Downtown to Defiance

Join us for the 2nd Annual Downtown to Defiance event to celebrate Tacoma’s waterfront and fabulous parks along the way.

Downtown to Defiance is a free open streets event for bicyclists, walkers and runners to experience the waterfront for almost 7 miles unencumbered by vehicular traffic.

The event starts and finishes at Point Defiance Park with a turnaround on the Foss Waterway Esplanade at S. 21st Street Park. Point Defiance Park will be activated with food trucks, low cost helmet-fitting and live entertainment.

Registration is now underway at DowntownToDefiance.com.  Registration is strongly encouraged and the first 600 to pre-register for the free event will receive a commemorative cinch pack.

Participants are encouraged to gather at the Point Defiance bowl with their bicycles and other human-powered devices at 7:30 am for the Downtown to Defiance kickoff which begins at 8 am.

The event celebrates sustainable transportation and green living and takes advantage of the new Point Defiance trail linking Ruston Way to Point Defiance Park.

This trail currently serves as a temporary connection for non-motorized access to the park, as Metro Parks develops a permanent Point Defiance trailhead and pedestrian-friendly entry from the waterfront to the park over the next two years.

It’s all part of a long-time vision Tacomans’ have had to create a waterfront connection from Downtown to Defiance.