Running for the Kids: Run Vera Run Sunday at Seward Park

Once upon a time it was nearly impossible to experience live music as young person in Seattle. In 1985 the City Council passed what was called the Teen Dance Ordinance; which, for all intents and purposes, made it practically illegal for clubs to hold all ages events. Between 1985 and 2002, Seattle was kind of like the town in Footloose where no one was allowed to dance or listen to rock n' roll because it was illegal to gyrate and have fun. Enter The Vera Project. Basically, Vera is our Ren McCormack (as played by Kevin Bacon) - liberating us from a culturally dark place lacking in good music and dancing.

In the nine years since Vera started operating, it has become Seattle's foremost all-ages volunteer fueled music and arts space. The organization is a vital part of the city's thriving arts community, producing all-ages shows every week and providing education curriculum in silk-screening, sound engineering, recording and arts production. The Teen Dance Ordinance may be gone, but The Vera Project is just as necessary today as it was then. It is one of few dedicated spaces in Seattle that gives young people a venue in which to experience and participate in popular music and a forum for voicing their concerns.

This Sunday Vera is holding their second annual Run Vera Run fundraising event at lovely Seward Park. You can walk it or run it. There is a 4k walk/fun-run route around the Seward Park outer loop. Or, for the serious runners, a timed 10k route extending onto nearby Lake Washington Boulevard. The event will also feature a dance-themed pre-run warm-up routine, live music from the Redwood Plan after the run, as well as complimentary fruit, snacks, refreshments and pizza.

We urge you to come out this Sunday to support support all ages music and art. It's definitely not too late to get in on the action. Run Vera Run needs event volunteers, walkers/runners and donations. All of which can be done here.

And, remember, it's for the kids.

Sunday, 8:30 a.m. // Seward Park