EVENTS

Yo, Slick! Slide the City offers 1,000 feet of water fun

Randy Cordova
The Republic | azcentral.com
Slide the City, which began last year, has two events coming up, in Fountain Hills this weekend and in downtown Phoenix next month.

Slide the City takes the concept of the backyard Slip'N Slide and super-sizes it. This slide measures 1,000 feet, longer than three football fields.

"It came from the thinking of what would be the grown-up version of the Slip'N Slide," says Emily Clifford, event coordinator with Slide the City. "It's something designed to be a big, fun community event."

On this giant slide, however, people glide on inner tubes or other pool inflatables. There are three lanes, so more than one person can slide at the same time.

Despite the grown-up twist, this isn't an adults-only affair. Kids who are at least 5 years old and taller than 46 inches are welcome.

"This is designed to be fun for families, but we get all kinds of people," Clifford says. "It appeals to almost everybody."

There will also be music courtesy of disc jockeys, as well as a food truck or two. In addition to the fun, there is a philanthropic side. The organization partners with a charity in each city it visits, with a portion of proceeds helping out. In Fountain Hills, Slide the City has partnered with Mothers Without Borders. In Phoenix, the Valley Family YMCA will benefit.

Slide the City launched last year. The organizers behind it are behind such other large events as the Dirty Dash and Color Me Rad 5K.

As with those events, "It's physical. It's about being active," Clifford says. "But it's not a race. You can kind of hop on at your own pace."

Slide the City

When: Noon-5 p.m. Saturday, April 25.

Where: 15899 E. Palisades Blvd., Fountain Hills.

Admission: $27; $30 day of event. VIP admission is $62 advance; $65 day of event and includes unlimited slides, a tube, T-shirt, hat, mouth guard, decal and extended hours (11 a.m.-6 p.m.).

When: Saturday, May 16.

Where: 100 S. Seventh St., Phoenix.

Admission: $25 advance; $30 day of event. $27; $30 day of event. VIP admission is $60 advance; $65 day of event and includes unlimited slides, a tube, T-shirt, hat, mouth guard, decal and extended hours (11 a.m.-6 p.m.).

Details: slidethecity.com.

Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849. Twitter.com/randy_cordova.