The closure extends from Rhode Island Avenue to E Street and cuts through Shaw, Mount Vernon Triangle and Chinatown.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but the downtown section of 7th Street, from Mount Vernon Triangle to E Street, will close at 2 p.m. The street itself will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for setup and cleaning.

There are fitness areas along the walk offering free classes for passersby, including yoga, dance training and wrestling lessons. Local artists – from rock bands to gospel groups – will provide entertainment, with some breaks for cultural dance performances such as a Chinese dragon dance and flamenco. Small businesses will also have stalls along the street selling food and other goods.

As in previous years, the focus will be on bike safety, with bike repair shops, free bike maintenance and a raffle of 22 adult bikes and 29 children's bikes.

“Open Streets is about coming together as a community, staying active, supporting our local businesses and reimagining the way we use public spaces,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser in a press release. “We are a walkable city, we are a city focused on expanding bike and public transit, and Open Streets shows us what is possible.”

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) says Open Streets helps get people excited and thinking about pedestrian spaces that are part of a new downtown plan.

“One of the things the mayor is doing in terms of downtown revitalization is creating more pedestrian areas,” said DDOT Director Shannon Kershbaum. “This will be one of our first opportunities to do this right downtown, on 7th Street.”