On Saturday, October 17, Salt Trails Collective will gather at Race Street Pier for the sixth annual Grief Processional, a shared practice of remembrance, witness, and care.

From 1–3 p.m., we will move together along the Delaware River waterfront, carrying the grief that is often held privately and making room for the many ways people mourn, remember, and continue. The processional is an invitation to honor personal and collective loss while building relationships rooted in mutual care.

Grief does not look the same for everyone. It may be expressed through silence, song, movement, tears, conversation, prayer, art, memory, or simply the choice to show up. This gathering welcomes the full range of those experiences. We invite people of all ages, racial and cultural identities, genders, sexualities, faiths, abilities, and relationships to loss. We welcome you wherever you are in your grief, whether it is silent and still, or loud and moving.

We will gather at Race Street Pier, in the shadow of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, and walk together at a pace that makes room for different bodies, needs, and ways of participating. Participants are welcome to walk, sit, pause, accompany others, or remain near the gathering point. No particular story of grief or form of participation is required.

The event will include music and singing, shared ritual, opportunities for remembrance, and time for connection. We ask everyone to help create a space where grief is treated with dignity and where people can participate without pressure to explain, perform, or disclose more than they wish.

Event details

Sixth Annual Grief Processional
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 1–3 p.m.
Race Street Pier, Race Street and North Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Rain date: Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 1–3 p.m.
Please check Salt Trails Philly and our social media before traveling for any weather-related update.

Accessibility

Race Street Pier is an outdoor waterfront site with two levels, paved areas, lawns, and a connection to the Delaware River Trail. The Delaware River Waterfront describes its parks, including Race Street Pier, as ADA-compliant.

The processional will include opportunities to participate without walking the entire route. Seating and places to pause are available throughout the pier, and participants are encouraged to move at a pace that feels sustainable. If you use a wheelchair, walker, cane, or other mobility aid—or if standing and walking for extended periods is difficult—you are welcome to remain in one area or join for only part of the procession.

Please plan for:

• An outdoor setting with sun, wind, and changing temperatures

• Paved surfaces as well as grassy areas

• Uneven or potentially wet ground depending on weather

• Limited shade

• Comfortable shoes and clothing appropriate for the forecast

• Water, medication, mobility aids, and other personal supports you may need

Service animals are welcome. If you have an access need or question that would help you participate, please contact the organizers before the event so we can plan with you.

Restrooms

The closest confirmed public restrooms are at Cherry Street Pier, which provides restrooms year-round during its operating hours. Cherry Street Pier is north of Race Street Pier along the Delaware River waterfront.

Race Street Pier itself does not have a permanent public restroom facility. Restroom access at Cherry Street Pier may require walking along the waterfront, so please plan additional time and let an organizer know if you need assistance locating the facilities. We will share any event-specific restroom or portable-toilet information as soon as it is confirmed.

Parking and getting there

Parking at the Delaware River Waterfront is limited, so public transportation, walking, biking, and rideshare are encouraged whenever possible. There is no dedicated on-site parking lot at Race Street Pier. Nearby paid options include garages and lots in Old City and around Columbus Boulevard; availability and rates vary, especially on weekends. One nearby option listed for Race Street Pier is at 140 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard.

If you drive:

• Leave extra time to find a space and walk to the pier.

• Check posted signs and restrictions when parking.

• Consider reserving a nearby garage space in advance.

• Use accessible parking where available and display the appropriate placard or plate.

• Rideshare drop-off at Race Street and Columbus Boulevard may be easier than parking, depending on traffic.

Race Street Pier is located near Old City and the Delaware River Trail. The pier’s address is Race Street and North Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106.

Come as you are

You do not need to bring a particular object, story, or practice. You may bring a photograph, flower, written remembrance, small offering, or simply yourself. Please do not bring anything irreplaceable or anything you would not want to leave unattended.

You are also welcome to “wear” your grief—whatever that means to you. In past years, participants have worn patches with words, symbolic clothing, or items that belonged to someone they love. You might adorn yourself with color, fabric, jewelry, or another meaningful object. There is no single right way to express grief.

Bring what your grief calls for, while remaining mindful and respectful of cultures, traditions, and forms of mourning that are not your own. We invite curiosity, care, and humility: draw from your own experiences and relationships rather than reproducing another community’s sacred symbols or practices.

This is a community gathering, and we ask participants to practice consent and care: ask before touching someone or their memorial object, respect requests not to be photographed, and allow people to participate privately if that is what they need.

We hope you will join us as we remember, witness, and carry our grief together.