Five Years of Rustic Nights

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

On Saturday, Sept. 15, Rustic Canyon Recreation Center hosted Rockabilly Rustic Night—the fifth annual fundraising event, benefiting the park.

“We had a magical night,” Rustic Canyon Park Advisory Board President Veslemoey Zwart told the Palisadian-Post after the event.

Though the park hosts several community events throughout the year, including a Halloween haunted house in October and Easter egg hunt in spring, Rustic Night is the main fundraiser, raising money each year for restoration projects and improvements in programming and park facilities.

Zwart explained that Rustic Canyon’s goal is to have all of the park refurbishments and improvements completed in the next five years.

“Our goal is to cross the finish line when the building is 100 years old in 2023 and keep the functions of a public park, which is truly a gift to everyone,” Zwart said. “There’s valuable history and roots, as well as a sense of generosity in Rustic Canyon that is very noticeable when you enter.”

Over 130 people attended Rustic Night, with attendees from several generations.

“The thing that everyone noticed coming to Rustic Nights was that the community and park staff and volunteers and extremely fantastic vendors came together to create a magical night,” Zwart shared.

Catering was provided by Angel City Food, Pono Burger and Sweet Rose Creamery, with music by the Johnny Hatton trio and vocalist Rosann Limeres.