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.