Music, Parade, Balloon Glow, Vendors, Beer Garden, Paddle Boats and More: It's time for the Xenia Community Festival
Residents and visitors can enjoy two-days of family friendly fun at the 2019 Xenia Community Festival that will be held Friday, Sept. 13, and Saturday, Sept. 14, at Shawnee Park located adjacent to N. Detroit Street just north of the downtown area.
"The Xenia Community Festival offers a time for both residents and visitors to come together and celebrate how much we have to offer in the City of Xenia," says Chrissy Roundtree. "The volunteer-managed event is a labor of love for all of us and we want everyone to visit, shop, make memories and enjoy our town."
On Friday, Sept. 13, the festival will kick off at 4 p.m. with Stan "The Man" Brooks as DJ at the Shawnee Park Pavilion followed by opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. The U.S. Air Force Band of Flight will perform beginning at 6:15 p.m. followed by the event's annual Balloon Glow at 7:45 p.m.
Numerous craft and food vendors will be open Friday and Saturday for those visiting the festival.
On Saturday, Sept. 14, the day begins at 9 a.m., with the popular Xenia Community Festival Parade beginning near N. Detroit and E. Main streets ending at Shawnee Elementary School on W. Ankeney Mill Road.
The 2019 Xenia Community Festival Parade Grand Marshall will be Angels of Unity, which is an organization of diverse individuals dedicated to making a positive impact on the community through special events and all efforts in bettering the Xenia community.
The Chocolate Run/Walk/Fun 5K and the .3 Mile Kit-Kat Shuffle will be held Saturday from 8 to 11:30 a.m. The routes will start in historic downtown Xenia and will be held on paved trails that create an event for participants of all ability levels. The event will end at Xenia Station for the last 'chocolate stop.'
Cost to participate is $20 with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Toward Independence, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving adults with disabilities in Xenia. Registration for the event will take place at Toward Independence on Friday, September 13th.
Also, on Saturday, Sept. 14, Lowes will host the Xenia Community Festival Field Day for those participants in kindergarten to sixth grade; the winner will receive a new bike donated by Wal-Mart. Kids Field day will take place from 1-3pm at Shawnee Park. Paddle boats provided by the Xenia YMCA will be available to cruise across Shawnee Lagoon.
The Xenia Community Festival Beer Garden will be open daily during the event and is sponsored by Nick's.
Following the parade, dance team demonstrations will be held at the Shawnee Park Pavilion with Dance Loft Plus, 10 a.m.; Diamonds & Pearls, 11 a.m.; and Live Gracefully, Noon. Following the dance teams will be line dancing with Stan "The Man" Brooks from 2:30 to 4 p.m. At 4 p.m., WCSU-FM will present SaxTone Arrington with his jazz saxophone performance, followed by The Motown Sounds of Touch at 6 p.m. and The McCartney Project with Paul McCartney cover songs at 7:30 p.m.
The City of Xenia Police Department will host a drone demonstration from 4 to 5 p.m. and the City of Xenia Fire Department will host extraction exercises from 5 to 6 p.m.
The Title Sponsor of the 2019 Xenia Community Festival is Greene Memorial Hospital. The Platinum Sponsor is Reddy Electric; Gold Sponsors, Reichley Insurance Agency, Xenia Glass and Lock, WCSURM.org/Jazzy 88.9, Xenia Shoe and Leather Repair, Custom Cabs and Trailers; Silver Sponsors, Nick's, Security National Bank, McIlvaine Realtors, Classic Country Radio, Dean's Plumbing; Bronze Sponsors, Old Fort Bank, Collett Propane, First Student, Super Subby's; and with special thanks to the City of Xenia, Hall's Cleaning and Janitorial Services, Phillips, ScreenPlay Printing, WGC Golf Course, Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Xenia Fire Department, Xenia Police Department, Soul of Dayton 98.7, Howard Black, Sound Systems, United Way Volunteers and Meg Gillis.
The Xenia Community Festival Committee includes Chrissy Roundtree, President/Vendor Co-Chair; Alan Milkis, Vice President/Paddle Boats Co-Chair; Karly French, Secretary; Alan Liming, Treasurer/Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce President; Nikki Welsh, Sponsors/PR Chair; Christi Cox, Parade Chair; Stanley Brooks, Entertainment Chair; Fran Porter, Field Day/Vendor Co-Chair; Keith Koch, City of Xenia; Sgt. Scott Beegle, Xenia Police Department; and Capt. Brian Brennaman, Xenia Fire Department.
For more information about the 2019 Xenia Community Festival, visit www.xcfestival.com or www.facebook.com/xeniacommunityfestival or call the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce at (937) 372-3591.
