Downtown Greenway road race, block party are Oct. 23

A road race and a block party, all in one.

Sounds like a good Saturday evening.

The 12th annual Downtown Greenway Block Party & Run, which features a 4-mile road race, is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. Oct. 23.

The family-friendly event will be anchored at LoFi Park, at 500 N. Eugene St., and will spread out into the parking lots of Joymongers and Deep Roots Market.

Running festivities will include a 1-mile fun run and a dog jog at 4:30 p.m., with the 4-mile race beginning at 5 p.m. Jones Racing Company will time it.

The course for the 4-mile race at the Downtown Greenway Block Party & Run.

Mobile trucks Taco Brothers, Big Will's Hotdogs and Kona Ice will provide food for purchase. And, of course, Joymongers will have beer for purchase.

The band AM rOdeO, featuring Jessica Mashburn and Evan Olson, will perform beginning at 6 p.m.

Other highlights include children's activities, a GreenHill Art Gallery interactive project and a Book Palooza.

Click here to sign up.

The road race and block party are a fundraiser for Action Greensboro's Downtown Greenway, a collaborative project with the City of Greensboro that has drawn support from several community foundations, government entities, non-profit groups and universities.

A map of the Downtown Greenway. Click here to download a PDF.

The idea of a Downtown Greenway was birthed in 2001, and construction is approaching for its final segments, along a former railroad corridor on the western side to finish the loop and a build section that will connect downtown with the Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway.

With the expected completion of work in 2023, Action Greenway has initiated a "Finish the Final Mile" campaign to raise the remaining funds. Click here to donate.

The project will total $43 million, with $12 million coming from donations by foundations, corporations, businesses and individuals; $29 million from two bond referendums; and state and federal funding.

The Block Party & Run sponsors, besides Joymongers and Deep Roots, include First Bank, Guilford College, the Dawn S. Chaney Foundation, the City of Grensboro, VF, Cone Health, Fleet Feet, WGHP and Premedia Group.