Release Date: May 20,2020
City of Akron Announces Alternate Programming for Summer 2020
Cleveland Clinic Akron General sponsoring app-based scavenger hunts; City partners with WONE for “Rock the Lock Down” and more
Akron, Ohio, May 20, 2020 – The City of Akron Office of Integrated Development is announcing the first wave of new programming for the summer of 2020 including “Rock the Lock Down,” “The Akron Games” and “Akron Birds.” These alternative programs will provide the Akron community with fun, safe entertainment options for the summer, from the comfort of their own home, neighborhood, or at a distance from others.
The Akron Games will provide new challenges throughout the summer, each consisting of scavenger hunt items to find or missions to complete. The challenges can be completed either through the GooseChase app or by using a flyer, which will be available to view or print at www.Lock3Live.com. The app is free and available for download on Android or Apple devices. Some challenges might take you through your own neighborhood finding everyday items. Others will be designed around specific Akron locations or landmarks.
The first and longest challenge in The Akron Games, called Walking With Akron: a summer walking series, is being sponsored by Cleveland Clinic Akron General. It will run from this Friday, May 22, 2020, through Labor Day. There will be a new Walking with Akron hunt posted each week for 16 weeks. Prizes, yet to be determined, will be awarded for highest total points and consistent participation throughout the series. In order to be eligible for prizes, you must use the GooseChase app.
“Cleveland Clinic Akron General is excited to partner with Lock 3 and bring scavenger hunts to the Akron community. These weekly games will provide participants with an innovative way to get some fresh air and exercise. Please remember to wear a mask and keep a safe distance from others to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Brian Harte, M.D., President of Akron General. “The first hunt will be available Friday at noon, so grab the app and happy hunting.”
Other challenges will be created and added to The Akron Games throughout the summer. Be sure to check www.Lock3Live.com or follow “Lock 3 Akron, Ohio” on Facebook for more updates.
The City is also partnering with 97.5 WONE for “Rock the Lock Down”, which will replace the City’s traditional summer concert series. Every year, thousands of people come down to Lock 3 for the Rock the Lock series. Recently, the City had to make the difficult decision to cancel the concert series for 2020, due to restrictions on large gatherings and concerns about spread of COVID-19. As an alternative to those concerts, Lock 3 is teaming up with WONE to launch “Rock the Lock Down.” On Fridays, starting on May 22, from 8-10 p.m. WONE will play sets of music that would have been played during the summer concert series. You can find the full schedule here.
“Our first concert of the summer would have been an Aerosmith cover band, so this Friday the 22nd, WONE will be playing Aerosmith music from 8-10 p.m.,” said Tish Jernigan, the City’s downtown operations manager. “All you have to do is tune in to 97.5 WONE to take part. Kick back and relax in your home, vehicle, or backyard, and enjoy a concert over the airwaves.” The City will be releasing an exclusive Rock the Lock Down t-shirt for sale soon, in partnership with the Social Department, with proceeds to benefit downtown businesses. The City is also working on a limited edition Thirsty Dog beer to enjoy with your music, with proceeds supporting future Rock the Lock events.
“Lock 3 has always provided the Akron community with entertainment options for the whole family. While this summer will look different from others, we are still determined to provide kids and adults alike with programming to help them enjoy the warm weather and participate in fun activities,” said Mayor Dan Horrigan.
Additionally, the Akron Recreation and Parks Division has launched “Akron Birds,” a new program to encourage bird watching in the City. Bird watching offers an exceptional opportunity for all ages to discover the beauty and variety of birds present throughout the year in a fun, accessible, and inexpensive pastime suitable for your local parks or even from your own home. Akron Birds, through iNaturalist, allows anyone, whether they are new to the world of bird watching or a veteran birder, to sign up for a free account and upload your birding observations. Spring is peak migration season for an amazing variety of birds moving through Akron and all of Northeast Ohio.
Akron Birds not only showcases the amazing diversity of birds in Akron, but these observations also aid a community of researchers, conservationists, educators, and concerned global citizen scientists through crowd-sourced information about bird populations in the region. The program began on May 15, 2020 and will continue through June 30, 2020. You can sign up at www.inaturalist.org/projects/
More information will be coming soon about other alternate programming and events including neighborhood-based 4th of July fireworks, drive in movies, neighborhood art projects for Akron’s kids, and more. Stay up to date with all events and programming at www.Lock3Live.com.