Expo's opening celebration includes free rides along the length of the line to encourage exploration of the new system and several stations are hosting daylong parties on Saturday, May 21.
Station celebrations will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Downtown Santa Monica, 17th St/SMC, 26th St/Bergamot, Expo/Bundy and Palms. The Culver City station, open since 2011, will be joining the celebrations as well. Entertainment, children's activities, food trucks, bike valet and bike pit stops, and information booths are among the activities.
STATION CELEBRATIONS
26TH ST/BERGAMOT
With the opening of the Expo Line, this early railroad station (1875 - 1953) turned arts destination, is now home to both. Disembark here to explore live music, entertainment and all the new ways to get around town. In tandem, Bergamot Station Arts Center celebrates the arrival of the Expo Line with their own open house, EXPO-SÉ, featuring galleries, food trucks and live music.
- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Rogue Artists Ensemble - Interactive Puppets & Photo Booth
- 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Community Engagement Arts Project with Sarah Renae Barnard
ON STAGE
- 10 - 11 a.m. Masanga Marimba - Zimbabwean & Latin American Music
- 11 - 11:30 a.m. Bergamot Station Arts Center Ribbon Cutting
- 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Masanga Marimba
- 12 - 12:45 p.m. Dublab DJ - Guest DJ from Dublab's Online Radio Station
- 12:45 - 1:30 p.m. Dustbowl Revival - American Roots Orchestra
- 1:30 - 2:15 p.m. Dublab DJ
- 2:15 - 3 p.m. Dustbowl Revival
- 3 - 4 p.m. Dublab DJ
17TH ST/SMC STATION
This station is at the doorstep of the 18th Street Arts Center and Highways Performance Space & Gallery, and within walking distance to Santa Monica College, a leading community college and home to KCRW. Festivities at this station include live music, entertainment, food trucks and information on ways of getting to, from and around Santa Monica by rail, bus, bikeshare, car share and more.
- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Captain Tall Tale - Stilt Walker
- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Food trucks
- 12 - 3 p.m. Michelle Berne - Giant Puppets
ON STAGE
- 10 - 10:45 a.m. Hot Club of Los Angeles - Gypsy Jazz/Swing/French Caberet
- 10:45 - 11:30 a.m. Sweetbeats - Music Truck with DJ
- 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Hot Club of Los Angeles
- 12:15 - 1 p.m. Sweetbeats DJ
- 1 - 1:45 p.m. FLACO - Salsa and Latin Music
- 1:45 - 2:30 p.m. Sweetbeats DJ
- 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. FLACO
- 3:15 - 4 p.m. Sweetbeats DJ
DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA
Walk to the beach, 3rd Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place, stroll in Tongva Park, ride a roller coaster on the Santa Monica Pier and shop and eat along Main Street. Celebration activities include live music, entertainment and information about all of the exciting new ways to get to and around Santa Monica.
Activities along the Colorado Esplanade & in the Kiss And Ride Lot (adjacent to the DTSM Station).
ON STAGE
- 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Have More Fun Stringband - Old Time & Early Bluegrass
- 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Petrojvic Blasting Company - Southeastern European/Romanian Brass Band
- 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. One Grain of Sand Puppet Theater - Giant Puppets
- 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Stilt Circus - Stilt Walkers
- 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Critical Brass - New Orleans Second Line Mashup Band
- 1 - 4 p.m. Mariachi Los Dorados de Villa - 5-Piece Traditional Mariachi Group
BUSINESS SPECIALS
DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA STATION
(4th/Colorado)
- Arthur Murray Dance Center of Santa Monica - 928 Broadway Blvd. - Two Personal Sessions, One Group Class, One Dance Party for $45, expires June 10.
- Boba Lab - 711 Pico Blvd. - Receive a reusable beverage tumbler with any purchase; BOGO on Waffilicious Waffles or Waba Dogs from 2-5 p.m.
- Border Grill - 1445 4th St. - Show your TAP card: Purchase a margarita or specialty cocktail AND get a Border Bite for free.
- Cricket Wireless - 815 Pico Blvd. - 30 percent off purchase of $45 or more on accessories.
- Fresh Healthy Cafe - 395 SM Place #382 - 10 percent off when you present your Metro Tap or Breeze Bike card.
- GIANT SM - 2411 Main St. - 10 -15 percent off MSRP on select bikes and accessories; free Bike Safety Checks; free $40 Helmet w/ $400 Bike Purchase.
- Gift and Souvenirs - 1541 Ocean Ave. - 10 percent off regular price item (excl. tobacco)
- Haunted SM Ghost Tours - 1045 Third St # 104 - 15 percent off two hour walking ghost tour.
- hip'tique - 2727 Main St. - Show us your current day light rail pass and receive 15 percent off your full price purchases
- Lids - 1413-B Third St. - Free Lids Club membership w/ $35 plus purchase between May 20 - 30. Lids Club members receive discounts all year long.
