Thousands Attended the First Year of WALK DONT RUN
Downtown Seattle transformed into a vibrant canvas of creativity, movement, and community on September 20, 2025.
Thousands gathered for the inaugural edition of WALK DONT RUN—a free, one-day celebration of local arts and culture.
The event brought a fresh and joyful energy to the city’s urban core, reimagining downtown Seattle as a dynamic cultural playground. Over 100 local artists, performers, and creators were showcased across parks, sidewalks, plazas, and unexpected spaces.
Attendees experienced a kaleidoscope of artistic expression dotted across the urban landscape. Akoiya Harris performed a slow-motion relay dawning an arm-full of winning metals, Margie Livingston dragged paintings, and Allegra Searle-LeBel and Emma Klein performed as theatrical Pandas engaging the crowds at the corner of 2nd Ave and University Street. Brass bands, including 8-BIT Brass, donned costumes as they moved the crowds from one hub of creative activities to another traversing the 20-block route, and musicians performed in parks and plazas.
From families with children to seasoned art lovers, WALK DONT RUN offered something for everyone. “This isn’t just about showcasing talent—we’re breaking down barriers between artists and audiences,” said lead producer Kira Burge. “We created an experience where art isn’t something you go to, it’s something you are part of–community members together with local artists made WALK DONT RUN the magic that we all experienced together.”
Each hub had a different set of experiences, a mix of visual art, performance, music and interactivity. Marshall Law Band brought their mobile stage to the party, stopping to play a live set every fifteen minutes or so along the route. Both the starting line at Occidental Square Park and the finish line at Bell Street and 2nd Avenue included a lineup of dynamic local musical acts from Chimurenga Renaissance and The Fabulous Downey brothers to Perry Porter and Hezza Fezza. In between music sets dancers, cheerleaders, and drag queens kept the energy going and the vibes high.
A key feature of WALK DONT RUN was its intentional focus on local voices and revealing the talent that’s right here in Seattle. The response from the public was overwhelmingly positive.
“You know, it was my intent to rush through the route in about 2 hours,” explained attendee Spencer Nilsson, “but I was so captured by the programming that I ended up staying more than 5 hours—the full length of the event!”
“I honestly fell back in love with the city,” shared attendee Tasha Mosher when reflecting on her experience of WALK DONT RUN. “Tapping into creativity and joy with others was rejuvenating and soul nourishing.”
WALK DONT RUN was more than an event—it was a reminder that “Art is the Movement” in Seattle and our dynamic shine could never be brighter.
