ASHLAND, Ky. — The annual Summer Motion festival will begin Friday in Ashland, Ky.

This year’s offerings include games and other activities in Central Park, live music and the annual 10K run. It also includes free concerts each evening on the riverfront.

The grand finale will be the fireworks display on the riverfront on July 4. The show will begin at approximately 9:40 p.m.

The firework’s synchronized music will be simulcast from radio stations WTCR 103.3 and B97.

 

THE BEGINNING

Summer Motion gets going at 8 a.m. Saturday with the annual 10K race. The fee is $15 and participants may register online at www.summermotion.com.

At 9 a.m. Sunday, the Summer Motion Bike Tour begins at Greenbo Lake State Resort Park. Information about it is available on the organization’s website, www.summermotion.com.

 

CENTRAL PARK

On Saturday, activities in Central Park begin at 9 a.m. with a car show and a new offering called Heart Chase that begins at 9 a.m. and begins at Central Park but takes participants on a scavenger-style hunt at various other locations throughout the city.

A cornhole tournament is at 11 a.m. Registration for it begins at 10 a.m. at the horseshoe pits. The registration fee is $20. Also at 11 a.m., the Chef Challenge: Area culinary aficionados will compete for the Summer Motion Chef Choice Award.

There will also be games, vendors and a variety of exhibits. From noon to 3 p.m. WTCR radio will host the Texaco Country Music Showdown Regional Semi-Finals. One contestant will move on to the final round of the nationwide talent search.

The live music lineup in the park includes John Thornsberry at 3 p.m., Against the Grain at 4 p.m., Madhouse at 5 p.m., Kayla Dehart at 6 p.m., Split Decision at 7 p.m. and FM Trio at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, activities begin at 9 a.m. with a motorcycle show that runs until 4 p.m. Presented by Summer Motion, the show will include Goldwings, Harleys, Choppers, Cruisers, Sports Bike and an Open Class. Registration is at 9 a.m. Again, there will be games, exhibits and vendors.

On Monday, July 2, the American Red Cross and Summer Motion will sponsor as blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Crabbe Elementary, on Central Avenue across the street from the park.

 

THE RIVERFRONT

A number of music groups will take the riverfront stage during the annual event.

At 9 p.m. Monday Bachman and Turner will perform. Randy Bachman and Fred Turner were both members of the 1970s group, Bachman Turner Overdrive.

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 3 Shane Thomas will perform. Thomas, who has lived in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Ohio and Kentucky, is an Ashland resident.

At 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 3 the country band Mockingbird Sun will follow Shane Thomas.

At 9:15 p.m. July 3 The Eli Young Band will cap the evening’s music lineup. The Texas-based band has made guest appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and has opened for both Alan Jackson and Dave Mathews.

The Independence Day riverfront celebration begins at 7 p.m. with Dressed To Kill. The KISS cover band is from Harlan, Ky.

At 10:15 p.m. July 4, Jonny Lang will perform. Lang has toured with such blues and rock acts as Buddy Guy, Aerosmith and Sting.

 

Saturday schedule of exhibits, vendors and activities:

• 10K Race 8:00 a.m. Saturday (17th Street & Central Avenue)

• Car show – Registration 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., $10

• American Heart Chase, Registration 9 a.m., event 10 a.m.

• Games for children

• Inflatable rides

• 200 ft. zip line

• Giant craft show with over 100 booths 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Medical screenings 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

• Worm race at noon

• Various exhibits

• Food court with 12 vendors.

• New Ohio Championship Wrestling, featuring Shark Boy (TNA & Ring of Honor star), Sean Casey (WWE Star), Handsome Beau James, Killer Kurt, Johnny Noble and many of the stars of OCW: Bell Time 2 p.m.

• Watermelon Eating Contest 4 p.m.

• Airbrush tattoos, face painting

• Petting zoo from Honey Hill farm with pony carousel

• Bluegrass Cannonball trackless train rides

• Carnival games midway

• U.S. Army Corp of Engineers with Corey, the water safety robot boat

• The world’s largest pinball machine

• Cornhole tournament, registration 10 a.m.

• HealthNet helicopter , 17th Street ball diamond, noon

 

Sunday schedule of exhibits, games and rides:

• Giant craft show with over 100 booths 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Medical screenings 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

• Food court with 12 vendors.

• Sancho the 1 ton saddle trained steer

• Airbrush Tattoos, Face painting

• Petting zoo from Honey Hill farm with pony carousel

• Bluegrass Cannonball trackless train rides

• Carnival games midway

• U.S. Army Corp of Engineers with Corey the water safety robot boat

• The world’s largest pinball machine

• NASCAR model stockcar racing

• NASA Langley Research Center Travelling Exhibit

• Motorcycle show – Registration 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., $10

• Inflatable rides

• Fortune Telling

• HealthNet helicopter , 17th Street ball diamond, noon