Open Streets Corvallis will blend active transportation and imagination for its fifth annual street festival that connects people and neighborhoods through shared activity in our fair burgh’s public spaces. The idea is to think about transportation alternatives, so the focus is on community connection and movement, but that’s only part of the story.
Slated for Sunday, Aug. 20 from 11 am to 3 pm, the event will be organized into activity hubs at:
Central Park and Peanut Park will bookend a mile-long route for non-motorized traffic, with a mid-route stop at OSU at 11thSt. and Washington Ave.
A parade led by jazz and funk band, DTW, will begin at 11:30 am, traveling from Central Park to Peanut Park. Anyone may join. Participants should gather at 8th and Madison, near the southwest corner of the park a few minutes beforehand.
Other activities include a Neighborhood Bikeway demonstration at 11th St. and Washington Ave, giant-sized games, local music and food, participatory dancing, roller skating, and a locally-built bicycle-powered carnival swing. Neighbors along the event route are encouraged to set up activities in their front yards.
Events include:
- Performance stage and beer garden in Central Park, hosted by Common Fields with live music from DTW, Animals With Clothes On, and Big Fir.
- Dance stage and beer garden in Peanut Park, hosted by the Corvallis Swing Dance Society and Block 15, featuring swing dancing, performances from Fiesta Mexicana Dancers and Danza AztecaTitlakawan, and mini cardio fitness classes with Pound Fitness.
Volunteers are needed to help set-up, keep people hydrated, monitor waste stations, manage intersections, and more. Perks include a free event t-shirt, snacks, and a darn good time. Sign-ups available online.
Open Streets Corvallis is free and open to the public. More information may be found at www.openstreetscorvallis.org or by emailing Lindsey.Almarode@corvallisoregon.gov.
Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com