After the brutal winter we experienced, most of us are happy to see the spring flowers that are starting to appear throughout the community. The warm weather that helped create those flowers is a precursor to a busy season of events that will begin in just a few weeks and continue into football season.
The Founders Day Parade and Festival, a staple celebration of our heritage, will take place May 17. The parade route needed to be changed this year due to construction, but the event will still occur in our Village Center. The thousands of people who attend will no doubt enjoy this year’s parade followed by the festival on the New Albany-Plain Local Schools campus.
New Albany is known as a cycling town, and this year brings more cycling events to our city than ever before. Ride 2 Recovery, an organization that hosts events throughout the United States to support cycling programs that help injured veterans, is bringing one of its honor rides to New Albany on May 24. Additionally, the Bike MS Central Ohio Challenge is scheduled for July 12, to help fight the battle against Multiple Sclerosis; and the Ride for Hope, a Pelotonia prep ride, tentatively will occur July 19. Three weeks later, the weekend of Aug. 9-10, thousands of Pelotonia riders will come to town to help the fight to eradicate cancer and celebrate the many lives touched by the disease in one way or another.
For runners in the community, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and its Circle of Friends will host the 11th annual Circle of Friends Walk & Run for the Rainbow 5K June 13 in Market Square. Another 5K walk and run, sponsored by the New Albany Symphony Orchestra, will take place prior to the parade the morning of July 4 as part of the Independence Day celebration. This event is being coordinated in conjunction with the New Albany Community Events Board’s Independence Day morning parade and evening festival celebration, which will end with the traditional fireworks display.
People who enjoy the trifecta of cycling, running and swimming are in for a treat when the Challenge Family Triathlon comes to town July 26-27. Some of the world’s best triathletes will compete, with everyone having the opportunity to line up against them – at least at the starting line. Separate children’s and women’s events will occur on Saturday, with the main events of the Olympic and 70.3-mile triathlons scheduled on Sunday.
Think we’re done yet? Not even close. The Healthy New Albany Farmers Market will be back for its fourth year, with markets every Thursday from June 26 to Sept. 4 (except July 3). Also in Market Square, the New Albany Chamber of Commerce will bring back its popular Taste of New Albany event on Aug. 3.
September means two of New Albany’s most iconic and popular celebrations are on the docket. The New Albany Walking Classic, the best walking event in the United States, will occur Sept. 7. Two weeks later, on Sept. 21, the New Albany Classic & Grand Prix will take place at the Wexner residence. This much-celebrated one-day event brings more than 20,000 people to New Albany and raises more than $1 million annually for the Center for Family Safety and Healing.
Our event season is scheduled to close Oct. 11, with the Lifting Hopes New Albany Pump and 5K Run. This CrossFit-style event becomes more and more popular each year with its combination of weightlifting and running.
We hope to see many of you out and about to enjoy the beauty and friendly spirit of our community this spring and summer. New Albany is a great place to live, work, play and be healthy!
Scott McAfee is public information officer for the city of New Albany. Feedback welcome at laurand@cityscenemediagroup.com.
By Scott McAfee, Public Information Officer
