Come out and meet your neighbors.

It’s October, and in Milton, that means getting out in those cool fall Saturday afternoons and building this community the old fashioned way – with fun festivals and events that bring us together as friends.

This is our busiest time of year for special events, and we’ve got something planned pretty much every weekend throughout the month. By the time you read this, you’ll have already enjoyed the Crossroads at Crabapple Antiques and Arts Festival Oct. 1 (make sure to check out those photos on flickr) and probably a school carnival or two. Here are a few of the highlights for the rest of the month:

Oct. 8: Milton Mayor’s Run and concert to benefit MDA
Our third annual Milton Mayor’s Run kicks off at 8 a.m. behind the Kohl’s on Ga. 9 at Webb Road. We’ll head down Webb Road, turn on Deerfield Parkway and swing back around for the 3.1 mile course. There are going to be really cool sweat-wicking T-shirts, medals, free warm-ups from CorePhysique, our partner for the fitness camps, and plenty of food and fluids. And that night, don’t forget about the free concert featuring the “LooSe ShoEs Band” at Scottsdale Farms on Birmingham Highway. It starts at 6 p.m. in their pumpkin patch, and all donations benefit the Milton Fire Department’s Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraising effort. Come out and have a great time.

Oct. 15: Milton Roundup
This is the biggie, our flagship special event. The Milton Roundup starts at noon at Birmingham United Methodist Church and lasts until 6 p.m. Now in its fifth year (hard to believe there’s been that many already) the Milton Roundup has grown from a little community festival to a huge event expected to bring in more than 5,000 people. With that growth, we’ve decided to move parking off-site to nearby Birmingham Park. But don’t worry; we’ll have shuttles going all day. We’ve got dozens of sponsors and vendors, great food, a full day of entertainment on two stages, helicopter rides (bring cash!), the Milton Herald Children’s Tent, jumpies, magicians, face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides and lots, lots more. And don’t forget we’re always looking for more volunteers to bring this huge undertaking to fruition. I can’t wait to see you there.

Oct. 22: River’s Alive Cleanup
Now in its 14th year, the River’s Alive Cleanup will start from its longtime home, Bailey Farms and Gardens on Hickory Flat Road, at 9 a.m. Please come ready to pitch in and make sure our Milton waterways stay clean and pristine. For those looking for something a little less labor intensive, there’s always the “Drains to Stream” marker program, as well.
Well, that about wraps it up for what the city is holding in October, but I know there’s a whole lot more out there. We’d love for you to come to our events, of course, but just remember that as long as you’re out there, meeting your neighbors and having a good time, you’re doing your part to make this community a close knit, fun place to live.

If you’d like to help out or tell what we could do better, don’t hesitate to swing by City Hall. You’re always welcome.

Sincerely,
Mayor Joe Lockwood / Accessmilton.com