Experiment Weekend Energizes State Street

On Friday evening, artists and deejays kicked off a city-sponsored event dubbed “Experiment Weekend” that continued on Saturday. Combining the popularity of events like Fiesta and Summer Solstice with the recent growth and success of the Funk Zone, Experiment Weekend sought to use the lower-State underpass to bring more visitors downtown in the hope of offsetting a loss of foot traffic. The light-hearted event saw the State Street underpass witness an overwhelming increase in pedestrians this weekend. Saturday’s events closed State Street between Gutierrez and Cota. Visitors casually walked along the temporary pedestrian corridor, enjoying live music, basketball, a food truck, a Ping-Pong table, dance performances, outdoor seating, and an evening wine and beer garden.