TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council ATTENTION: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
FROM: P.J. Mellana, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT:Consideration and possible action to approve the City of Bellflower Department of Parks and Recreation Special Event Calendar for calendar years 2026 and 2027.
DATE:January 12, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Special event programming remains a core component of the Parks and Recreation Department’s mission to enhance the quality of life for Bellflower residents. Demand for community-based events continues to grow and remains a key priority identified in the City’s adopted Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
In alignment with the City’s allocated budget and at the direction of City Council, the Director of Parks and Recreation (“Director”) is presenting the proposed 2026-2027 Special Event Calendar for review and approval. The proposed calendar reflects currently adopted budget allocations, available personnel capacity, and policy direction established by City Council. Approval of the calendar allows the Director to strategically plan, coordinate, and implement events in an efficient and fiscally responsible manner. 2025 marked the first year that City Council formally approved the overall Special Event Calendar in coordination with the budget process. The Director intends to continue this practice by bringing the calendar forward annually for City Council review each January.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Approve the City of Bellflower Department of Parks and Recreation Special Event Calendar for calendar years 2026 and 2027; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the proposed Special Event Calendar has no immediate fiscal impact. All events included in the calendar are contingent upon City Council-approved budget appropriations and available staffing resources. Event-specific expenditures are incorporated into the adopted Fiscal Years 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 budgets. Events occurring outside of this calendar window will be evaluated for funding consideration during a future budget cycle.
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11 Staff Report – City of Bellflower Parks and Recreation Special Event Calendar January 12, 2026
DISCUSSION
Attached is the proposed 2026 and 2027 Special Event Calendar for the City of Bellflower Department of Parks and Recreation.
When reviewing the proposed calendar, the following considerations are provided:
1.Budget, Staffing, and Policy Alignment: The Special Event Calendar is directly informed by City Council-approved budget allocations, available personnel resources, and priorities established in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Any significant additions or modifications to the calendar may require corresponding adjustments to funding, staffing capacity, or service levels.
2.Planning and Coordination Timeline:Successful delivery of special events requires months of advance planning, coordination, contracting, and logistical preparation.
Council approval of the calendar provides staff with the ability to manage timelines effectively and ensure consistent, high-quality event execution.
3.Departmental Scope and Capacity:Special events represent one component of the Department’s broader operational responsibilities, which include recreation programming, facility rentals, permitting, transportation services, senior and special needs programming, administrative functions, and interdepartmental coordination. Maintaining a predictable event schedule supports workload balance and service delivery across all program areas.
4.Consistency and Community Participation:Consistent scheduling of recurring events has proven critical to building attendance, managing expectations, and improving overall event success. The proposed calendar maintains established timing while minimizing conflicts with other community and City-sponsored activities.
ATTACHMENT
2026 and 2027 Parks and Recreation Special Event Calendar ....................................... 3 22 City of Bellflower UPDATED January 12, 2026
Department of Parks and Recreation
Special Event Calendar
2026 Special Event Calendar (Tentative)
(YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS ARE DETAILS AND/OR DATES THAT ARE TENTATIVE) (BLUE HIGHLIGHTS ARE HELD AT THE MAYNE OR WILL IMPACT PARKING/ACCESSIBILITY) (GREEN HIGHLIGHTS ARE NEW)
DAY/DATE EVENT/LOCATION NOTES
MON, JAN 26, 2026 OUTGOING MAYOR’S CEREMONY (CITY
HALL/GREENROOM)
OTHER DEPTS. ASSIST
SAT, APR 18, 2026 EARTH DAY EVENT (BUTTERFLY) SAT PRECEDING 4/22 THU, APR 23, 2026
BRAVO AWARDS (THE MAYNE)
SAT, MAY 2, 2026 ARTFEST (SP)
THU, MAY 7, 2026
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER (TCP)
TYPICALLY 1ST THURSDAY IN MAY; City Coordination and
Scheduling Support (minimal involvement)
THU, MAY 7, 2026 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION (SP)
SAT, MAY 16, 2026
COMMUNITY SHREDDING EVENT (TP) AFTER TAX SEASON
FRI, JUN 12, 2026 SUMMER KICK-OFF EVENT (CP)
THU, JUN 18, 2026 STREETFEST 1 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
THU, JUN 25, 2026 STREETFEST 2 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
TUE, JUN 30, 2026 MOVIE @ MAYNE PARKING STRUCTURE
THU, JUL 9, 2026 STREETFEST 3 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
SAT, JUL 11, 2026 COMMUNITY WALK (BIKE TRAIL)
THU., JUL 16, 2026
RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
(CITY HALL/GREEN ROOM)
THU, JUL 16, 2026 STREETFEST 4 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
THU, JUL 23, 2026 STREETFEST 5 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
SAT/SUN JUL 25-26, 2026 SUMMER CAMPOUT (CP)
WED, JUL 29, 2026 PENNY CARNIVAL
THU, JUL 30, 2026 STREETFEST 6 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
TUE, AUG 4, 2026 MOVIE NIGHT/NNO (TP?)
