by Rina Rien, Director, Casa Grande Main Street
With the opening of the Casa Grande Neon Sign Park, more evening visitors are being attracted to our Downtown Arts and Culture District to enjoy a variety of offerings extending through the summer and into the coming season. Why not time your visit to the sign park with an extended evening of fun at one of our arts and culture venues?
To the west of the neon sign park, the performing arts are well represented by two venues. The Studio of Dance on Sacaton Street provides a foundation for dance and art education for all ages with recitals and dance exhibitions featured. Just across from The Studio is BlackBox Theatre at The Woman’s Club, where community theater comes alive with original plays, musicals and stand-up comedy for a variety of audiences.
The Casa Grande Art Museum and The Museum of Casa Grande both close for the summer but offer special events to keep locals engaged. The Museum of Casa Grande will be open on First Fridays during the summer noon to 4 p.m. with special events.
When you are ready for a cool treat or bite to eat, there are several options within walking distance. On Florence Street, Deadlift Coffee Shop has extended hours into the evening and features gelato, smoothies and specialty coffee drinks. In addition to old favorites like Cook E Jar and the Big House Café, CGQ House at the corner of Florence Boulevard and Florence Street offers a seriously smokin’ version of Southwestern flavored barbecue that has to be experienced to be believed. Just a few blocks away you’ll find Eva’s Fine Mexican Food at the Five Points intersection where summer evenings have a cool mix of bingo and trivia game nights. The ambience can’t be beat at BeDillon’s, just a short walk across Florence Boulevard and one block north of The Museum of Casa Grande.
As we move toward the fall season, The Paramount Theatre and Main Street events will kick off again. Neon Nights will feature neon-themed exhibitions and entertainment in partnership with other venues. The CG Mosaic Festival will be celebrating its second year on Sunday, Nov. 3 with a street festival on Sacaton and specialty performances at The Museum of Casa Grande, Casa Grande Art Museum and the BlackBox Theatre. Sponsored by the Flinn Foundation and Arizona Commission on the Arts, CG Mosaic Festival celebrates our cultural diversity, connecting our community through a shared love of the arts.
Sign up for our text-message service now so you don’t miss the fun. You’ll receive timely announcements on your smartphone for upcoming events with hotlinks that will take you direct to event info and ticket sales. Just text CGMS to 57711. You’ll be prompted to authorize the texting service with a “yes” and receive a confirmation within seconds.
You can also find all the latest information for ongoing downtown events by checking out our website at www.cgmainstreet.org. Click on our Facebook link to stay connected and “like” our page for impromptu announcements.
Casa Grande Main Street is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization advocating downtown revitalization and historic preservation. Visit our website at www.cgmainstreet.org for more information on our mission, memberships and upcoming events.
