Drop-In, Grind A Rail And Have Some Fun At Free Community Skateboarding Event

BERKELEY, CA — The "T-Mack Skate Jam" will get underway this Saturday at the Terrence McCrary, Jr. Memorial Skate Park, the City of Berkeley announced Tuesday.

The free, all-ages event, which takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature live music (DJ sets), food from local eateries such as Las Cabañas and Brown Cap and, of course, plenty of opportunities to skate around the park.

The T-Mack Skate Jam is a means to honor skateboarder Terrence McCrary, Jr., as is the skate park itself. McCrary was killed by a stray bullet on Aug. 14, 2016 in Oakland. He was 22-years-old.

“Inspired by McCrary Jr., the late skateboard mentor for Berkeley youths known affectionately as 'T-Mack,' the skate jam will have open skating across the park’s 18,000 square feet of concrete, including a large oval bowl for carving, a fun box with ramps and rails, and areas for beginners,” said city officials.

The event also offers a contest, during which participants will compete on three features in the park: a big hip (a slanted ramp), a noping (a rounded concrete lip on a quarter pipe) and a ledge (a raised platform). Prizes will be awarded to three winners who "pull off the most complex tricks," officials said.

Plus, there will be a raffle for skateboards, wheels, and other items and a cardboard art contest with prizes for the artwork that best commemorates McCrary.

Here's the schedule for Saturday:

• Open skate warm-up: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• Raffle: noon to 2:30 p.m. (every 15 minutes)
• Skate Jam contest: 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
• DJ sets: noon to 1 p.m.; 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Art contest: 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Terrence McCrary, Jr. Memorial Skate Park’s address is 711 Harrison St., Berkeley.