The 4th Annual New Concord Community Day: Bringing a university and village together

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – New Concord is the home of Muskingum University and for some residents, there seemed to be a disconnect between the campus community and the village community. That’s why a non-profit called Friends of New Concord started an annual tradition to reconnect the communities.

The 4th Annual New Concord Community Day started with the Muskie Fun Run on Saturday morning. After that, more than 40 vendors set up tents for the Vendor’s Village and Muskingum University students took part in the Shop Walk.

“So they have a card with 12-13 businesses on it and they stop by each business and get their card punched and then they get entered in a drawing. And all those business, they’re spoiling students. They have freebies. Just stuff to give them to welcome them to New Concord,” said Kristin Centa, president of Friends of New Concord.

This event wasn’t just for the college students, as children got to enjoy a petting zoo, a large sandbox, and a variety of games to play like putt putt.

“But everything we offer is for free because we get really good sponsors that really take care of us,” Centa said.

The New Concord fire and police departments also took part in the festivities, inviting kids to check out police vehicles, ambulance, and fire engine.

“Oh, I think it’s pretty nice. I mean I like it. I think it’s good that, like, we get out and we can interact with the public on a low-key basis, say high to everybody, talk to everybody,” said New Concord Police Officer Eric Gregg.

Local businesses where joined in the festivities by local museums that offered free tours all day long. The two museums in town include the John and Annie Glenn Museum and the Harper Cabin Museum.

“… and we always have new visitors but we have locals that come in who have never been here before. So that’s always nice. ‘We’ve always wondered what’s here.’ So they stop in and we take them on a tour,” said George St. Clair, the gentleman that was giving tours at the Harper Cabin Museum.

New Concord Community Day featured a beer garden, food trucks, and live music at the New Concord War Memorial Park. There was also axe throwing, a cornhole tornament, and according to event organizers, the event will only continue to grow.

“I think we’re just getting bigger and better every year. We think of new ideas. Like, we’re doing photos tonight… And the words getting out, how good we are, how much fun it is,” Centa said.