
For Russell Mark, co-organizer of today’s third annual Pasadena Neighbor Day, the Eaton Fire disaster laid bare a sobering realization: “We’ve lived here for eight years and we’ve known our neighbors the whole time,” he thought, “but on the night of the fires, we realized we didn’t even have each other’s phone numbers.”
It’s this realization and a rush of other similar ones that give Pasadena Neighbor Day, returning today, January 19, an urgent new significance.
What began three years ago as a casual celebration of local music and neighborly connections is evolvingh into something far more profound: a testament to resilience, creativity, and the kind of solidarity that emerges only in the aftermath of disaster.
Held at Wild Parrot Brewing Co., the free, day-long festival will feature seven San Gabriel Valley bands, a community toast at 4:45 p.m., raffles, and proceeds dedicated to fire recovery efforts.
But beyond the music and camaraderie, it’s an event with a mission: to rebuild not just what was lost in the flames but the ties that bind Pasadena’s residents to one another.
For Altadena’s creative community, the fire’s toll has been uniquely devastating. Musicians, artists, and photographers—many of whom built their livelihoods on fragile margins—have seen both their homes and their workspaces vanish.
“Altadena is an incredibly creative community,” Mark explained. “Almost everyone we know who’s been affected are artists. And for those people, it can be the hardest because work dries up and you have no place to live.”
Neighbor Day’s organizers, including Mark’s band The Nextdoors and the Wild Parrot Brewing Co., have met the moment with an expanded vision.
Partnerships with the Pasadena Economic Development Team and Urban Homestead have added new layers to the event, which now serves as a hub for both celebration and recovery. Longtime beneficiaries such as the Pasadena Educational Foundation and Pasadena Symphony are more engaged than ever, while grassroots efforts like GoFundMe campaigns and Music Cares grants offer displaced artists a lifeline.
Attendees will find themselves immersed in the music and celebration of the day, but every bite, drink, and raffle ticket purchased will carry the weight of recovery and renewal.
When the festival kicks off this Sunday, it won’t just be about music or raffles or toasts. It will be about something larger: the idea that community isn’t just built in quiet times but forged in fire, strengthened by shared struggle, and celebrated with the kind of joy that only comes from knowing you’re not facing it alone.
The 3rd Annual Pasadena Neighbor Day will take place on Sunday, January 19, 2025, bringing the community together for a day of connection, comfort, and camaraderie. The event, themed “Together We Are ‘Dena Strong,” aims to foster stronger neighborly ties to create safer, happier, and more resilient communities.
The celebration will be hosted at Wild Parrot Brewing Co., 2302 E Colorado Blvd, and kicks off at 12 p.m. with doors opening to the public. Attendees can enjoy live music from 1:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a special Community Toast scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
The event is presented by The Ventdoor, Pasadena Economic Development, The Urban Homestead, and Wild Parrot Brewing Co. Proceeds will benefit the Pasadena Symphony and Pops and the Pasadena Educational Foundation.
Organizers encourage residents to participate and strengthen bonds with their neighbors. For more information, visit pasadenaneighborday.com.