NORWICH – Today, Chenango County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services and The Place are welcoming families and their children to the Kurt Beyer Park in Norwich for this year’s annual Safe Summer Fun Day.

The event is Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and will include a number of community organizations, free food, games, activities, a safety course and a ticket raffle to win a free mountain bike and helmet.

“It’s obviously an alcohol and drug free event. It’s a fun way to kick off a safe summer. We want families making safe choices,” said Drug and Alcohol Prevention Counselor Catherine L. Young. “It’s summer now and a lot of people are involved in a lot more activities in general and it’s a good time to remind people of the importance of making good choices.”

Safe Summer Fun Day is sponsored by approximately 30 local businesses, government agencies and student organizations and has been a traditional in Norwich for more than two decades. It typically draws around 600 children. Young said the Chenango Health Network for Tobacco Free Chenango was a large contributed to this year’s event and organizers would have information on hand to promote awareness to the hazards of smoking.

Action Cyclery of Norwich will provide bikes to children without them so they can participate in the event’s bike rodeo. Children who have received one of the 500 tickets handed out for the event will be eligible to win a free mountain bike and helmet, provided they complete a bike safety course. The bike and helmet were offered to the event at a “great discount” by Action Cyclery, said Young.

The Norwich Police Department will be on hand to inspect and register any bikes, along with other safety equipment. In addition to the bike rodeo there will be a bounce house and obstacle safety course.