On Saturday, Sept. 13 at 6 p.m., Sixth Avenue Southeast and Southeast Main Street will serve as the starting point of a citywide street game known as Journey to the End of the Night. Essentially a combination of a race and tag, the event tests participants’ stamina and wits for about seven miles as they pass a series of city checkpoints while evading capture from fellow participants.

The event originated in San Francisco and has taken place in major cities around the world. The organizing group, MN Zero, has sponsored other activities, like “puzzle quests,” most recently in Dinktytown this August.

Participants of the September race are encouraged to bring friends, water, cameras, and, of course, their feet, but — with the exception of those in need of assistive technology — racers are expected to navigate themselves around the checkpoints using means provided by the city only.

The finish line will bring trophies for an ambitious few, but the true prize, according to event affiliate Jon Olsen, is the overall experience.

“The goal of Journey to the End of the Night is ultimately about experiencing the city in a heightened state of awareness,” he said. “To see the streets themselves as grounds for adventure and risk-taking, and to claim the public spaces for the sake of fun.”

Find more information on the game and how to participate here.

last revised: September 12, 2008

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