By Grace Allen

Norfolk’s biggest celebration of the year is set to return this month after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Community Day will take place on Saturday, June 11 at the Holmes Bus Complex on Myrtle Street starting at 11 a.m. Sponsored by the Norfolk Lions Club, the family-friendly event includes participation by area groups and organizations, along with food and entertainment in an old-time, country fair environment. Parking is $5.

Event highlights this year will include a children’s art contest, touch-a-DPW truck, a golf ball drop 50/50 raffle, and a sports obstacle course, among other amusements.

Entertainment will include a number of local groups, some of which have participated in Community Day for the last 25 years. Also back by popular demand is Mike Piazza, dubbed the Number 1 K-9 frisbee performer in the world, and his Flying High Frisbee Dogs, performing a variety of frisbee tricks.

Community Day attendees can browse booths sponsored by local community organizations. More information about these groups and their activities will be available.

Also during the day, the Norfolk Lions will hold a food drive. The group notes that food pantry supplies run low during the summer months, and suggests donations of cereal, soup, coffee, children’s snacks, juice, pasta sauce, tuna, and baked beans.

Organizers hope the return of the popular event will encourage people to come out, visit with neighbors and friends, and kick off the more laid-back summer season in town.

Community Day, according to the Lions, is a town-wide effort made up of many volunteers, including the Norfolk Police and Fire Departments, Norfolk Recreation, and community groups and organizations including the Emmanuel Baptist Church and King Philip High School’s KP Leos, KP Cares, and DECA.The Norfolk Lions also acknowledge Community Day’s many sponsors: Holmes Bus Company, Norfolk Recreation Department, C&K Custom Apparel, Clients Realty, Darby by Design, Heritage Smart Technology, Lisa Biggar - Laer Realty Partners, Molly Maid, Norfolk Auto Inc, Norfolk Department of Public Works, Carpentry by Tom Antonellis, EL Harvey, Kim Williams Team, Minuteman Press (West Newton), Taylor Rental, Colleen’s Crafts, Jeffrey Chalmers - Mortgage Network Inc, Norfolk Sharpening, Norfolk Small Business Association, Panepinto Realty Group - Re/Max, State Representative Shawn Dooley, Taglienti Family, and the Tharrett Family.

Annual sponsors include 1776 Financial, Anderson Electrical Contractors Inc, Aqua Barriers Inc, Assured Collision, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Bradbury Insurance Agency, C&K Custom Apparel, Dunkin’, Exhale A School of Dance, Flooring America Design Center, G Cronin & Sons Oil, Hamlin Cabinet Corp, Island Lighting & Power Systems Inc, J.H. Pokorny Associates, Next Phase Legal, NextHome Soundings Realty, Norfolk Auto Inc, Norfolk County Dental Care, Norfolk Grange #135, Norfolk Wine & Spirits, Re/Max Real Estate, Run & Gun Ranch, Samet CPA, and W.T. Holmes Transportation.

The Norfolk Lions Club is a non-profit organization made up of men and women dedicated to serving the community of Norfolk and promoting the mission of Lions Club International. The Lions Club International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.