Quote of the week

“Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better.” – Albert Camus 

“Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.”  – Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Liberty is the breath of life to nations." – George Bernard Shaw

“Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

“Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” – George Orwell

“It’s Fourth of July weekend, or as I call it, exploding Christmas.” – Stephen Colbert

4th of July community parade, picnic and circus

Join your friends and neighbors today for a people parade, community picnic and two free circus performances. Celebrate our nation’s birthday with family-friendly fun, entertainment, games and prizes. Admission is free. Join us today from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Burgess Park, 701 Laurel St. See event details.

Celebrate with a splash! Swim centers are open on July 4

Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool are open for recreational swimming on the Fourth of July. Splash down and cool off with the family. Open swim hours are from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Swim centers close early at 5 p.m. for the holiday. For more details and entry fees, visit menloswim.com 

New! Buy a monthly swim pass, get free fitness center workouts with SwimFit

ice and receive a FREE monthly pass to the amazing new Belle Haven Community Campus fitness center! 

How to get a SwimFit pass 

1. Get a monthly swim pass. Don’t have one? Sign up at Belle Haven Pool or online at menloswim.com.
2. Visit Belle Haven Pool at 100 Terminal Ave. Show your swim pass at the entrance to get a SwimFit voucher.
3. Redeem your Swimfit voucher. Turn in your voucher at the Belle Haven Community Campus front desk and receive a FREE pass good for unlimited workouts in the amazing new workout room. 

Questions? Visit the Belle Haven Pool customer service window at 100 Terminal Ave. or call (650) 781-5578. Visit our website for additional details

Music in the Park starts July 9

Join us as the City of Menlo Park kicks off the Summer Concert Series starting Wednesday, July 9. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and pack all your favorite picnic essentials. This first concert features the soulful, bluesy vocals and hard-driving zydeco beat of Curly Taylor and Zydeco Trouble. Admission is free. Join us on Wednesday, July 9, at 6 p.m. at Fremont Park, Santa Cruz Ave. at University Dr. See event details.

Register your block party for National Night Out 2025 

Aug. 5 is National Night Out, a nationwide community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and crime prevention by inviting neighbors out to mingle at neighborhood-centric block parties from 5-10 p.m. It's a great chance to meet your neighbors, City staff and Menlo Park police officers! 

Aquatics working group  

The Aquatics Working Group is an opportunity for community members to participate in intimate "focus group" sessions to provide feedback about the City of Menlo Park’s swim centers. Participants are invited to share their perspectives and gain insight into the programs and services at Burgess Pool and Belle Haven Pool. Sessions are open to all interested community members. Join us on Tuesday, July 15, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Belle Haven Community Campus, 100 Terminal Ave. Please help us plan for the meeting by RSVPing.

Free literary and cultural programs 

These free literary and cultural programs received funding support from Friends of Menlo Park Library.

• Summer Reading Game. The Summer Reading Game has officially started! Track your reading and win great prizes (while supplies last). Check out a book in person or check out our eBooks and other electronic resources. Learn more.
• Melanated Women Read. Melanated Women Read is a book discussion group by and especially for Black women. This month, we discuss The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. Participate online via Zoom on Monday, July 7, from 6:30–8 p.m. Learn more.
• Book Discussion. Join our Fiction Book Group to discuss Evil Eye by Etaf Rum. Join us online via Zoom on Tuesday, July 8, from 6:30–7:45 p.m. Learn more.
• Wildmind Science Learning. Join us for a wild time outside the Library with science educators from Wildmind Science Learning and their resident animal ambassadors: armadillo, augur buzzard and spectacled owl! Participate on Thursday, July 10, from 10:15–11 a.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
• Capoeira Demonstration. Join us to enjoy the music and style of capoeira on Saturday, July 12, from 1–2 p.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.
• Teen Mini Masterpieces. Teens ages 12–17, join us for a mini canvas painting event on Saturday, July 12, from 1–3 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
• African Village Celebration with Baba Shibambo. Join Baba Shibambo for a fun, interactive and hands-on experience exploring the music and traditions of his Zulu homeland. Participate on Sunday, July 13, from 11–11:45 a.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.
• Mystery Readers Group. Join Menlo Park's Mystery Readers Group this month as we read translated mysteries on Tuesday, July 15, from 6-7:15 p.m. online via Zoom. Learn more.

Check out more free community programs
The above was just a sample of the many free activities hosted by the City of Menlo Park this week. Check out the community events calendar to see them all!

Fourth of July City closures   

In observance of Independence Day, City facilities will be closed on July 4. Regularly held hours of operation will resume the following day on July 5, with the exception of the Arrillaga Family Gymnastics Center, which will reopen on July 8. Swim centers will remain open on the holiday.