The Sundial Bridge celebrates 20 years since its completition in the Redding Cultural District. Shannon Philips, Chief Operating Officer of the McConnell Foundation, joins the Downtown Discussion to discuss the 20 year milestone celebration. The festivities will bring Bandaloop Wire Dancers, artists, recreational activities and culinary experiences together from June 28 through July 4. Check out the list of activities Here

The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, designed by international architect Santiago Calatava, crosses the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding, California. Opened July 4, 2004, the bridge links the north and south campuses of Turtle Bay Exploration Park and serves as a new downtown entrance for Redding’s extensive Sacramento River Trail system. Access to the Sundial Bridge and surrounding river trails are free to the public.

Learn more about the Sundial Bridge Celebration. https://celebrate20.com/
Learn more about the Sundial Bridge History: https://www.turtlebay.org/sundial-bridge

Bandaloop Performance Schedule:
FRIDAY, JUNE 28

Morning Show
7:30am - Event opens
9am - Bridge closes
9:30am - Show begins
10:15am - Bridge re-opens

Evening Show
6pm - Event opens
7:45pm - Bridge closes
8:15pm - Show begins
9pm - Bridge re-opens

SATURDAY, JUNE 29

Morning Show
7:30am - Event opens
9am - Bridge closes
9:30am - Show begins
10:15am - Bridge re-opens

Evening Show
6pm - Event opens
7:45pm - Bridge closes
8:15pm - Show begins
9pm - Bridge re-opens

Sara Sundquist and Anna Blasco from Healthy Shasta, join Viva Downtown on the Downtown Discussion podcast to discuss Bike Month and Downtown Community Walking maps.

The month of May is Bike Month, learn how to participate in local biking events during the month: Information Here at Love to Ride Shasta County: https://www.lovetoride.net/shasta

Healthy Shasta has partnered with Viva Downtown, the City of Redding, Visit Redding, the Redding Cultural District, Shasta Historical Society, and local artist Tyler Brown Cifu Shuster to design four community walking maps in Downtown.

The four maps feature: A mural walk, historic structure walk, Calaboose Creek walk, and trails that connect to Downtown. This program is made possible by the California Upstate Creative Corp grant. Check out the maps here: https://www.vivadowntownredding.org/maps/historical

Healthy Shasta partners with the community to promote healthy eating and physically active lifestyles through environmental, policy, and organizational change. https://healthyshasta.org/

The Downtown Discussion podcast highlights the people who enhance Downtown Redding through social, cultural, and economic development.

Adam Yount, the business owner of AREA 151, joins Viva Downtown on the Downtown Discussion Podcast. Area 151, a full immersion virtual reality gaming experience based business. Learn about the Adam's process for developing Area 151, through renovations of a former office space, to how VR is transforming the way people experience immersion gaming and team building. Yount is a lifelong resident of Redding and has been proud to see the momentum and development of Downtown Redding.

Area 151 develops their games internally and creates team based games fun for the whole family, friends and business groups.

Learn more about AREA 151 here: https://www.area151vr.com/
AREA 151
1518 Market Street
Redding, CA 96001
530-395-9746
virtualbattlearena@area151vr.com

Hours: Closed Monday and Tuesday, but we are open Wednesday- Sunday 10am-7pm. closed on four Major holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Labor day)

Sharon Brisolara, of Inquiry that Matters, joins Blake Fisher on the Downtown Discussion Podcast to discuss Women's History Month and International Women's Day.

In coordination with Women's History Month, Viva Downtown and Sharon Brisolara will host presentations and open mic poetry programs that highlight and celebrate Women leadership and contributions. This programming is part of the Upstate California Creative Corp grant.

Participate and attend the programs at the IOOF HALL 1445 Market Street: UPSTAIRS Ballroom located in the California Street Alley.

Women's History Month Programming:

• Women in Faith Leadership: Wednesday March 13th, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Women Leaders on Navigating Negativity and Working for Positive Solutions: Tuesday, March 19th, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Society of Women Engineers: Thursday, March 21st, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Open Mic Poetry: March 20, 2024:

Todd Jones joins Blake Fisher on the Downtown Discussion Podcast to discuss his new roll as the Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce President and CEO.

The Downtown Discussion Podcast highlights people who enhance Downtown Redding through social, cultural and economic development.

The podcast is edited by Jacob Akana.

John Truitt from Viva Downtown, an Accredited Main Street America organization, joins us on the Downtown Discussion Podcast to talk about positive development though art; civic engagement through art; and Upstate Creative Corps projects.

John discusses upcoming arts projects and how Downtown Redding creatives are actively engaging people to make a healthy, resilient and vibrant community.

Learn more about Upstate Creative Corp here: https://www.upstatecreativecorps.org/

New Downtown Discussion Podcast: The Greater Redding Chamber of Commerce, President and CEO Jake Mangas, joins us on the downtown discussion for an exit interview. Jake has recently been hired as the new president of Mercy Foundation North and will begin his role in January of 2024.

For the last eight years, Jake has navigated the Redding Chamber of Commerce. In this discussion, Jake shares why the Chamber became an early adopter of Downtown Redding revitalization efforts, the values of small businesses that make up a strong chamber, and his appreciation for everyone involved in establishing a vibrant community at the Chamber of Commerce and in Redding.

Jake was our first interview for the Downtown Discussion, we are thankful at Viva Downtown to have worked with Jake and the incredible Chamber of Commerce staff on multiple projects and events. We wish him, and the Chamber of Commerce, a Happy New Year and Cheers to new beginnings.

Podcast produced and edited by Jacob Akana

Happy Holidays from the Viva Downtown Downtown Discussion! Jim Calhoun of Redding Electric Utility joins us on the podcast to kick off the Holiday Season.

Jim Calhoun has been an arborist for close to 45 years, and began his career with Asplundh Tree Expert Company in Trinity County. In 2003 Calhoun took on the roll of planning, harvesting, and lighting the tree as the supervising arborist for the City of Redding, Redding Electric Utility. This is the 104th year of the annual Downtown Tree Lighting and will be located in the original location on the interseciton of Market and Yuba Street.

Jim shares the process, history and the hard work that goes into making this Downtown tradition possible each year. We would like to thank all of the partners who make this tradition possible: Sierra Pacific Industries, Headrick Logging, Dura Crane, Cal Trans, California Highway Patrol, and the City of Redding.

This years tree was harvested 2 miles past Lake McCumber in Shingletown.
Over 1500 lights have been decorated on the 72 ft White Fir Tree.
It takes a crew of 7 REU workers to harvest and install the tree in Downtown.

The Tree Lighting lands on December 1, 2023, Downtown Redding's First Friday.
Sip, Shop and Support Downtown Busineses.
First Friday is from 5 p.m. - to when businesses close.
The Tree lights up right at 7 p.m.

We are excited to partner once again with Kool April Nites and the Shasta Classic Car Club for a presentation of lighted decorated classic cars and the Enterprise High School Music Departments Victorian Carolers and Band performing under the tree.

There are many Holiday events happening in the Redding Cultural District, check out Visit Redding's compresive list of Holiday activities that are fun for the whole family: https://visitredding.com/redding-holiday-events-guide/