Olney Days is here; all the favorites will return

Get ready. Get set. It’s here.

Olney Days, the beloved community holiday coordinated by Olney Civic Fund, will welcome visitors for food, games, music and – oh, yes — a parade May 2-4 at several locations in Olney.

Nine events will fill up the three days, and all the favorite will be back this year.

A few require registration or preparation, but it’s not too late. Go to OlneyCivicFund.org for complete up-to-date information.

“Some of the events are organized by Olney Civic Fund and some by other organizations,” said Jim Smith, chair of the Olney Civic Fund. “Fun community events like this give Olney a hometown feel and help us connect with our neighbors. We urge everyone in Olney to come to at least one of the activities.”

Olney Days weekend will kick off on Friday night with Flix @ the Fields Family Movie Night, featuring “Despicable Me 4.”

The event will be held at 8 p.m. at Olney Boys and Girls Club’s Freeman Fields, 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Road.

Brad Scott, executive director of Olney Boys and Girls Club, said OBGC is proudly hosting the event “as part of our commitment to the community.”

He added, “Bring your family and friends along with a picnic blanket and enjoy the kick off to an entire weekend of festivities celebrating Olney.”

MasonStrong Village looks forward to hosting its third annual Ride Towards Hope on Saturday, raising awareness for pediatric cancer, honoring those who have gone too soon and supporting young warriors fighting big battles.

This year’s event will include family friendly events —10K Bike Ride, 5K Walk/Run and the signature Kid’s Rodeo, including bike decorating, obstacle courses, scooter races, face painting and carnival games. It will be held 7-10 a.m. at Oakdale Church, 3425 Emory Church Road.

Keli Mazzuca, MasonStrong Village’s executive director and founder, said, “This is a great opportunity to support our local community and raise much needed funds for pediatric cancer research and psychosocial initiatives.”

The Olney Days Free Paper Shred has grown to include household donations, a lightbulb exchange (incandescent for LED bulbs) and Green Olney will accept items that are hard to recycle by sending them to Terracycle, whose mission is “Eliminating the Idea of Waste.”

The event will be held from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Sandy Spring Bank, 17801 Georgia Ave., in the parking lot behind the building.

See olneycivicfund.org/entire-schedule for a list of accepted items.

Shred coordinator Mindy Badin said, “The Paper Shred event is a convenient way to protect your personal information. Also available will be Electronics Recycling, Terracycling and household donations. This will help people unclutter and keep all sorts of materials out of landfills. Most importantly, these actions promote a cleaner environment.”

Participants of all ages are invited to channel their inner engineers and unleash their creativity at the Olney Days Rec Regatta, building boats entirely out of cardboard and duct tape.

Each vessel must be able to carry two people across the pool, where teams will compete for glory, laughter and the coveted titles of Fastest Boat, Best Design, Team Spirit and Most Spectacular Sinking.

The Rec Regatta will be held from noon to 3 p.m. at Olney Swim Center, 16605 Georgia Ave.

“All ages can help with construction, but sailors must be at least 10 years old,” said Olney Days coordinator Barbara Falcigno. “Last year, folks of all ages got into cardboard boats that they made and raced across the pool. It’s amazing what you can do with duct tape.”

One of the community’s favorite traditions is back. Olney Days Party in the Park is set to bring thousands of residents together for a lively celebration filled with music, games and family-friendly fun.

With three music stages showcasing local talent, the event offers entertainment for all musical tastes.

On the Olney Civic Fund Stage, visitors can enjoy performances from Pull Up A Chair, Call Me Blondie, Pet Names, Purple and The Olney Big Band.

The Community Stage will feature acts including The Olney Community Youth Choir, The Aviators, The Minor Fall, The Lashes, The 9.1.3 and Unfortunate Sons.

The Concert Stage will host the Olney Concert Band and Encore Singers.

“Each band that plays at Party in the Park has a connection to Olney,” said stage manager Dave Johnson. “It’s a great way to celebrate our town’s incredible talent.”

