The city is planning a huge family-friendly event to celebrate improvements to Downtown Boca with food trucks, exotic cars, family activities and, literally, dancing in the streets.

The free “Meet Me on the Promenade” event, which runs Oct. 21-22, celebrates the completion of a $5 million project that includes reconstructed paved streets and widened sidewalks to help connect the areas between Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place,  and to make it more walkable.

The event kicks off the evening of Oct. 21 with the “Boca Bop” community line dance, choreographed and led by the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. School groups, clubs, businesses and sports teams are invited to wear their branded T-shirts or uniforms and join the dance.

The Teen Dance Troupe from the Lake Worth Playhouse will also perform Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Rihanna’s Disturbia.

Other live entertainment and family activities will continue till 10 p.m. in and around Sanborn Square. Downtown restaurants will be staying open late with specials and discounts.

On Saturday, Oct. 22, thousands of walkers wearing pink bras over their clothes will storm downtown for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. at the Mizner Park Amphitheatre. The walk begins at 9 a.m. Sign up here.

At 10 a.m., the festivities start again, with a “Sip & Stroll” tour of the Promenade and the areas that it connects, including Palmetto Park Road, Northeast First Avenue, Boca Raton Road, Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place. Trolleys will be running, and you can also take a Segway tour.

Bring the kids by the Family Zone at Sanborn Square, where BocaParent, an event sponsor, will be hosting some amazing balloon creations by BalloonMasterz. We’ll also be doing some giveaways and we’d love to meet more of our readers in person. Stop by and say hello!

The Boca Raton Children’s Museum will be there with its big pirate ship, a cannon shoot, face painting and more. The Junior League will have gardening and cooking tips for kids.

That evening, from 6 to 10 p.m., the party moves back into the street.

See you there!

EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday, Oct. 21

• 5 p.m.: Dress rehearsal for the Boca Bop community line dance.
• 6 p.m.: Event kick-off with Boca Bop.
• Until 10 p.m.: Dancing in the street, family activities, live entertainment, restaurant specials and more.

Saturday, Oct. 22

• 7:30 a.m.: Registration begins for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, Mizner Park Amphitheatre.
• 9 a.m.: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk
• 10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Downtown Boca tours, live entertainment, family activities, food trucks, exhibitor booths and more. Visit the BocaParent booth for amazing balloon creations from BalloonMasterz.
• 6-10 p.m.: Street party

LEARN MORE

Get involved: There are plenty of opportunities to perform, provide programming or host a booth. Get more info and sign up at DowntownBoca.org.

- CHARLENE PACENTI