Phoenix is abuzz with excitement as it marks the second year of its unique celebration, 602 Day. This event unites the community with exclusive offers, events, and gifts from over 250 local businesses, sports teams, and city departments. The special day is recognized by deals priced at $6.02, celebrating the city’s original area code.
Zack Wallace, who leads the 602 Day project, emphasizes the day’s goal of fostering community pride and connection. “When we are out and about all day on June second the team is seeing connections being made, people celebrating Phoenix and coming together and really being proud of where they live,” said Wallace.
The initiative began after a 2023 city survey revealed a need for greater community engagement in the Valley. Wallace explained, “So we sought to pick a day on the calendar that we could really cultivate, you know, pride in our community; bring people together; facilitate connection and you know, support local businesses.”
Since its inception, 602 Day has already shown promising results. A survey for 2024 indicated a 10% increase in community engagement, and local businesses reported a surge in activity compared to the same date in 2023.
The Phoenix Zoo serves as an example of the day’s success, having welcomed over 9,000 visitors during last year’s celebration—far exceeding their typical summer attendance of about 1,000 daily visitors. Wallace noted the significance of June 2, saying, “We took the corresponding date of June 2 to create an opportunity for us to bring small business, local assets and other cultural institutions to celebrate the place we all call home.”
For those interested in learning more about the participating businesses and events, a list is available at 602Day.com.
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