The Shakespeare Bridge Turns 100: Parade and Block Party on October 10

The Shakespeare Bridge is one of those places neighbors walk past every week and visitors find by accident. Its little Gothic towers and arches have framed Franklin Avenue since 1926. This October, the people who live around it are throwing it a birthday party, and you are invited.

When and where is the Shakespeare Bridge Centennial?

Saturday, October 10, 2026. The day has three parts:

• 11 a.m.: parade participants line up at Tracy Street and St. George Street.
• Noon: the parade steps off.
• 1 to 4 p.m.: the Centennial Block Party on the Monon Street cul-de-sac, beneath the bridge.

It is free and open to all. The full details are on the Shakespeare Bridge Centennial site, and it is on our community calendar at Los Feliz Events, where you can add it to your own calendar in one tap.

What is the parade route?

The parade starts at Tracy Street and St. George Street, heads up the hill and turns right onto Franklin Avenue, then makes its grand crossing of the Shakespeare Bridge. From there it turns right on Myra Avenue, right on Holly Knoll Drive, and right at Monon Street to the end of the street, where the block party begins.

If you want a spot along the way, Franklin Avenue between St. George Street and Myra Avenue is where the parade crosses the bridge itself.

Who is in the parade?

The Franklin Hills Residents Association has shared a lineup full of familiar faces:

• vintage cars
• the Marshall High Jazz Band
• the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Highsteppers
• students and families from neighborhood schools
• the Los Feliz library
• neighborhood dogs and the people who walk them

Longtime neighbors Charley and Shirley Mims are part of the parade too. They were married on the Shakespeare Bridge.

What happens at the block party?

From 1 to 4 p.m., the Monon Street cul-de-sac under the bridge becomes a neighborhood party with live music, food, family activities and centennial festivities. It is a rare chance to stand beneath the bridge and look up at the arches with your neighbors around you.

Why is the Shakespeare Bridge special?

The bridge was built in 1926 of concrete, in a Gothic style, and named for William Shakespeare. In 1974 the City of Los Angeles named it Historic-Cultural Monument No. 126. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake it was rebuilt, reopening in 1998 with its deck, sidewalks and railings reconstructed in reinforced concrete so it would stand up to the next quake while keeping its historic look.

For a hundred years it has done exactly what the centennial celebrates: connected the neighborhoods on either side of the canyon.

How do I plan my day?

1. Decide whether you want the parade, the block party, or both.
2. Pick a spot on the route before noon, or head straight to Monon Street for 1 p.m.
3. Plan to arrive on foot if you live close by; the streets around the bridge are narrow, residential and hilly.
4. Add the event to your phone from the Los Feliz Events listing.
5. Check the Shakespeare Bridge Centennial site the week of the event for any updates, volunteer spots, and email sign-ups.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Shakespeare Bridge Centennial?

Saturday, October 10, 2026. The parade steps off at noon and the block party runs from 1 to 4 p.m.

Is the Shakespeare Bridge Centennial free?

Yes. The parade and the block party are free and open to everyone.

Where is the block party?

On the Monon Street cul-de-sac in Franklin Hills, directly beneath the Shakespeare Bridge.

Who is organizing the centennial?

The Franklin Hills Residents Association. Details, volunteer sign-ups and updates are on shakespearebridge.org.

When was the Shakespeare Bridge built?

In 1926. It became Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 126 in 1974 and was rebuilt in 1998 after the Northridge earthquake, keeping its historic look.

Next steps

Looking for more to do this month? Everything happening in Los Feliz and Franklin Hills is on Los Feliz Events, our free community calendar.

Brandon S. Arlington, Realtor®, DRE #01956375. Rooster Homes, DRE #02051216. Event details from the Franklin Hills Residents Association and shakespearebridge.org as of October 2, 2026. Times and plans can change, so check with the organizers before you go.