Children played games and adults took a break outside Thursday afternoon to partake in Redwood City’s first activated entertainment zone, which provides another city-led opportunity to gather outside and have fun.
A main draw of the entertainment zone is the ability to purchase beer or wine from the local businesses and drink it outdoors in the identified area.
Jeremy Tucker, a Redwood City resident, has waited with bated breath for the entertainment zone to be activated, and he quickly convinced some friends to join him for a brew from Blacksmith.
Tucker and others took advantage of the good weather and opportunity to take a break from work.
“I love the whole concept, to have a drink in an outdoor area and not be confined to indoor space,” Tucker said. “I wanted to support the whole concept. Hopefully they’ll do it more often and extend it.”
Entertainment zones were made legal after Senate Bill 969 was adopted in 2024. It’s defined as an area where patrons may consume alcohol in public spaces during specified days and hours by the city.
Mayor Elmer Martinez Saballos was also downtown supporting the first day of the entertainment zone with his family. He said he’s looking forward to the public’s awareness growing of the new outdoor feature.
“I’m looking forward to seeing more people come out and enjoy the space,” Martinez Saballos said. “The turnout already is great to see. The businesses are happy, and we’re seeing great feedback already.”
Beyond the ability to drink outside, games like cornhole were set up in the shade and local musicians kept the area alive with live music.
Thursday’s activation was lightly attended, but that was likely due to the weekday afternoon activation time and the 90 degree weather, Economic Development Manager Amanda Anthony said.
The city opted to activate the space from 3-5 p.m. Thursday because it was the first possible date to do so after the city’s ordinance went into place and nicely coordinated with the opening day of the FIFA World Cup.
The opening game between Mexico and South Africa was on at LV Margaritas at noon and the entertainment zone served to fill a gap in time before the second game between South Korea and Czechia at 7 p.m.
The zone intends to act as this bridge in many instances, Anthony said.
“We’ll be the bridge,” Anthony said. “Just keep staying out. You can keep staying out and having fun.”
The whole point of the entertainment zone is to activate the businesses, Anthony said, and to a few partakers, it did just that.
Tucker said Blacksmith isn’t always his go-to place for a beer, but since it was in the zone, it’s where he ended up.
“I don’t normally go there, but it’s in the zone, it’s very convenient,” Tucker said. “If they want to extend it to Alhambra [Irish House] that would be awesome.”
Anthony said the entertainment zone will likely be attractive to residents who enjoy another city-led event, Pub in the Park, hosted at Red Morton Park.
The next activations of the entertainment zone are planned for Saturday, June 20, and Saturday, July 18.
(65) 344-5200 ext. 106
Daily Journal staff
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