Weird California
Weird California
Weird California - By Joe Parzanese

Orange Street Alley

Map Orange Street, Redlands, California 92373

Orange Street Alley in Redlands
Orange Street Alley in Redlands

In downtown Redlands there's an alleyway that goes from Orange Street to 5th Street, and the entire alleyway is literally covered by hundreds of colorful open umbrellas! The sun shines down on the bright umbrellas casting a mosaic of shadows across the alleyway floor.

Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley

Orange Street Alley, also sometimes referred to as Umbrella Alley was first installed in February 2018 and consists of 420 multicolored umbrellas that cover the alley. To keep the umbrellas looking good, they are replaced every year at the beginning of summer. In July 2021, they were a mix of various light colors, including pink, purple, blue, yellow, green, and orange.

Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley

Several businesses line the alleyway, and the entire effect of the hanging umbrellas makes the alley look whimsical and surreal as umbrella shadows play across the alley. In addition to the umbrellas, multiple murals cover the walls of the alleyway, some advertising businesses, others just fun and interesting artwork that decorates the walls. Murals can be found throughout downtown Redlands.

Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley

Entering Orange Street Alley from Orange Street, the first mural, on the left is of a lion made by an artist fittingly known as Erok the Lion.

Erok the Lion
Erok the Lion
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley

Perhaps the most photographed mural in the alley is of a giant orange with a Redlands banner. This was the first ever mural done by the artist, Andrew Pirkle, who was, at the time of the mural's completion, still a student at Redlands High School. The colorful characters around the orange were painted by Geoff Gouveia, who also did an earlier mural in the alley of the wolf headed, long armed guy in the striped shirt. Gouveia has yet another mural later in the alleyway, as well.

Orange Mural
Orange Mural
Orange Mural
Orange Mural
Orange Mural
Orange Mural

Hate Burger has a mural by Christine Coates. The mural covers much of the the wall outside their business in a bright orange color and features a skull spitting burgers and fries out of its toothy mouth.

Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Hate Burger
Hate Burger
Hate Burger
Hate Burger
Hate Burger
Hate Burger

Christine Coates also painted Hannah's Wings, which was in memory of Hannah Ahler, who's family owns Redlands Jewelers. Hannah was one of the victims in the 2017 Route 91 Harvest festival mass shooting in Las Vegas. Near 5th Street, Coates has painted yet another mural, again outside Redlands Jewelers.

 Hannah's Wings
Hannah's Wings
Mural in Orange Street Alley
Mural in Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley
Orange Street Alley

Other Umbrella Alleys can be found throughout the world. Portugal, Peru, Ireland, and Germany all have one. San Francisco is currently installing one, their alley also covered in murals, down near Fisherman's Wharf.



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First Created: 2021-07-20
Last Edited: 2021-07-20


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