Downtown Cumberland will offer two family-friendly events on Saturday, April 16th. Just in time for Easter, the Easter Bunny will be at the McCoury Stage from 11AM-1PM to visit with children and pose for photos. The first 300 kids will receive an Easter goodie bag.
Chalk It Up to Civility: A Community Collaboration will kick-off with a short program at 10:30AM at the McCoury Stage on Baltimore Street. Following the program, participants are encouraged to use sidewalk chalk to create messages and works of art to express shared positive values. The first 100 families will receive a free chalk kit. There will also be art activities for kids outside the Allegany Arts Council at 9 N. Centre Street. Will Harken, an indie-pop musician and music producer, and an Allegany County native, will perform during the event which will take place until 1:00 PM.
The goal of the event is to help people reflect upon their everyday lives and to ignite a sense of solidarity in our neighborhoods and streets. Chalk It Up to Civility is part of Choose Civility: Allegany County, a grassroots initiative striving to improve and enrich our area by promoting civil conversations and kindness 2toward others.
Downtown businesses are encouraged to participate by writing messages and creating works of art outside their business entrances. Participants may also walk the chalked Civility Trail from Baltimore Street over to Canal Place. The Canal Place Preservation Development Authority will also be providing chalk kits by the stepped basin, near Charis Winery and the Canal Place Festival Grounds. The event is free and open to the public.
Chalk It Up to Civility is spearheaded by the Allegany County Library System, with additional partners including the Allegany Arts Council, Allegany College of Maryland, Canal Place Preservation & Development Authority, Cumberland Downtown Development Commission, and the Frostburg State University Communication Leadership Lab.
For more information, please contact Renee Mason at rmason@alleganycountylibrary.info or Melinda Kelleher at melinda.kelleher@cumberlandmd.gov.