PHOTOS: BG Skate Jam 2025
Bell Gardens hosted its third annual Skate Jam — a gathering of skaters, local artists, and community members — at the city’s skate park on Thursday evening.
Skaters of all ages came out to show off their ollies and grinding skills. A stage assembled above the skate bowl featured an eclectic lineup of music acts, including longtime EDM artist DJ Irene and the cumbia-fusion rock band El Conjunto Nueva Ola, clad in colorful luchador masks.
The crowd reflected the city’s diversity, with a circle of raver kids gathering for the EDM, young children playing cornhole (courtesy of the LA Galaxy Star Squad) and riding push scooters, seasoned skaters landing tricks, and neighborhood wellness groups like Vida Sana and the Bell Gardens Running Club dancing it out near the stage.
Councilmember Marco Bárcena, who grew up skateboarding in BG and began developing Skate Jam shortly after joining the council in 2018, said the event is about recognizing young athletes who don’t always receive the same support as their peers in more traditional team sports.
“I wanted to do (at least) one event that catered not only to skaters, but also (to) families — families (who) need to see the skaters,” Bárcena said, skateboard in hand. “We need to give skaters visibility in our community.”
Organizers for this year's event included the Bell Gardens Recreation Department and BGArts, a local arts collective.
Local artist Juan Galindo, who teamed up with his brother Lupe to create Sick Taste Art, also grew up in BG and has tabled at Skate Jam all three years. Galindo, who has also been commissioned by the city to paint murals, said his work draws from his childhood, blending the cartoons he watched on television with the street art that surrounded him.
“I wasn't too big on sports,” Galindo said, seated next to a collection of prints and clothing featuring his artwork. “It was more like, ‘You know what? I'm gonna go home and I'm gonna draw.’”
Here are some photos from the event:
