Stretch out your legs and dig out your comfiest walking shoes – the Big Parade is back this weekend!

The annual pedestrian celebration is entering its fifth year and will once again trace a long and winding route from Angel’s Landing in downtown Los Angeles to the Griffith Park Observatory over two days starting on the morning of Saturday, May 18th. More than just a walk, this is a true immersion in the urban landscape of Los Angeles – along the route, you’ll get info on the local history and architecture, a guide to the little-known public rights-of-way, cultural talks, poetry readings, discussions of urban parrots, and a performance from the Ukelele Orchestra of the Western Hemisphere. I did Day One of the Parade a few years ago and it’s still one of my favorite things I’ve ever done in L.A.

You can find more info and RSVP on the Big Parade’s Facebook Pages for Day One and Day Two, get info on the routes and timetables from the Parade’s main site, or follow their updates and locations in real-time on Twitter.

If you’re worried about the distance – don’t be. Dan crafts the route so there are plenty of opportunities to join for smaller loop sections and you’re almost always near a bus stop or Metro station to get back to your starting point. If you’re feeling especially energetic, there’s also a preamble on Friday morning that will explore northeast L.A. near the River.

I also wrote a recap of my experience on the Parade if you’re interested in reading an account of a first-time Marcher.

Tags: dan koeppel, Hiking, history, Los Angeles, the big parade, urban hiking