- Naam Yoga - 1231 4th St. - Free yoga class for participants on May 21-22 when you mention “EXPO Grand Opening.”
- Playland Arcade - 350 SM Pier - Double prize point coupons up to 500 points when you mention “EXPO Grand Opening.”
- REI - 402 SM Blvd. - 10th Anniversary Celebration w/ huge savings throughout the store, including a 20 percent coupon for REI co-op members.
- Rusty's Surf Ranch - 256 SM Pier - two for one Cali Tacos - choice of Chipotle Shrimp or Carnitas Pork. $5 Margaritas.
- SM History Museum - 1350 7th St. - half price admission to anyone who presents a TAP card on Friday, May 20 and Saturday May 21.
- SM Playhouse - 1211 4th St. - two for one ticket specials this weekend to “SNOWHITE” and “CLIMAX,” call the ticket office at (310) 394-9779 ext. 1.
- SM Travel & Tourism - 30 percent off merchandise at the SM Visitor Center locations: 2427 Main St, 1400 Ocean Ave, Third St Promenade (1300 block) and 200 SM Pier.
- Segway LA - 1660 Ocean Ave. - 50 percent off all tours and rentals this weekend. Use discount code “EXPO50” to book online at www.segway.la.
- Sunnin Lebanese Cuisine - 525 SM Blvd. - Free side with purchase of any sandwich or meal. Mention “Expo Grand Opening.”
- Thai Dishes on Broadway - 123 Broadway - Free dessert w/ $25 minimum order. Lunch Special excluded. May 20 through May 22 only.
- The Acorn Store - 1220 5th St. - Stop by the store and receive a free treat when purchasing a toy.
- The Albright - 258 SM Pier - A special Celebrate EXPO two-course menu ($35) featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients plus seafood.
- The Hive Organic Cafe & Superfood Bar - 606 Broadway # 102 - Free health shot with any purchase.
- The Learning Path - 1212 5th St. - One free month of tutoring (Math or English) w/ purchase of another month of tutoring, new clients only.
- Tilly's - 1426 3rd St - Show your TAP card, receive 20 percent off one item. One discount per customer, per day, per transaction, restrictions apply.
- Yogurtland SM - 304 SM Blvd. - 3oz free yogurt coupons.
- Whole Foods Market - 500 Wilshire Blvd. - Party w/ DJ Ezmoney, bag giveaway plus food specials on Saturday, May 21 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- ZipRecruiter - 401 Wilshire Blvd. - T-shirts and giveaways to the metro riders for Opening Weekend.
17TH STREET/SMC STATION
(17th/Colorado)
- Montana Avenue Sidewalk Sale - Montana Avenue.
- 7th to 17th Streets - Hop on the free Breeze Bikes or catch a free BBB ride (or enjoy a nice stroll) to Montana Ave. for the annual Spring Sidewalk Sale on May 21, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Rocco's Gourmet Cheesecake - 1701 Pico Blvd. - 10 percent of your purchase when you mention “EXPO Grand Opening.”
26TH STREET/BERGAMOT STATION
(26th/Olympic)
- Bergamot Station Arts Center - 2500 Michigan Ave. - Bergamot EXPO-SE party featuring open house galleries, art exhibitions plus demonstrations, live music, performances, food trucks plus more. Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Cherry Picked Thrift Shop: A Just Cause - 2807 Pico. - Clearance sale including Men's, Women's and Kid's Clothes over $1 are 50 percent off. Sales proceeds benefit New Directions Vets Program and SAVES Food Bank.
- Laura Korman Gallery - 2525 Michigan Ave., - Artist Cara Barer exhibition and public reception on Saturday, May 21, 1 - 4 p.m.
- LIME Café - 1800 Stewart St. - Free fruit freezes at the Agensys Sculpture Garden (while supplies last). Lime Cafe is offering free Warm Cookie w/ lunch purchase from 12 noon onwards.
- Museum of Flying - 3100 Airport Ave. - Show your Metro/TAP Card to receive 50 percent off regular admission price, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Subway Sandwich Shop - 3023 Wilshire Blvd. - 10 percent off all regular sandwich prices, not valid in combination with any other discount or offer.
- Upper West - 3321 Pico Blvd. - Show your Metro ticket stub or TAP Card and receive 15 percent off your entire meal.
- Whole Foods Market - 2201 Wilshire Boulevard - EXPO Burger Special plus bag giveaway to the first 100 people that visit the store Saturday, May 21, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Willow Spa - 3127 SM Blvd. - 25 percent off Spa Services for New Guests, 15 percent off Spa Services for returning guests, restrictions apply.
To receive the listed specials, mention “EXPO Grand Opening.” or show your TAP card, unless otherwise noted. For more special offers and info about Buy Local Santa Monica, go to BuyLocalSM.com/expo. For additional info about Expo Opening Weekend Events, go to metro.net/moreexpo.