The Yolo County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has announced the return of its annual NAMIWalks, marking the third year of this event.

Starting at 9 a.m. on Sept. 27 at Woodland Community College, folks will be able to bring out their families, including their furry friends, to participate in a walk to raise awareness and funds for the local NAMI chapter.

The family-friendly event features two routes to choose from — a half-mile-long track and a one-mile-long track. Each route is paved and can be walked as many times as people want from 9 a.m. until the event ends at noon.

Live music, community resources, light snacks and refreshments, food trucks, crafts and more will also be available at the NAMIWalks fundraiser.

Started by a group of families in 1979, NAMI has grown to be the largest mental health grassroots advocacy organization in the country and is “dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.”

Mental health remains at the forefront of the national conversation and mental health services are needed now more than ever. Nearly 20% of people report living with a mental illness, but the number increases to nearly 33% when looking at the numbers for young adults.

More than 600 local affiliates — including one in Yolo County — are scattered across the United States, working with various communities to raise awareness on mental health care issues.

NAMI Yolo County is currently seeking sponsors for this year’s event. For more information on sponsorships and for updates on the upcoming event, visit the NAMI Yolo County website at https://namiyolo.org/namiyolo-events/annual/namiwalks-yolo-county-2025/.