Olney Days to return April 26-28 –

by Terri Hogan

Senior Staff Writer

Mark your calendars: Olney Days 2019 will be held April 26-28, featuring events and activities to foster community spirit and hometown pride.

Olney Days started more than 30 years ago with a parade along Georgia Avenue. It has grown each year to cover three days of family-friendly events, drawing nearly 10,000 people from Olney and surrounding areas.

“As Olney grows, events like Olney Days preserve the small-town feel,” said Barbara Falcigno, Olney Civic Fund board member and fundraising chairwoman. “Having a hometown parade, fire truck rides and fireworks brings the community together. It is more than a tradition in Olney. I believe Olney Days helps define Olney and makes it an attractive place to live.”

Traditionally, Olney Days was held the weekend before Memorial Day. Last year, the date had to be moved to the last weekend in April due to planned construction at Olney Manor Park, the site of some Olney Days events.

Falcigno said the community’s response to the change was favorable, so the planning committee made the decision to move Olney Days to the last weekend in April going forward.

In addition to a dedicated planning committee that works all year long, Olney Days takes approximately 300 volunteers and dozens of corporate sponsors to make it a success.

“The entire weekend is organized and run by volunteers and funded by our business sponsors and individual donations,” Falcigno said. “As this event grows, it needs more people to help it run smoothly.”

“It can be lots of fun and the time commitment is short,” she said. “However, the need is real and very important.”

    Olney Civic Fund raises money to support Olney Days. To donate or learn more about this year’s Olney Days, go to www.olneycivicfund.org.

    For questions about volunteering, contact Falcigno at [email protected].  

Olney Days 2109 Schedule of Events

Friday, April 26, 8-10 p.m. — OBGC’s Flix @ The Fields Family Movie Night, Olney Boys and Girls Club at Freeman Fields, 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Road. Enjoy a movie on a big screen in the outdoors.

Saturday, April 27, 7-10 a.m. — Joe’s Ride and Stride Remembering Olney’s Kids
to benefit the Joseph Patrick Sanford Foundation. Starts and ends at Oakdale Church and includes 45K and 30K Bike Ride, 10K Bike Ride, 5K Walk and Kids Bike Rodeo. To register, go to www.signmeup.com. For more, visit Fletchers4U.com or JoeSanford.com

​Saturday, April 27, noon to 3 p.m. — Free Paper Shred and Electronics Recycling Event
​in Sandy Spring Bank parking lot. Limit three boxes or three large bags or equivalent; Solid State Recyclers will be on site to recycle e-waste. No TVs or newspapers.
Saturday, April 27, 3 p.m. to dark — Second annual Party in the Park, Olney Manor Park, 16601 Georgia Ave. Will feature food-eating contests, carnival games, rock climbing wall and moonbounce, sports competitions, fire truck rides, food trucks and a beer and wine garden. Music provided by local bands Audio Fuel, Priceless Advice, Rock Creek Band and Olney Big Band; stage sponsored by Medstar Montgomery Medical Center in celebration of its 100^th anniversary. Fireworks at dark, sponsored by Fletcher’s Service Center.

Sunday, April 28, 7:30 to 10 a.m. — Alex’s Run, Olney Boys & Girls Club at Freeman Fields, 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Road. 5K Run/Walk and Alex’s “SportsTrak,” a fun event course for young children. Benefits the Alex Popeck Never Back Down Foundation, which gives scholarships to Montgomery County students. Same day registration available or register at https://racewire.com/register.php?id=10101. For more, go to https://apnbd.org.

Sunday, April 28, 8-10 a.m. — Second annual ​Community Clean Up; meet in Olney Manor Park near Ballfield 1. Student Service Learning hours available. For information, go to https://tinyurl.com/yyu2cpbg. To sign up, go to www.MontgomeryServes.org.

Sunday, April 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — 25th annual Olney Days Car and Truck Show, Fletcher’s Service Center, 18001 Georgia Ave. For more, call 301-924-4500 or visit www.fletchers4u.com.
Sunday, April 28, 1:30 p.m. — Pre-Parade Concert by Olney Concert Band on Spartan Road, just east of Georgia Avenue, near the parade reviewing stand.

Sunday, April 28, 2 p.m. — 37th Olney Days Parade, starts at Prince Phillip Drive, travels north on Georgia Avenue and ends on Spartan Road. Parade applications, available at www.olneycivicfund.org, are due April 19.