SANTA MONICA—The city of Santa Monica, in conjunction with Metro, will present its first ever open streets festival, “Coast,” which will offer a medley of activities and entertainment.

Amid the celebrations of the city’s new Expo Line, two miles of Santa Monica will be closed to car traffic on Sunday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The goal is to encourage the public to explore the hubs along the routes path, while observing and partaking in the various activities and performances throughout the day.

The festival will take over sections of Ocean Avenue and Main Street. The route will run from Wilshire Boulevard to Marine, where Santa Monica borders Venice, down Ocean Avenue between Wilshire and Colorado, and cutting over into Main Street

The city is actively encouraging people to arrive by means other than cars and explore the city via foot, bike, skateboard, or even hover board.

“It’s not a race or a sporting event and there’s no start or finish, and no right way to do it. You can come for an hour, walk a block and sit down at a cafe, or ride your bike from end to end,” states the event’s Facebook page.

The two-block radius will offer a combination of the food, music, entertainment, and services of Santa Monica. Zones will include: The Colorado Esplanade, a pedestrian zone that will stretch between the Downtown Santa Monica Expo Line terminus station and the entrance to the Pier; the Culture Zone, which will offer a taste of the arts of Santa Monica; the City Zone, where the public will be able to meet and engage with members of Santa Monica’s City Council and other community leaders; the Sustainability Zone, which will cover areas of Tongva Park and present artwork made entirely from recycled items; the Mobility Zone, where bicyclists can explore bike workshops and repair hubs; and Main Street and Norman Place which will be converted into what the city describes as, “temporary parklets,” with seating and dining.

“This local event transforms our streets into a park for the day – with music, restaurants, shops, dance and games with family and friends,” states the city of Santa Monica website for the event. “Stroll with Samba dancers, picnic, and feel the breeze as you move through the streets! Explore the interactive Coast Zones celebrating culture, sustainability and mobility, as well as other attractions along the route.”

The event is being presented by Metro with the assistance of Community Arts Resources, which has coordinated the Santa Monica Festival since 1992. Coast will be replacing the Santa Monica festival this year.