Walk, Bike or Roll Through Tacoma’s South End on September 26

Most neighborhood festivals ask visitors to gather in one place. Tacoma’s Move & Groove festival is making the trip between destinations part of the celebration.

The free, all-ages event will connect Birney Elementary School, Ryan’s Park and Charlotte’s Blueberry Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 26. Participants are invited to walk, bike or roll through Tacoma’s South End, visiting activities at each stop along the way.

There is no race to finish and no requirement to cover the entire route. Visitors can travel at their own pace or join a music-themed group bicycle ride beginning at Birney Elementary. The family-friendly ride will stop at Charlotte’s Blueberry Park before finishing at Ryan’s Park.

Each destination will offer something different. Ryan’s Park will host live music, while Parks Tacoma staff will lead a guided walking tour at Charlotte’s Blueberry Park. The festival will also include face painting, balloons, park games and activities designed for a range of ages.

The traveling format gives families an opportunity to experience three familiar neighborhood places as parts of one connected community. Instead of driving to an event, parking and remaining in one location, participants can make the streets and paths between the stops part of their afternoon.

Move & Groove is organized by Tacoma On the Go and supported in part by Tacoma Mobility, a City of Tacoma program. Organizers describe it as an open-streets-and-parks festival celebrating movement, music and Tacoma’s South End.

Move & Groove runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 26. Admission is free. Additional information is available from Tacoma On the Go and the complete event listing.