Event continues through Tuesday

ASHLAND, KENTUCKY — Boyd County and Tri-State residents celebrated the Independence Day weekend with Summer Motion in Ashland’s Central Park.

The annual festivities kicked off on Friday, featuring music, entertainment, food and rides.

On Saturday CCCR’s Sports hosted its championship basketball and dunk challenge tournament.

Winners in each category for the contest, sponsored by Clark’s Pump-N-Stop. Received $200.

The event was organized by Charles Scott, of Ashland, known as “Big Charlie,” a Head Start workers who founded CCR’S to mentor youth through sports.

He said it was the first event for the nonprofit company, which he said followed the motto his family is known for: “Never Give Up.”

“God is part of everything I do,” Scott added. “If you see something by CCR’S ports, God is part of it.”

Guest judges at the event included Kenny “Sky” Walker, a former player for the University of Kentucky and the New York Knicks and Gerardo Mejia, the Ecuadorian-American singer of “Rico Suave” fame.

Gerardo, now a reverend with a church in Ashland, joined Scott and others during the intermission for old school dancing to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message.”

At night, crowds gathered around the amphitheater in the park to take in music from local artists Red Brush Band, Evan Maynard and Friends, the Joe Freeman Band and bluegrass headliner Turning Ground.

Summer Motion continues today, with Christian entertainment planned for the night, including headliner Matthew West, who performs at 8:45 p.m.

On Tuesday, event will have a patriotic them for the holiday, with headliner Lonestar set for 9 p.m., followed by fireworks at 10:15 p.m.
Gates open at 5 p.m. today.