Between sets, local dance and martial arts studios will offer performances, adding to the festive atmosphere. Skateboarding fans can catch live demonstrations led by Rick Lamb, a certified skate instructor and owner of GOATS on Wheels, at the Skate Park.

A wide range of free activities will be available, including three moonbounces, a 48-foot inflatable obstacle course (provided by Empire Inflatables) and a 25-foot rock-climbing wall, courtesy of local Scouts BSA troops. Waivers are required to participate in some of these attractions.

“Fun on the Field” returns to the large ballfield, offering a chance for children and adults to race around the bases and compete for the fastest time. Lawn games such as corn hole, Giant Jenga, Giant Connect Four and various sports activities will also be on hand for casual play.

To help fund the event, organizers are offering interactive fundraising games.

The Giant Slingshot challenge gives players a chance to launch balls at distant targets, with a $50 prize for anyone who hits a special target.

The ever-popular Minute to Win It games feature over 15 quick, quirky challenges that test sorting, stacking and balancing skills. For $15, participants receive a wristband granting unlimited game play.

Adults can enjoy a drink in the Beer & Wine Garden, featuring offerings from several local breweries, including Brookeville Beer Farm, Denizens Brewing Co., Elder Pine Brewing & Blending Co., Lone Oak Farm Brewing Co. and Waredaca Brewing Co. New this year: Sobar will be pouring non-alcoholic options.

Last year, more than 8,000 people attended Party in the Park, and this year’s crowd is expected to be even larger if weather is good.

Both free and paid parking options are available. Guests can reserve a parking spot inside the park for $30 at olneycivicfund.org/parking-at-party-in-the-park.

Olney Days will continue on Sunday with the 28^th annual Olney Days Car and Truck Show at Fletchers Service Center, corner of Georgia Avenue and Spartan Road, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The show features classics, muscle and custom cars. Visitors are invited to vote for the People’s Choice award.

This year, Oakdale Church will lead a life-changing mission through Bikes for the World. On Sunday afternoon, they will be collecting and preparing donated bicycles for shipment to a village in Sierra Leone that has suffered deeply in recent years.

This community experienced tremendous loss during the Ebola outbreak, just before the global pandemic struck. As a result, many children were orphaned. Today, those children are teens and young adults who are eager to work, but have no way to get to a job. A donated bicycle can make a difference in their lives.

In addition to bicycle donations of any size and condition, Oakdale is raising $7,000 to cover the cost of shipping the container overseas. To give online, visit: www.Oakdale.church and write “Bikes for the World” in the donation line.

As the community gathers for the much-anticipated Olney Days Parade, parade-goers can enjoy the sounds of the Olney Concert Band performing live at 1:30 p.m. at the parade reviewing stand, located at the corner of Spartan Road and Georgia Avenue.

The weekend will wrap up with the beloved tradition that started it all 40 years ago — the Olney Days Parade.

This event will showcase a variety of local and regional groups, along with classic cars from the popular Car and Truck Show.

“This year’s parade will mark 40 years of an Olney tradition, and my first year as parade coordinator,” said Fred Proctor. “I’m gratified that we have many familiar teams that our community will recognize, and excited that we have some first-timers who I’m sure will bring some fresh energy.”

Olney Days coordinator Helene Rosenheim has watched the community celebration get bigger each year.

“I have seen Olney Days grow from a simple parade into a full weekend of events,” said Rosenheim, who has been involved with the event for over 30 years. “The beauty is how it brings the community together, making Olney feel like a small town where people know their neighbors and local business owners.”

Sponsors and funds

“As Olney Days grows, so do the expenses,” fundraising chair Barbara Falcigno said, “We could not have Olney Days without all of our sponsors, but I want to highlight our platinum-level sponsors this year: Fair Hill Shops, Fletcher’s Service Center, Graeves Auto & Tire, Sandy Spring Bank and Stein Sperling Attorneys at Law.”

Olney Days is generally supported by around 60 sponsors. However, this year the number has dipped below 50, making it more challenging to cover all event costs.

“We rely on community support to maintain the success of Olney Days,” Falcigno said. “That’s why we’ll be actively encouraging individual donations at several of the Olney Days events.”