{"id":114697,"date":"2022-12-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/free-things-to-do-in-garden-grove-ca\/"},"modified":"2024-03-30T18:55:25","modified_gmt":"2024-03-30T18:55:25","slug":"free-things-to-do-in-garden-grove-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travellens.co\/free-things-to-do-in-garden-grove-ca\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Free Things to Do in Garden Grove, CA"},"content":{"rendered":"
The City of Garden Grove<\/a>, California<\/a>, is said to have the largest glass building in the world, known as Crystal Cathedral. <\/p>\n It belongs to Orange County in the northern part, with a population of 171,949 as of the 2020 census.<\/p>\n The city is known for its annual Strawberry Festival, which attracts around 250,000 visitors to celebrate with the locals.<\/p>\n Alonzo Cook founded the area in 1874, and it was incorporated as a city in 1956 with the opening of Orange County Plaza or The Promenade.<\/p>\n Tourists visiting the city and many Vietnamese communities living in the area have put the city on the map.<\/p>\n The popular reggae rock band, Sublime also wrote a song about Garden Grove of the same title.<\/p>\n In the city, sit and wait for a gorgeous sunset at a park, explore the historic downtown, and enjoy other activities without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n Here’s a round-up of the free things to do in Garden Grove<\/a>, California<\/a>: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gertjan Hooijer \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n The Crystal Cathedral<\/a> is not to be missed when you’re in town.<\/p>\n It’s touted as the biggest glass building in the world and also houses the Hazel Wright Memorial organ, one of the world’s largest pipe organs.<\/p>\n Tours are free and start at the Cathedral Cultural Center and around the campus, where you can see lots of religious sights.<\/p>\n Formally called Christ Cathedral, it used to be the place of worship for the Reformed Church in America ministries.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n mikeledray \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n It was then sold to the Diocese of Orange County as its new cathedral in 2012.<\/p>\n The modern architecture building, which was constructed in 1977, has a 2,248 seating capacity.<\/p>\n It also hosted the religious “Hour of Power” TV program.<\/p>\n The Crystal Cathedral is located off Chapman Avenue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n User:Nepenthes<\/a>, CC BY-SA 3.0<\/a>, via Wikimedia Commons<\/p>\n If you’re traveling with your family or friends, one of the best places in Garden Grove to have a picnic is Haster Basin Recreational Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n Formerly known as Twin Lakes Park, it has lakeside picnic shelters with grills you can use while enjoying the park’s relaxing ambiance.<\/p>\n The picnic shelters overlooking the lake are among the 21.5-acre park’s addition in 2014 after a two-year overhaul.<\/p>\n The renovation also improved the site’s flood control.<\/p>\n There are also sports fields, a playground, exercise equipment, and walking trails where you can see some squirrels and other local wildlife.<\/p>\n At night, you may also catch taco and churros trucks in the area.<\/p>\n You can find Haster Basin Recreational Park on Lampson Avenue.<\/p>\n During the summer season, the Garden Grove City Council and the Garden Grove Community Foundation organize the Free Summer Concert Series<\/a>.<\/p>\n The live performances are free for the locals and visitors in the city, happening every Thursday night in the summertime.<\/p>\n You can bring your blanket or lawn chairs to these venues, except for tents or golf carts.<\/p>\n Food and drinks are also sold at the venues by local vendors.<\/p>\n You can also watch The Voice of Garden Grove, a singing contest participated by local high school students vying for the title and cash prizes.<\/p>\n The Free Summer Concert Series venues include Eastgate Park, Downtown Main Street, and Garden Grove Park.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Image Party \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n One of California’s biggest local festivals, the Strawberry Festival<\/a>, celebrates the then-abundant strawberry farms of the city.<\/p>\n The festival started in 1958, bringing the east and west sides of the city together in a three-day fun-filled Memorial Day weekend.<\/p>\n Events include a grand parade, strawberry cake-cutting ceremony, contests, food vendors, live performances, and lots of family-friendly activities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Image Party \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n If you’re traveling to Garden Grove in May, it’s great timing to celebrate and have fun with the locals.<\/p>\n The Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce organizes the Strawberry Festival.<\/p>\n It’s held between Main Street and Euclid Street at the Village Green in downtown Garden Grove.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Image Party \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n One of the best playgrounds that the city offers is Garden Grove Park<\/a>, with lots of learning and play equipment.<\/p>\n The kids can have their time of life learning, playing, and interacting with other kids at the playground while enjoying the relaxing atmosphere.<\/p>\n The ball areas offer grass fields for the comfort of all users.<\/p>\n There’s also an exercise station, a small skate park, picnic shelters, and a fenced dog park.<\/p>\n Garden Grover Park is the city’s largest park and is nestled on Westminster Boulevard adjacent to the Bolsa Grande High School.<\/p>\n For traveling bibliophiles, a nice and peaceful reading nook would be a great pastime during your visit to Garden Grove.<\/p>\n At Garden Grove OC Library, you can choose from its wide and outstanding selection of books for all ages.<\/p>\n The friendly staff can help you get what you need and provide the best peaceful spot to read your book.<\/p>\n It’s a great way to spend an hour or two reading if you’re in the mood for a slow-paced time in the city.<\/p>\n Outside the library is a pond with lots of ducks, geese, turtles, and birds.<\/p>\n The library also hosts Saturday afternoon movie times for kids and families.<\/p>\n Garden Grove OC Library is nestled on Stanford Avenue.