The 6th Annual Sizzlin’ Summer Series will offer 12 weeks of fun, free summer events every Saturday for everyone to enjoy! 
The Sizzlin’ Summer Series is a community physical activity campaign that offers a variety of fun, family-oriented opportunities for fitness this summer. Healthy Yancey, a coalition organized with support from Partners Aligned Toward Health (PATH), created the Sizzlin’ Summer Series with the mission of increasing connections between community members, increasing physical activity, and highlighting fun opportunities to play and be active in our community. The activities that are included within the Sizzlin’ Summer Series are appropriate for ALL ages and abilities and are FREE.
Join the fun each Saturday on the Burnsville Town Square from 10 am to 12 pm (unless otherwise indicated):
June 3 – Climbing Tower – *10:00 am to 2:00 pm*
Join us for rock climbing on the Town Square! Whether it’s your first time climbing or you are a seasoned adventurer, experienced staff will be there to help you navigate a mobile climbing wall! There will also be a REFIT®️ exercise class and the AMY Regional Library Bookmobile. (Sponsored by Yancey County Government, Yancey County Sheriff’s Department., and Yancey Emergency Management)
June 10 – Bikes and Wheels – *9:00 am to 11:00 am*
Bring your bike, scooter, rollerblades, trike (anything with wheels) to ride around the Square, which will be closed to vehicular traffic. Obstacle courses, races, and more fun awaits. This is a fun event for adults and kids in wheelchairs to show off their skills too! Pedal your way to a delicious smoothie while riding the “Fender-Blender” smoothie making bike! Helmets are required to participate, but there will be free take-home helmets for anyone at the helmet fitting station. Plus enjoy the AMY Regional Library Bookmobile! (Sponsored by PATH)
June 17 – Reading is Alive: The Tale of the Pig
Parkway Playhouse and Attic Salt Theatre Company presents their FREE kid-friendly play, “The Tale of the Pig” performed by professional actors, a FREE craft activity by Penland School of Crafts before the show, and a FREE book for children while supplies last, PLUS AMY Regional Library Bookmobile! (Sponsored by Parkway Playhouse)
June 24 – Mountain Community Health Partnership’s Fit Family Olympics
The Fit Family Olympics, hosted by Mountain Community Health Partnership, promises to be a fun-filled event for all ages. With exciting activities like an inflatable obstacle course, hula hooping, dizzy bat, and water balloon target throwing, attendees are sure to have a blast while staying active and healthy. The event is a great opportunity for families to bond and make memories together while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. (Sponsored by Mountain Community Health Partnership)
July 1 – Lawn Games, Painting, Planting and REFIT®️
Play lawn games with your family and others, get your face painted and join a REFIT®️ exercise class that combines powerful moves with positive workout music that feels like a dance party. You can also paint rocks, decorate pots, and plant your own seeds! (Sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters)
July 8 – Down to Earth Aerials
Come enjoy free books and entertainment by special guest, Down to Earth Aerials. There will be an aerial acrobatics performance and an interactive presentation where Creative Director Amanda Finch explains the mechanics, physics, muscle memory, and all the reading she had to do to become a professional acrobat and instructor. The AMY Regional Library Bookmobile will also be there! (Sponsored by the AMY Regional Library)
July 15 – Lotería, Lawn Games, and Summer Square Dance!
Come out and join Pisgah Legal Services for some fun and games. Learn about their different programs and services while they divide the Town Square into sections featuring some of their staff’s favorite childhood games. Decorate your own Lotería Board, learn to play Lotería – a Latin game similar to Bingo – or master your gameplay with some large yard games, featuring Connect Four. Then hop to success in the Hopscotch Section. Plus join us on the Town Square for the Sizzlin’ Summer community square dance! Get ready to learn some traditional southern Appalachian figures and clogging steps, led by Appalachian Performing Arts staff and members. Grab a partner, bring your family and friends, or come solo. Plus visit the AMY Regional Library Bookmobile. (Sponsored by Pisgah Legal Services and Appalachian Performing Arts)
July 22 – Fun for the Whole Family
Come and enjoy a family-friendly day of fun on the Town Square! Show off your Cornhole skills and get your face painted! Tap into your creativity by painting rocks from our beautiful mountain rivers. There will be fresh lemonade to quench your thirst and cookies to decorate for your sweet tooth. You can also enjoy a REFIT®️ exercise class and the AMY Regional Library Bookmobile. (Sponsored by RHA Health Services)
July 29 – MYSATF Waterslide & Community Clinic – *10:00 am to 1:00 pm*
The crowd favorite is back! Run, slide, cool off, and enjoy the bubbles! There will also have a separate wading pool for the younger kids who want to splash and play. Plus, experience free classes and services like acupuncture, Tai Chi, massage, and more that offer alternative ways to manage pain and stress during the Home Remedies Community Clinic. You can also unwind at the AMY Regional Library Bookmobile. (Sponsored by Mitchell Yancey Substance Abuse Task Force, Appalachian Youth to Youth, and the Home Remedies Program)
August 5 – Mount Mitchell Crafts Fair – *9:00 am to 5:00 pm*
Featuring more than 200 vendors and performers. Don’t miss the craft demonstrations, bluegrass and acoustic music, food vendors, and a unique selection of handmade arts and crafts from artisans across the country. (Sponsored by Burnsville-Yancey Chamber of Commerce)
August 12 – Sesame St. in Communities
Enjoy a back-to-school book bag and school supply giveaway featuring Elmo. There will be a story trail around the square with supplies to be given out at each stop as you and your child enjoy the sweet book “Butterflies on the First Day of School”. Please come and say hello to Elmo and stay for the live butterfly release and celebrate Sesame Street in Communities back to school event. Plus check out the AMY Regional Library Bookmobile. (Sponsored by Blue Ridge Partnership for Children)
August 19 – Back to School Bash *10:00 am to 2:00 pm*
The Back to School Bash is back! Celebrate the end of summer with fun inflatables, a dunking booth, food trucks, the AMY Regional Library Bookmobile, and more! (Sponsored by the Yancey County Sheriff’s Department and Yancey County Schools)
Updates and additions to the schedule will be posted on the main calendar and on PATH’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/pathwnc.
Many community partners come together each year to make the Sizzlin’ Summer Series a success. Each week is implemented by a different sponsoring organization (listed above with each event), which is responsible for creating, funding, and staffing their event.
Thank you to The Yancey Fund, Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the Town of Burnsville, and Yancey County Government for their support and sponsorship which make this year’s Sizzlin’ Summer Series possible!
To learn more, support our work, or get involved as a volunteer, contact PATH staff at (828)682-7899, info@pathwnc.org, or visit www.pathwnc.org.
