The 36th annual Hope/Holland Community Day on Saturday, Sept. 15, will open with a picnic on Windmill Island and culminate in a football game at Holland Municipal Stadium.
The day is scheduled in celebration of the long- standing relationship between Holland residents and the faculty, students and staff of Hope College.
The picnic will take place on the island from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Persons attending the picnic will also be able to enjoy the island's attractions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and attend the Hope College football game with De Pauw University of Greencastle, Ind., at 1:30 p.m.
The picnic will consist of bratwurst, hamburger, sliced turkey breast, vegetarian croissants, salads, chips, cookies, beverages and other picnic fare. Live music will be provided throughout the picnic by the Holland American Legion Band.
The Zeeland High School band will be playing at the game.
Community Day debuted in October of 1966 as a Community Ox Roast, held in conjunction with the Hope College centennial celebration. Like the first event, which was the idea of former Holland mayor Nelson Bosman, subsequent Community Days have provided an opportunity for Holland and Hope to come together.
Also during the day, the women's soccer team will host Adrian College at noon at Buys Athletic Field, located on Fairbanks Avenue near 12th Street. Admission is free. In addition, the exhibition "Alqa Gabra Sellase: Ethiopian Icon Painter" will be on display from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the gallery of the De Pree Art Center, located on Columbia Avenue at 12th Street. The exhibition runs Friday, Sept. 7, through Friday, Nov. 16. Admission is free.
Tickets for Community Day, which include the picnic, football game and admission to Windmill Island, cost $5.50 for regular admission, and $3.50 for children age five to 11. Admission is free for children under five.
Advance tickets for Community Day may be purchased beginning Monday, Aug. 20, at the college's Dow Center, located on the corner of 13th Street and Columbia Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Additional information may be obtained by calling the college's Office of Public Relations at (616) 395-7860.
In the event of rain, the picnic will be moved to the dining room of Phelps Hall, located on the Hope College campus on the corner of 10th Street and Columbia Avenue. If the picnic is moved inside, announcements will be made on the college's automated audio information system, which can be called at (616) 395-7888, as well as on area radio stations.