The Great Los Angeles Walk Returns November 22, Challenging the City’s Car-Centric Reputation
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A free, annual event aiming to redefine perceptions of urban mobility in Southern California, the Great Los Angeles Walk, will take place on Saturday, November 22, 2025.The walk, a tradition held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, invites participants to traverse the length of Wilshire Boulevard, from Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica, and experience the city on foot.
A Walk Against the Grain
For years, Los Angeles has been synonymous with car culture, famously prompting the observation that “nobody walks in L.A.” The great Los Angeles Walk,founded in 2006 by L.A. journalist and blogger Michael Schneider, directly challenges this notion. schneider initially conceived of the walk as a personal milestone, celebrating his tenth year living in Los Angeles. Inspired by Kevin Roderick’s book, “wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles” (with research by J.Eric Lynxwiler), he embarked on walking the entire length of the iconic boulevard.
Route and Landmarks
The 2025 walk will begin at 9 a.m. at Pershing Square, located at 532 S.Olive St. in Downtown Los Angeles. Participants will then proceed west along Wilshire Boulevard, encountering a diverse range of landmarks and neighborhoods. The route will pass through Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown, the Miracle Mile, Beverly Hills, westwood, and ultimately conclude in Santa Monica.
Along the way, walkers will have the opportunity to observe historic architecture, including bullocks Wilshire and the Wiltern Theater, and also cultural attractions like MacArthur Park and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). The walk also acknowledges the city’s evolving landscape, passing sites that once housed iconic establishments like the Ambassador Hotel and Perino’s, now lost to demolition.
Community and Exploration
Organizers encourage attendees to prioritize safety and adhere to proper safety protocols throughout the event. Participants are also encouraged to document their experiences and share their observations, fostering a sense of community and collective exploration. The walk is designed to be flexible, allowing individuals to join for any portion of the route and explore at their own pace. The event will culminate in a celebration at Papi Tacos & Churros, located at 313 Wilshire Blvd. in downtown santa Monica.
A Continuing Tradition
The great Los Angeles Walk has evolved over the years, but it’s core mission remains the same: to encourage people to experience Los Angeles in a different way. schneider continued to lead the walk for many years,fostering a dedicated community of urban explorers. In 2019, he passed the torch to a new organizing team lead by Joel Epstein, ensuring the walk’s continuation. Epstein and his team have worked to expand the event’s reach and impact, partnering with local businesses and organizations to promote pedestrian-friendly initiatives. The walk ended as planned each year with a gathering at Papi Tacos & Churros in Santa Monica, celebrating the accomplishment and fostering a sense of community among participants. The event continues to be a yearly tradition, scheduled for the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
