Dancers gather in front of Cambridge City Hall for the 2006 City Dance Party. (Photo: Rekha Murthy)

Cambridge, like other communities in the Boston area, encourages its residents to walk or ride their bicycles on the last Friday of every month — Walk/Ride Day. This month Mayor Henrietta Davis wants to kick it up a notch by including an all-day celebration, inviting residents to move their feet at the annual City Dance Party.

The free party, which closes Massachusetts Avenue to cars to make room for thousands of dancers young and old, started in 1996 as part of the 150th anniversary celebration of Cambridge. After dark, a spectacular light show covers the dancers and City Hall.

Highlights of Davis’ daytime event are to include live music by Patrick Coman and the Lo-fi Angels, fresh food, bike safety checkups and giveaways.

In addition, green commuters from around Cambridge will have the opportunity to visit various tables, chatting with the mayor and public health leaders and activists from around Cambridge. Sponsors include the Cambridge Health Department, police, the Broadway Bicycle School and Cambridge Energy Alliance.

The event is set for Friday at City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The dance party runs from 7 to 11 p.m. For information, go to greenstreets.mapc.org or call Julia Greene in the mayor’s office at (617) 349-4321.

The No. 1 Bus Line will stop in Central Square at 6 p.m. and resume full service at 11:30 p.m. Riders should switch to the red line subway to travel between Central and Harvard squares.