Journey to the End of the Night: Oakland

The city spreads out before you. Rushing from point to point, lit by the slow strobe of fluorescent buses and dark streets. Stumbling into situations for a stranger’s signature. Fleeing unknown pursuers, breathing hard, admiring the landscape and the multitude of worlds hidden in it.

For one night, drop your relations, your work and leisure activities, and all your usual motives for movement and action, and let yourself be drawn by the attractions of the chase and the encounters you find there.

Journey to the End of the Night is a free streetgame that will be played in the streets and parks of Oakland on Saturday, June 20th, starting at 7pm in Mosswood Park (right by MacArthur BART). Players sporting green ribbons will try to make it through a series of checkpoints as quickly and as stealthily as possible, while avoiding being caught by orange-ribboned chasers. The first player to reach the endpoint without being tagged is the winner, though anyone who survives is deservedly praised and feted at the end. Those who fall become chasers themselves, rising to pursue their former friends and allies. Players may not use skates, bikes, or cars, only their feet and public transportation. Imagine a nighttime race or dérive that keeps breaking out into games of tag or hide and seek.

The game begins on Saturday, June 20th, at 7 PM at Mosswood Park. Remember, no bicycles, no skates, no cars, no taxis. This race is for you, your fellow players, and the city itself. Wear comfortable shoes, and consider bringing water. The finish line will be by Lake Merritt, a short walk from the 19th St. BART station. For more info, see http://journey.totheendofthenight.com/oakland

Created by The Playtime Anti-Boredom Society in San Francisco in 2006 and released under a Creative Commons Attribution/Non-Commercial license, Journey to the End of the Night is a free street game of epic proportion that has since been run by hard-working volunteers in cities around the world from London to Los Angeles. This game is staffed entirely by die-hard volunteers who just really like fun and cities. It is run on a $0 budget without any kind of sponsorship. We are not accepting any donations for this event - if you want to help us out, help us spread the word!