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Steve Cukrov \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n Garden Grove’s small historic Main Street may have changed over the past year, but it still has remnants of the past.<\/p>\n Many restaurants and shops are still in business, including Louie’s, Azteca Mexican Restaurant, and Kaye’s Kitchen.<\/p>\n The city’s main district also suffered from the heavy beating of the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, which destroyed many of its sites.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Image Party \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n Despite the changes since the city’s founding, it still has an old-town feel.<\/p>\n Take a photo of the historic Main Street welcome sign at the entrance of the street to document your trip!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Steve Cukrov \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n Enjoy a quiet and relaxing time at Magnolia Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 5.9-acre park has lots of nice shady trees where you can relax sitting on the grass or reading a book.<\/p>\n There are also picnic shelters, ball fields, a play area, a pool, a resource center, and a pool.<\/p>\n Magnolia Park is located off Magnolia Street.<\/p>\n A 1928 Buick, ’34 Split window Chevy Hot Rod,’ ’56 T-Bird, and many other vintage cars are what you can see at the Classic Car Show<\/a>.<\/p>\n Happening every Friday night at the historic Main Street, the event showcases classic cars and live shows.<\/p>\n See and experience this Classic Car Show while you’re in town and also explore downtown’s specialty shops and enjoy live performances.<\/p>\n The Classic Car Show is the longest-running car cruise in Orange County, which started in 1994.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Noisy Shutter \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n If you’re traveling with your dogs, they can enjoy playing and interacting with other canines at Garden Grove Dog Park.<\/p>\n The 36-acre park has a dedicated fenced dog park where large and small dogs are in separated-leash and off-leash areas with grass.<\/p>\n There are benches by the fenced areas for you to watch over your furbabies with plenty of shady trees.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Noisy Shutter \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n There are also pet stations filled with waste bags and a water fountain for your pets by the dog park entrance.<\/p>\n Garden Grove Dog Park is located inside Garden Grove Park off Westminster Boulevard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Noisy Shutter \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n Garden Grove was incorporated as a city in 1956, and that same year, Orange County Plaza, now known as The Promenade at Garden Grove<\/a>, also opened.<\/p>\n You can take a photo of its beautiful structure a few meters away, facing the shopping mall’s entrance.<\/p>\n The beautiful landscape on the front alongside the lined-up palm trees adds to the relaxing vibe of the mall’s outer area.<\/p>\n The Promenade at Garden Grove was touted as the largest and the first regional shopping center in Orange County.<\/p>\n It’s owned by HGGA Promenade and is located on Brookhurst Street and Chapman Avenue.<\/p>\n Dr. Alonzo Gerry Cook founded Garden Grove in 1874 when he bought 160 acres of land from Abel Stearns Ranch.<\/p>\n Today, the Alonzo Cook statue<\/a> can be seen standing proudly on the northwest part of Community Center Park.<\/p>\n The City of Garden Grove erected the two-foot square bronze statue during its 50th incorporation anniversary in 2006.<\/p>\n The Alonzo Cook Statue is a nod to the city’s founding father, which is worth the quick visit to the park.<\/p>\n It’s located off South Euclid Street.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Steve Cukrov \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n The iconic Tower on the Green<\/a>, located at the entrance of the city’s oldest park, the Village Green, celebrate’s the community’s dynamic spirit.<\/p>\n It features twin black obelisks at the base of the clock, which is made of solid granite and was imported from India.<\/p>\n If you look closely, the obelisks are etched with all the donors’ names who made the project come to life.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Image Party \/ Shutterstock.com<\/p>\n The light posts next to the tower also feature custom-built strawberries, representing the Strawberry Festival.<\/p>\n The Tower on the Green was dedicated in 2002 and is a Garden Grove Community Foundation project.<\/p>\n You can find it next to the historic Main Street.<\/p>\n Apart from Garden Grove’s gorgeous attractions, its neighboring cities are equally tourist-friendly.<\/p>\n You only have to drive a few minutes past the city limits to discover world-class attractions.<\/p>\n When the California skies put on a show, it means a beautiful golden hour, which you can enjoy at Sunset View Park<\/a> in Signal Hill.<\/p>\n The 0.47-acre park offers unmatched views of the sunset.<\/p>\n Signal Hill is one of the best go-to cities in California, where people would only go to catch the sunset.<\/p>\n The park is also a beautiful spot to see the panoramic views of Signal Hill, Long Beach, and San Pedro areas.<\/p>\n There are walking trails nearby if you’re up for scenic strolls.<\/p>\n However, if you’re not a sunset person, the sunrise here is equally gorgeous and popular among locals and tourists.<\/p>\n Sunset View Park is located off Skyline Drive in Signal Hill, only 19 minutes from Garden Grove.<\/p>\nTour around Christ Cathedral, a.k.a. Crystal Cathedral<\/h2>\n
Have a Picnic at Haster Basin Recreational Park<\/h2>\n
Attend the Free Summer Concert Series<\/h2>\n
Celebrate with the Locals at the Strawberry Festival<\/h2>\n
Take the Kids to Garden Grove Park<\/h2>\n
Read a Book at Garden Grove OC Library<\/h2>\n
Stroll around the Historic Main Street<\/h2>\n
Relax at Magnolia Park<\/h2>\n
Experience the Classic Car Show at the Historic Main Street<\/h2>\n
Let Your Dogs Play at Garden Grove Dog Park<\/h2>\n
Take a Snap of The Promenade at Garden Grove<\/h2>\n
See the Alonzo Cook Statue<\/h2>\n
Admire the Iconic Tower on the Green<\/h2>\n
Other Things to Do Nearby<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Catch a Breathtaking California Sunset at Sunset View Park<\/h2>\n
Get Closer to Nature at the Santiago Creek Wildlife & Watershed Center<\/h2>\n