The United States Tennis Association Southern California Section in conjunction with College of the Canyons Athletic Department have announced a USTA Block Party Tennis Festival event, free and open to the public on Sunday, Oct. 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., on the College of the Canyons’ six courts.

“We are very excited to put on this great tennis event with the support of the USTA to help people get excited about tennis in Santa Clarita,” said Vicki Sanchez, a tennis instructor at College of the Canyons. “There has always been great tennis in the Santa Clarita Valley, but we want to get people of every age out here playing and excited about the game.”

Local community organizations the Girl Scouts of America, the Santa Clarita Valley YMCA and the Newhall Boys and Girls Club will be represented at the event, which will include instruction and games for all ages and levels of play.

USTA QuickStart courts will be set up and participants will be able to take part in a “Beat the Pro” contest. A radar gun will record serve speeds and Wilson will be on hand for a demo. In addition, Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount University Tennis on Campus teams will stage an exhibition from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Santa Clarita Valley Tennis Aces founder and head coach Jocel Alcedo said the festival gives different tennis groups in the area the chance to come together to further promote the sport in Santa Clarita. “This is an event that will heighten tennis awareness in the Santa Clarita Valley and we’re proud to be a part of it,” Alcedo said. “We want to reach out to people who normally wouldn’t be exposed to the game of tennis and help them learn a sport they can play for a lifetime.”