The City of Palm Springs is excited to announce a grand opening ribbon-cutting and community celebration will be held Thursday, Oct. 21 to mark the completion of the City’s much anticipated new Downtown Park on Museum Way adjacent to the Forever Marilyn sculpture. It’s all brought to residents by the City of Palm Springs and our Measure J tax dollars.

The event begins at 5:30 pm, just prior to VillageFest, with opening remarks from the City Council, park designer Mark Rios and his team from Los Angeles-based Rio Studios, officials from Fast Track Construction, the chairs of the Measure J and Parks and Recreation commissions, and other local officials.

In addition, the Chamber of Commerce will host a mini-Taste of Palm Springs with local restaurants followed by a ghoulishly original Halloween pooch costume contest on the park’s new event stage, presented by the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Categories include: Funniest, Most Creative and Best Overall. Bring your four-legged friend to the park by 5:30 p.m. to register. Youth games and activities will also be on hand, presented by Palm Springs Parks and Recreation and the Palm Springs Public Library.

The party is set to take off into the stratosphere at 6:30 p.m. with a spectacular two-hour tribute concert celebrating the tunes of legendary Swedish pop band ABBA, performed by the tribute artist band ABBAFab.

The new 1.5-acre park features shady palms and benches, the new event stage as well as seating, public restrooms, and a downtown substation for the Palm Springs Police Department.