The Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition will continue its annual Walktober event, this year in consideration of COVID-19 protocols.
For this third annual Walktober, all events are themed walks or self-guided walking tours using online resources and guides. People can still enjoy exploring Pasadena on foot, but when and how they would like – on their own, with family, partners, even pets.
As part of participating, organizers encourage people to take pictures and post them to social media while tagging Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition and using the recommended hashtags.
Walktober has been a regular event in Pasadena intended to get people walking while taking in the beautiful scenery and the historic places throughout the city.
“Walking is a deeply human activity, and we’re excited to offer a full slate of events that reflect a wide range of reasons and ways to enjoy walking,” the Coalition said in announcing Walktober 2020. “Whether you walk for physical health, mental health, to meet people, to see new things, or simply to get things done (maybe all of the above!), we recognize and celebrate that as an excellent thing.”
If able to take pictures and share them on social media, participants can win raffle prizes, including water bottles, walk-themed face masks, “Run With Us” gift bags, a collapsible dog bowl, and many more prizes.
Walktober 2020 includes two extra special themed walks supported by Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton and the Coalition for Clean Air’s third Annual California Clean Air Day.
For self-guided walking tours, Pasadena Complete Streets Coalition has partnered with some City Council members and other collaborators to provide an evergreen library of tours to do during free time, in October as well as in coming months.
The walks for Walktober include a Mile-A-Day Challenge, which started on Thursday, Oct. 1, and will be on until Saturday, Oct. 31.
For this month-long challenge, simply share a picture of your Mile-A-Day walk anytime within the month, and tag @pasadenacsc or use #WalktoberPasadena for a chance to win a prize in the weekly drawing and be entered into the end-of-the-month raffle for a chance at the Grand Prize.
If you don’t have Instagram, email your picture to walktober@pasadenacsc.org.
Another month-long event is a Special District 1 Mile-A-Day Challenge, between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31. You can win another prize, and a local nursery gift certificate, courtesy of the Coalition for Clean Air. Again, tag @pasadenacsc and use #district1walks and #walktoberpasadena anytime during the month. The Coalition for Clean Air also encourages you to take the Clean Air Pledge at www.cleanairday.org.
Walk the Vote is on from Oct. 1 through Nov. 3, stressing that voting is a vital component of democracy. As you cast your mail-in ballot by walking to your local ballot box or public mailbox, take a picture of you exercising your constitutional right, and share it on social media, tagging it @pasadenacsc and using #WalktoberPasadena and #VoteCauseWeCan.
Beneath the Bridge is a walk through Pasadena’s Forgotten Park, under the Colorado Street Bridge, also a month-long activity up to Oct. 31.
Pasadena resident and blogger John Perry wrote this detailed walking tour of the South Arroyo below the Colorado Street Bridge for his “Transiting Los Angeles” blog. As you enjoy the curated walk, don’t forget to take some photos and tag @pasadenacsc and #walktoberpasadena.
A Pet Walk occurs on Saturday, Oct. 10. This is where you can enjoy a walk with your furry, fuzzy, or feathered companion, and share photos of you walking with your pet.
Make sure to tag your pictures @pasadenacsc and use #walktoberpasadena in any of these events for a chance to win a prize.
Again, if you don’t have Instagram, email your picture to walktober@pasadenacsc.org.
There’s also a Special Clean Air Day Challenge on Wednesday, Oct.7, when Vice Mayor Hampton invites you to do your Mile-a-Day on one of the three routes, parts of his jogging route, anytime on Oct. 7. To see the routes, visit www.pasadenacsc.org/walktober-2020.
A Virtual 5K with Day One happens on Friday, Oct. 9, and Wednesday, Oct. 14. The DO Walk Virtual 5k is a weeklong event where community members can get active. To register, visit www.godayone.org/DOWalkMonth. Once registered, participants can complete the 5k by walking or running that distance at any time throughout the week. The distance can be completed over the course of the week or in one go.
To get in the spirit, participants can also download a customized, printable race bib. Upon completing the trek, they can also swing by the Day One Office between 3 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, to receive a commemorative ribbon and swag bag to celebrate their accomplishment.
Other walks are available to participate in on your own time and at your own pace.
“As a part of Walktober we are honored to partner with the NAACP Pasadena Branch and host a self-guided “Walking Tour of the African American History of Pasadena.” Without the contributions of the elders of the NAACP Pasadena Branch and FAME Senior Ministry, this tour would not exist.
The tour consists of 14 locations primarily in North West Pasadena, centering on individuals and events of historical significance to the African American Community, which also provides Pasadena its rich history.”
For more information, visit www.pasadenacsc.org/walktober-2020.
