By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net
Davidson will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Town Day on Saturday, May 7, and residents may notice a different look and feel from Town Days in recent years. Organizers are adding a series of community service projects and other activities to invoke the historical roots of the annual event, as a townwide cleanup day.
As in past years, the town festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Village Green, at Main Street and Concord Road, with music, food, kids activities and other events. And the day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a 5K race and fun run from the green, to raise money for the Davidson Cornelius Child Development Center.
But this year, residents also are being asked to join in one of three community service projects “to spruce up the town,” according to a Town Hall announcement. Volunteers can help prepare a garden at Ada Jenkins Center (11 a.m.), spread mulch behind Summit Coffee (noon), or helping to build a sunflower house at a community garden (3 p.m.).
The idea is to remember the intent of Town Day’s founders, including the old Davidson Community Council, according to Davidson Downtown Manager Kim Fleming. “We discovered that it is in fact the 40th anniversary of Town Day, and we are trying to get back to what the original intent of Town Day was. That was really a great day of service. It was a day to clean up the town and celebrate after doing that,” Ms. Fleming said in an interview.
One thing missing from this year’s event will be the booths along Main Street that previously have allowed local businesses to promote themselves and offer everything from promotional giveaways to free massages. Some local merchants have complained to Town Hall about the change.
“We’re trying to get the focus back on the town that everybody loves,” Ms. Fleming said. “We’re definitely not turning away from merchants. Everything we do is to support our businesses.”
Saturday’s event will still have many familiar activities, including:
- 8:30 a.m. – Davidson Cornelius Child Development Center 5K and Fun run. Details on our Health & Fitness page preview
- 8-noon – Davidson Farmer’s Market, behind Summit Coffee.
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Games, musical entertainment and food from Davidson area restaurants.
- Games include the Davidson Elementary School PTO Cake Walk, which raises money for the school. (Cakes wanted, CLICK HERE for info.)
- Davidson public library annual book sale, all day
- 10 a.m., dedication of the Davidson library’s new brick patio, with bricks donated by citizens and businesses as part of fund-raising to keep the library open this year. Mayor John Woods will officially unveil the new brick patio. See May 5, 2011, “Got Brick? You bet!
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Davidson Bikestation 2011, on the Village Green. Sponsored by the Greenways, Trails and Bikeways Advisory Board and area cycling shops and programs, it will allow participants to learn more about cycling in Davidson, swap used bikes, and meet other area cyclists. Free helmets, bells and bike accessories will also be available at the Bikestation, while supplies last. (Read more in our Health & Fitness page preview of Bikestation.
- 11 a.m. Ada Jenkins Center, noon behind Summit Coffee, 3 p.m. Community Garden – Community Service projects. Ms. Fleming said no advance signups are required to participate in any of the projects on Saturday. Just look at the schedule for service projects, choose an event or events, and show up at the location and time.
RELATED LINKS
Davidson town website info on Town Day 2011 and town day history.