SAT, AUG 22, 2026
CONCERT IN THE PARK (CP)
THU, OCT 1, 2026
+Rehearsal/set-up day prior
STATE OF THE CITY
(MAYNE EVENTS CENTER)
TYPICALLY 1ST THUR IN OCT
*SAT, OCT 3, 2026
CAR SHOW - NOON LIONS + CITY
(BELLFLOWER BLVD. CLOSED WALNUT TO FLORA VISTA)
TUE, OCT 6 OR 13, 2026 COMMUNITY PRAYER BREAKFAST
(MAYNE EVENTS CENTER)
TYPICALLY TUES FOLLOWING STATE OF THE CITY
(Ministerial Association Event)
THU, OCT 8, 2026
JOINT SERVICE CLUB LUNCHEON
(TP TENTATIVELY)
TYPICALLY THUR FOLLOIWNG MAYOR’S PRAYER
BREAKFAST. SERVICE CLUB LED.
OCT 12-15, 2025 HALLOWEEN HOME DECO. CONTEST
SAT, OCT 17, 2026 FAMILY DANCE PARTY (TP)
FRI, OCT 30, 2026
(date confirmed)
TRICK OR TREAT EVENT (TCP) TYPICALLY FRI PRIOR TO HALLOWEEN
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PERMITTED EVENT
FALL 2026 MOVIE @ MAYNE PARKING STRUCTURE
TUES, NOV 10, 2026
VETERANS EVENT
(AT VETERANS MEMORIAL)
BUSINESS DAY PRECEDING VETERANS DAY 11/11
TUE NOV 17, 2026 PHOTO CONTEST RECEPTION (CITY HALL LOBBY) 4PM JUDGING 5PM DOORS OPEN
WINTER 2026 THE OAK CENTER GRAND OPENING
*FRI, DEC 4, 2026 (RDO)
TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
(BELLFLOWER BLVD CLOSED FLOWER TO FLORA VISTA)
TYPICALLY FIRST FRI IN DEC
DEC 7-10, 2026 HOLIDAY HOME DECO CONTEST
*SAT, DEC 12, 2026 KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY (TP) SECOND SAT AFTER TLC MON, DEC 14, 2026 CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION & OATH OF
OFFICE (CITY HALL)
WJBCA W/ RECEPTION IN LOBBY (IF NO ELECTION,
MOVES TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS)
SAT, DEC 19, 2026 SANTA’S JOLLY TROLLEY
*DO NOT BOOK FACILITIES ON THESE EVENT DATES / SP events temporarily relocated to TP due to construction
3 City of Bellflower UPDATED January 12, 2026
Department of Parks and Recreation
Special Event Calendar
2027 Special Event Calendar (Tentative)
(YELLOW HIGHLIGHTS ARE DETAILS AND/OR DATES THAT ARE TENTATIVE) (BLUE HIGHLIGHTS ARE HELD AT THE MAYNE OR WILL IMPACT PARKING/ACCESSIBILITY) (GREEN HIGHLIGHTS ARE NEW)
DAY/DATE EVENT/LOCATION NOTES
MON, JAN 25, 2027 OUTGOING MAYOR’S CEREMONY (CITY
HALL/GREENROOM)
OTHER DEPTS. ASSIST
SAT, APR 17, 2027 EARTH DAY EVENT (BUTTERFLY) SAT PRECEDING 4/22 THU, APR 22, 2027
BRAVO AWARDS (THE MAYNE)
SAT, MAY 1, 2027 ARTFEST (TP)
THU, MAY 6, 2027
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER (TCP)
TYPICALLY 1ST THURSDAY IN MAY; City Coordination and
Scheduling Support (minimal involvement)
