The wheelbarrow.

A ubiquitous instrument found at construction sites, it's the quintessential tool symbolizing building and creation.

It's fitting then that it is the symbol of the 17th Annual Wheelbarrow Festival in Reynoldstown at Lang-Carson Park this Saturday, Sept. 8.

The festival, which features a 5K run and health fair, music, food and a juried artists' market, is the neighborhood's annual block party designed to showcase the Reynoldstown community, which was originally settled by newly freed slaves after the end of the Civil War.

But more importantly, it's a chance for neighborhood residents to meet each other and strengthen community bonds, said Will Moore, festival co-chairman and board member of the Reynoldstown Civic Improvement League.

"First and foremost, it's really about getting the neighborhood out into the community, meeting each other, talking, having a good time and listening to music," Moore said.

The wheelbarrow motif comes from the early days when all the materials needed for setting up were brought by such tools, he said.

The name stuck, Moore explained, underscoring the drive for making it a community-building opportunity and a celebration of the history of Reynoldstown.

If you go: The 17th Annual Wheelbarrow Festival is Sept. 8 at Lang-Carson Park. It features a 5K Run through Reynoldstown and Cabbagetown from 8:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with proceeds benefitting the RCIL. There's a slew of live bands scheduled to perform from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. including the Atlanta Funk Society, Little Tybee and Cadillac Jones.