By Grace Allen

The unofficial kick-off to summer in Norfolk is returning this month and will be renamed this year in memory of its founder, Scott Dittrich.

The 31st annual Community Day will be held on Saturday, June 10 at the Holmes bus complex on Myrtle Street in Norfolk, starting at 11 a.m. And while most of the details surrounding the event remain the same as in previous years, with a couple of exceptions, this year the event will be called Old Tyme Day in honor of Dittrich, who passed away on March 21 at the age of 77.

Scott Dittrich was a Norfolk Lion for more than thirty years, and many of his creative ideas live on in events that continue to this day. He was, according to a Lions press release, “a man of Big Ideas, actions to back them up, and an uncanny ability to engage others and bring out their best towards serving the community and helping those who were less fortunate.”

In memory of Dittrich, Old Tyme Day will culminate with fireworks at the Freeman Kennedy School on Boardman Street in Norfolk. Sponsored by Norfolk Recreation, the fireworks will start at 8:45 p.m. The rain date for the fireworks will be Sunday, June 11.

Old Tyme Day Events

Admission to Old Tyme Day is free, but there’s a suggested donation of $5 for parking. In addition to the evening fireworks, events and displays at Old Tyme Day will include a children’s art contest, touch-a-truck, Tom Antonellis’ bird houses, and the golf ball drop 50/50 raffle. Returning and new amusements include a sports obstacle course and a mega slide. 

The black top entertainment will include several local groups, including Inspiration Performing Troupe and Exhale Dance.

New this year, Old Tyme Day will kick off with the first annual Norfolk Lions Carriage, Bike and Wagon Parade for children of all ages. Children and their families can decorate carriages, wagons, bikes, or trikes, and every entry will receive an award.

This year’s schedule of events on the main stage: carriage, bike, and wagon parade (11 to 11:30 a.m.); Inspiration Performing Troupe (11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); Exhale A School of Dance (12:30 to 1:30 p.m.); musical chairs & balloon toss for kids (1:30 to 2:30 p.m.); and pie eating contest and golf ball drop (2:30 p.m.).

Other activities will take place throughout the complex, including Jeri’s Balloons (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.); an animal petting zoo (noon to 3 p.m.); Good Tymes Banjo Band (12:30 to 1:30 p.m.); King Philip Steel Drum Band (1 to 2 p.m.); Megalodon Tooth Hunt (all day); Meet the GOFI Dogs (all day);  airbrush tattoos (all day); antique fire engine, hay wagon and train rides (all day); caricaturist (all day); and foam play courtesy Norfolk Fire Department (3:15 p.m.).

Local organizations will also be on hand to raise funds and awareness of their work. 

The Norfolk Lions will hold a food drive during Old Tyme Day, acknowledging the fact that food pantry supplies are often at their lowest during the summer months. Some items currently needed are cereal, soup, coffee, snacks (especially those for children), juice, pasta sauce, canned tuna, and baked beans.

Many town organizations and volunteers help the Lions with Old Tyme Day, including the Norfolk Fire, Police and Highway Departments and Norfolk Recreation. Also contributing support (and muscle) are the Emmanuel Baptist Church, various King Philip High School organizations such as KP Leos, KP Cares, DECA, as well as many other volunteer groups.

The Lions would also like to thank and acknowledge the sponsors for Old Tyme Day: Holmes Bus Company, Consigli Family, C&K Custom Apparel, Carpentry by Tom Antonellis, Darby By Design, Exhale A School of Dance, Franklin Plumbing, Heating, and Gas Inc, Marino Family, Molly Maid, Next Homes Soundings Realty, Norfolk Auto Inc, Norfolk DPW, Norfolk Recreation, Panepinto Realty Group, Phoenix Biopharma Group, Robert Roofing and Gutters, Steller Salon, Tharrett Family, Uptown Cards, Wellness at Organic Buzz, Wrentham Cooperative Bank, 1776 Financial, Anderson Electrical Contractors Inc, Aqua Barriers Inc, Assured Collision, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Bradbury Insurance Agency, Dunkin’, Flooring America Design Center, G Cronin & Sons Oil, Hamlin Cabinet Corp, Island Lighting & Power Systems Inc, J.H. Pokorny Associates, Next Phase Legal, Norfolk County Dental Care, Norfolk Grange #135, Norfolk Wine & Spirits, Norfolk Fire Department, Re/Max Real Estate, Run & Gun Ranch, and Samet CPA.

The Lions Club International is a non-profit organization known for working to end preventable blindness. Norfolk Lions participate in a vast variety of projects important to the community, and proceeds from Old Tyme Day are donated back to local charities or to help with community needs.  

For more information about Old Tyme Day or the Norfolk Lions, visit www.norfolkmalions.org or email [email protected].