Monday, August 24, 2026

Altadena Neighbors to Gather for a Night of Sweets and Shared Memory

A Sept. 4 community event will mark September birthdays and recognize “the sweetest people in Altadena” as the fire-scarred town keeps rebuilding

More than a year and a half after the Eaton Fire tore through Altadena, a group of neighbors plans to spend a September evening doing something deliberately modest: sharing dessert and trading the memories the fire couldn’t take. 

The gathering, called “Our Beloved Altadena: Sweet Sweet Memories,” is set for Friday, Sept. 4, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the program beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Eaton Fire Collaborative, 540 West Woodbury Road, Altadena 91001 — the same address that served as a disaster recovery center for fire survivors. Organizers say the evening will center on sweets, storytelling, music, live singing, poetry and an open mic, and will recognize September birthdays and what the event flyer calls “the sweetest people in Altadena.” The details of the event come from that flyer.

The host is Nahshon Dion, an Altadena native and writer who has spent the months since the fire collecting residents’ stories. Dion is producing a documentary,”My Beloved Altadena,” and is curating an anthology,”Our Beloved Altadena: Voices from the Aftermath of the Eaton Canyon Wildfire.” 

In January, Dion hosted a related gathering,”Under the Stars: Voices of Resilience and Hope Uplifting Our Beloved Altadena,” at the Altadena Library. 

According to the flyer, the event is being held with support from the Department of Angels and Altadena Rising. The Department of Angels is a grassroots recovery nonprofit co-founded by California Community Foundation chief executive Miguel A. Santana and Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel; Altadena Rising is a community-organizing group that has documented the neighborhood’s losses and recovery. 

The gathering is open to the public, with free sweets and beverages, organizers say. Attendees are invited to bring family, friends and kids, a sweet Altadena memory to share, and an optional treat. Those who know someone with a September birthday are encouraged to bring them along. Organizers say a Parks on the Move mobile van will also be on site. 

“Our Beloved Altadena: Sweet Sweet Memories” takes place Friday, Sept. 4 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the program beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Eaton Fire Collaborative, 540 West Woodbury Road, Altadena 91001. Admission is free, and sweets and beverages will be provided.