It’s shaping up to be a busy summer in Sunbury.
The first Farmer’s Market of the season took place from 9 a.m. to noon May 18 at the Town Square, it and will continue rain or shine on Saturdays until Oct. 12. This is the 15th year for the event, sponsored by the Sunbury/Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce.
The chamber has several other events going on this summer, including a ribbon cutting for Dave Burgett, Financial Advisor for Edward Jones, 3:30-6:30 p.m. May 29, 700 W. Cherry St., Suite A.
On Memorial Day, holiday ceremonies start at 10 a.m. in J.R. Smith Park, 9 E. Granville St. The annual parade will go downtown and end by 11 a.m. at the Sunbury Cemetery. The annual Memorial Day Flea Market will take place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Town Square Monday, May 27. The event is sponsored by the Big Walnut Music and Marching Band Boosters.
Movies on the Square are being shown on the Town Square at dusk on Fridays, May-August. This year’s offerings are: “Ralph Breaks the Internet” (May 31); “Peter Rabbit” (June 28); “The Incredibles 2” (July 26); and “Spiderman into the SpiderVerse” (Aug. 23). The movies are sponsored by the Big Walnut Civic Association.
The Mud Run Eagle Dash is at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at Sunbury’s Freedom Park. Sponsored by the Big Walnut Civic Association, it’s a fun obstacle course mud run for kids, untimed, and no awards are given out.
The public is invited to an open house for the Village of Sunbury’s Parks and Recreation Committee, from 5-8 p.m. June 6 at the Town Hall, 51 E. Cherry St. The committee and engineers CT Consultants is working on a master plan for current and future recreation facilities, and public input is needed.
The inaugural Chamber Big Shot Sporting Clay Classic will run from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on June 7 at Cardinal Sporting Clay Facility, 616 state Route 61, Marengo. All skill levels are welcome, and a new shooter clinic is available.
Sunbury business American Showa presents the Dream Big 5K/10K and Kid’s Fun Run at 8 a.m. June 8 at Alum Creek State Beach Park in Lewis Center. Proceeds will benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
A Fishing Derby will take place at Sunbury’s upground reservoirs 9 a.m.-1 p.m. June 15. The event is sponsored by the Big Walnut Conservation Club.
There will be a joint after hours event with the Sunbury/Big Walnut Area and Delaware Area chambers of commerce from 5-6:30 p.m. June 20 at Rise Pies Patio at Tanger Outlets.
The American Cancer Society is sponsoring the Bazaar for a Cure from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 22 at the Town Square. The fourth annual event features more than 40 local vendors and crafters, and proceeds from raffle tickets will go to the OSU James for cancer research.
The Sunbury Chamber will be among the participants at the Steps to Success Resource/Job Fair from 10 a.m.-noon June 26 in the Willis Building, U.S. Highway 23 North, Delaware. The fair is “a collaboration of community partners and employers to assist individuals in overcoming barriers to their success.”
The Independence Day celebration goes from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. on the square with a parade, arts and crafts fair, kids zone and food trucks. Later, there will be fireworks at dusk at the Big Walnut High School, 555 South Old 3C Highway.
The 20th annual Corey Lehman Memorial Volleyball Tournament starts at 9 a.m. July 6 at the grass courts between Big Walnut High School and the old middle school. Teams are co-ed. Proceeds go to the Corey Lehman Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Big Walnut Education Foundation. The event’s Facebook page states, “To date, we have been able to award $60,000 in scholarships to amazing seniors who deserve it.”
On July 27, there will be two events in Sunbury. From 9 a.m. to noon is the American Legion’s annual Youth Fishing Derby at the reservoirs; and from 4 p.m. to dusk is the FlyHighMCY Cornhole Tournament at the Town Square.
The chamber’s Back-to-School Quarterly Breakfast is at 7:30-9 a.m. Aug. 2 and followed by the 11th annual Chamber Golf Outing, both at Royal American Golf Links, 3300 Miller Paul Road in Galena.
The Sunbury Sizzle & Sound Food and Music Festival will take place all day Aug. 17 on the Town Square. Sponsored by the Big Walnut Civic Association, this year’s performers include Brittany at 11:45 a.m.; Cream Camino at 12:30 p.m.; The Usual Suspects at 2 p.m.; Funky Waters at 4 p.m.; Simba Jordan at 6 p.m.; Tongue and Cheek at 8 p.m.; and headliners Saved By the 90’s at 10 p.m.
Two other things to keep in mind this summer — first, ground was recently broken for a strip mall to be built across from the Big Walnut Grill, 175 state Route 3. Sunbury spokeswoman June Rhodes-Diehl said there will be three to five storefronts, and it will be similar to the strip mall that was built in the parking lot of the Kroger on Maxtown Road and state Route 3. Secondly, the Inn at Walnut Trail, an assisted living facility at state Route 3 and state routes 36/37, will open in September and is currently accepting job applications. For more information, visit www.innatwalnuttrail.com.
