Hundreds attend Avondale Day and 5K Run

Hundreds of residents and supporters from across the city attended Avondale Day and participated in the associated 5K Feet in the Street race hosted by the Avondale Development Corporation on September 30. It was the first Avondale Day and 5K run since 2019, with the annual event being postponed by the Covid-19 epidemic. 

“It was great to hold Avondale Day and Feet in the Street again. The residents really missed it. So did we,” said ADC Executive Director Russ Hairston.  

Feet in the Street drew more than 100 participants, an increase from the 2019 race. Avondale day featured food, refreshments, interactive and live entertainment, all geared toward children and families. Health screenings were also offered to all participants. Hairston estimates more than 400 people attended the festival – the event was so well attended, in fact, that the food vendors ran out of product. 

While the events serve as fundraisers for ADC, Hairston says their true benefit lies in bringing residents together and introducing more people to Avondale. “There are great things happening in this neighborhood and people need to know it,” he said. “And that includes residents.” 

Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Center for Closing the Health Gap, Life Center, Kingsley + Company, SO-ACT and the Avondale Community Council all served as sponsors for the events. “Our sponsors are amazing,” Hairston says. “No way we could do this without them. And we envision both the race and festival growing in future years. We’ve already begun planning for 2024.” 

ADC is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 to help improve the quality of life for residents of Avondale, the largest African American neighborhood in Cincinnati. ADC addresses critical housing needs in Avondale, helps create jobs and economic opportunities for residents and leads organizing, engagement and advocacy efforts to foster a community of neighbors who know each other and work together for common goals.