Community Corner

Big 'Sunday Streets' Block Party Returns to Berkeley

Following the enthusiastic response to last year's inaugural "Berkeley Sunday Streets," the city is staging the event again this year on Oct. 13. Shattuck Avenue be closed to traffic for a giant, 17-block-long street party and festival.

If you like the idea of doing fun and maybe wacky things in the middle of the usually busy, 4-lane Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley – but without the traffic – you may want to mark you calendar for Sunday, Oct. 13.

You could play giant chess, brush up your hula hoola skills or otherwise enjoy a 17-block-long festival of entertainment, food and demos of various sorts with thousands of other members of the community.


Last fall's "Sunday Streets" street fair and party in Berkeley was such a success that the organizers are doing it again this year.

This year's "Berkeley Sunday Streets" takes place 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 13 and, like its inaugural appearance last year, will be a very long block party with a wide assortment of activities and entertainment and the opportunity to stroll, skate, scoot or bike along Shattuck Avenue without interference from cars.

Shattuck Avenue will be closed to traffic from Haste Street all the way to Rose Street in North Berkeley, a stretch linking the downtown with the Gourmet Ghetto.

"Over 42,000 people attended the first Sunday Streets Berkeley in 2012, exceeding expectations, especially for a first-time event," said a news release from the office of Mayor Tom Bates

“Sunday Streets Berkeley is an exciting way to inspire citizens to bike and walk more in their daily lives," said a statement from Bates, who made headline in 2009 when he gave up his car in exchange for walking and mass transit. "The breakthrough concept of Open Streets promotes sustainable lifestyle choices and builds community.”

Berkeley's "Sunday Streets" event is part of the growing "Open Streets" movement by localities to transform their streets into car-free playgrounds for an afternoon. San Francisco's five-year-old Sunday Streets are one well-known Bay Area example. As of early last year, more than 70 cities in North America have joined the movement, Bates' office said.

The following activities for the Berkeley event this year were listed by the Mayor's office:

  • Rock the Bike Pedal Powered Music
  • Giant Bird Puppet Parade by Habitot Children's Museum
  • Berkeley Labs Home Energy Activities and Demos
  • Giant Chess Games by Berkeley Chess School
  • Kids’ Bike Rodeo by the East Bay Bicycle Coalition
  • Free Bike Repair by Missing Link Bicycle Cooperative, Sports Basement, Mike’s Bikes
  • Dodgeball Games
  • Capoeira Arts School performances
  • Discover public paths, steps and walkways by Berkeley Pathwanderers Association
  • Breaking, Bboying, Bgirling, MCing, Djing Performances
  • Free Yoga & Pilates Classes & Chair Massage
  • Klezmer Music all day hosted by KlezCalifornia and the Magnes Museum
  • Free Zumba Classes
  • Free Hula-Hooping Classes
  • Kids Activities at the Berkeley Public Library
  • Kids Beading Classes by Baubles and Beads
  • Performances by Crowden Music School
  • Art Gallery Tours
  • Art Demos
  • Storytelling
"Sunday Streets Berkeley is presented by Livable Berkeley and the City of Berkeley in association with the Downtown Berkeley Association, the North Shattuck Association, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, the Ecology Center, and the Office of Mayor Tom Bates," Bates' office said.

More information can be found on the Berkeley Sunday Streets website.

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