Hands Around Green Lake is an effort to get more than 3,000 people to link hands in a giant embrace of the lake in support of our democracy, the rule of law, the U.S. Constitution, diversity, and a community that welcomes immigrants. It is designed to be family-friendly and welcoming to all. At a time when political rhetoric is becoming increasingly heated, this is an opportunity to dial down the intensity and find peace and strength in community. As Americans, we have more in common with one another than our current political climate suggests.
Two grassroots neighborhood groups, Greenlake Rising and Phinneywood Rising, are organizing this event, in concert with Communities Rising. If you have questions, contact us at greenlakerising@pm.me
Help us get the word out about Hands Around Green Lake by posting this page to your social media account and following us on Instagram. Help us distribute posters around your neighborhood (click on these links to get the 8x10 green poster, 8x10 blue poster, two half-size posters, or four quarter-size posters). You can also ask neighborhood businesses to post in their windows.
For adhesion, we recommend a heavy-duty stapler. Or whip up a batch of cheap and environmentally friendly wheat paste (recipe here) to affix the posters to various surfaces. Please only post on public property, such as telephone poles.
Pro tip: Seattle Public Library patrons can print out 3 color copies, or 10 B&W copies, for free once a week. Additional color copies cost 50 cents apiece, and B&W copies are 15 cents apiece.
We're not collecting food bank donations, but the nonprofit Washmasks Mutual Aid is collecting food donations at the Seattle Public Theater in October and November if you want to bring some canned goods.
2:30 p.m.: Participants arrive by 2:30 and fan out around the lake. We'll begin building the handholding circle at six places: The wading pool, Community Center/Evans Pool, southeast side of the lake at the intersection of N. 65th St., Boathouse/Aqua Theatre, the Aurora crosswalk on the southwest side, and the Seattle Public Theater (formerly known as the Bathhouse). Gather at one of those sites, then look for signs and our orange-vested volunteers for additional directions.
3 p.m.: We will hold hands and observe several minutes of silence. Participants, please stand at either the inner or outer edge of the 2.8-mile inner path around Green Lake, and do not block the path or any adjacent paths that lead away from the lake.
3:05 p.m.: Music and dance. We’ll break our silence with music and celebratory dancing. Enjoy the beautiful sanctuary of Green Lake and meet as many people as you can! We encourage you to discuss and commit to actions you can take to help improve our community and nation. Share your experience with the world on Facebook (check into the event), Instagram, Bluesky, Threads and whatever else you use. Let us create a positive social media presence to inspire the next event, as the 2016 Hands Around Green Lake event and the Hands Around Lake Merritt in Oakland inspired us!
4:00 p.m.: event ends. Volunteers will begin cleanup.