THU, MAY 6, 2027 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION (TP)
SAT, MAY 15, 2027
COMMUNITY SHREDDING EVENT (TP) AFTER TAX SEASON
FRI, JUN 11, 2027 SUMMER KICK-OFF EVENT (CP)
THU, JUN 17, 2027 STREETFEST 1 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
THU, JUN 24, 2027 STREETFEST 2 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
THU, JUL 1, 2027 STREETFEST 3 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
THU, JUL 8, 2027 STREETFEST 4 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
SAT, JUL 10, 2027 COMMUNITY WALK (BIKE TRAIL
THU., JUL 15, 2027
RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE
(CITY HALL/GREEN ROOM)
THU, JUL 15, 2027 STREETFEST 5 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
THU, JUL 22, 2027 STREETFEST 6 (BELLFLOWER BLVD.)
SAT/SUN JUL 24-25, 2027 SUMMER CAMPOUT (CP)
WED, JUL 28, 2027 PENNY CARNIVAL
THU, JUL 29, 2027 MOVIE @ MAYNE PARKING STRUCTURE
TUE, AUG 3, 2027 NNO (TP?) (NO MOVIE DUE TO 7/29)
SAT, AUG 21, 2027
CONCERT IN THE PARK (CP)
*SAT, OCT 1, 2027
CAR SHOW - NOON LIONS + CITY
(BELLFLOWER BLVD. CLOSED WALNUT TO FLORA VISTA)
THU, OCT 7, 2027
+Rehearsal/set-up day prior
STATE OF THE CITY
(MAYNE EVENTS CENTER)
TYPICALLY 1ST THUR IN OCT
TUE, OCT 5 OR 12, 2027 COMMUNITY PRAYER BREAKFAST
(MAYNE EVENTS CENTER)
TYPICALLY TUE FOLLOWING STATE OF THE CITY.
OCT 11-14, 2027 HALLOWEEN HOME DECO. CONTEST
THU, OCT 14, 2027
JOINT SERVICE CLUB LUNCHEON
(TP TENTATIVELY)
TYPICALLY THUR FOLLOIWNG MAYOR’S PRAYER
BREAKFAST. SERVICE CLUB LED.
SAT, OCT 16, 2027 FAMILY DANCE PARTY (TP)
FRI, OCT 29, 2027
(date confirmed)
TRICK OR TREAT EVENT (TCP) TYPICALLY FRI PRIOR TO HALLOWEEN FALL 2027 MOVIE @ MAYNE PARKING STRUCTURE
WED, NOV 10, 2027
VETERANS EVENT
(AT VETERANS MEMORIAL)
BUSINESS DAY PRECEDING VETERANS DAY 11/11
TUE NOV 16, 2027 PHOTO CONTEST RECEPTION (CITY HALL LOBBY) *FRI, DEC 3, 2027 (RDO)
TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY
(BELLFLOWER BLVD CLOSED FLOWER TO FLORA VISTA)
TYPICALLY FIRST FRI IN DEC
DEC. 6-9, 2027 HOLIDAY HOME DECO CONTEST
*SAT, DEC 11, 2027 KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY (TP) SECOND SAT / AFTER TLC MON, DEC 13, 2027 CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION & OATH OF
OFFICE (CITY HALL)
WJBCA W/ RECEPTION IN LOBBY (IF NO ELECTION,
MOVES TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS)
SAT, DEC 18, 2027 SANTA’S JOLLY TROLLEY
*DO NOT BOOK FACILITIES ON THESE EVENT DATES / SP events temporarily relocated to TP due to construction 4