Celebrating 100 Years of Pacific Palisades With a Communitywide Picnic

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Another “first” will take place this Sunday at Veterans Gardens—and this time, it has nothing to do with the sport of bocce.

Palisades Bocce Club Founder and President Jimmy Dunne revealed that to celebrate the town’s 100th anniversary, the inaugural Palisades Picnic will take place September 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the courts adjacent to the front entrance at Palisades Recreation Center—an event he shared he hopes becomes a local tradition like the Fourth of July parade, race and fireworks.

The Palisadian-Post will have a booth, and American Legion Ronald Reagan – Palisades Post 283 will hand out water to everyone who attends.

“The 100th anniversary is a huge milestone in our amazing community,” Dunne said. “This town’s greatest strength is its people. Palisadians are what make our town so unique and wonderful. Palisadians beaming with joy, with promise, with happiness. I figured there is enough divisiveness and negativity going on in the world, so let’s throw a party—and what could be a more wonderful place for our Palisades family to celebrate than Veterans Gardens?”

The picnic will feature activities for Palisadians ages 1 to 101, along with a “Taste of the Palisades,” involving local eateries Hank’s, Qué Padre, El Dragón and Sweet Rose Creamery, along with family favorite food trucks Vivace Pizza, Kogi BBQ and The Plant Lab.

“I’d like to give a special shout out to Kristen Chambers who worked so hard to create a fabulous day for everyone in town,” Dunne continued. “And to Jasmine Dowlatshahi, the senior facility director at the Pali Rec Center, who is bringing a whole bunch of games and fun for kids of all ages.”

Festivities will include DJ Golddust, a face-painting booth for children, a balloon maker, arts and crafts, and a range of games, including versions of “musical chairs” for both kids and adults. To top the afternoon off there will be a champion declared in a spirited “balloon toss.”

“Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your classmates, and tell your pals in church and in the synagogue,” Dunne said. “Let’s start a new town tradition that says everything about how lucky we are to live right where we do.”