The anniversary dates line up with this weekend as well. Old Pasadena lists Route 66's centennial birthday as Wednesday, November 11, four days before the ride. After that, the Old Pasadena Holiday Shopping & Food Walking Tour by Melting Pot Food Tours, which also celebrates the Route 66 centennial, runs from November 24, 2026, through January 9, 2027.
The Sunday clock
Closure times start well before the event does, which matters most if you live or park on the route.
| Time on Sunday, Nov. 15 | What happens |
|---|---|
| 4am | No parking on the route; towing is enforced |
| As early as 6am | Streets near the activity hubs may close |
| 7am | The full route closes to cars |
| 9am | CicLAvia opens |
| 3pm | CicLAvia ends; towed vehicles must be picked up by this time |
| About 5pm | Streets fully reopen to cars |
Towed cars go to the Pasadena Police Department at 207 Garfield Ave. Any car not picked up by 3pm on event day is impounded. On the Slow Street segments, parking restrictions also run from 4am to 5pm. CicLAvia says people who live or work on the route may be reimbursed up to $20 per vehicle for parking costs from 8pm Saturday through 5pm Sunday by emailing a copy of the receipt to CicLAvia within 30 days of the event. Streets next to the route stay open for local access, and cars can cross the route at six intersections marked on CicLAvia's route map. No freeways are closing.
Getting there by train
CicLAvia has no official start or finish line, so you can join or leave at any point. Five A Line stations are within a mile of the route:
- Del Mar Station: less than 0.1 mile
- Memorial Park Station: less than 0.1 mile
- Lake Ave Station: 0.4 mile
- Allen Station: 0.4 mile
- Fillmore Station: 0.8 mile
Only people-powered vehicles are allowed on the route, which rules out electric scooters, electric skateboards, hoverboards and electric unicycles. E-bikes are allowed with conditions. Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes are fine. Class 2 e-bikes must have the throttle off, and Class 3 e-bikes must have pedal assist off. Manual and motorized wheelchairs are welcome. The Pasadena Star-News also ran a preview of the route and closures.
For a full anniversary loop, take the A Line to Del Mar on Sunday morning and walk up Raymond Avenue to the boulevard. Then head west on the Walnut Slow Street to the Pasadena Museum of History before riding east through Playhouse Village to the Colorado Hub at Allen. The event closes at 3pm, and you can be back on the train before the cars return at 5pm.
If you live along the route, the day may also have you wondering what homes near Colorado Boulevard and its A Line stations are worth this fall. Waymon Hobdy can put together a home valuation for your address and walk you through the numbers. Let's Connect.
