Woodstock Celebrates National Police Memorial Week With Spring Festival

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The Woodstock Public Safety Foundation on Saturday will commemorate National Police Memorial Week with its annual Spring Festival and a race where residents can run alongside some of the area’s law enforcement personnel.

The day’s events will start off with the third annual Hustle for Heroes 5K, which will kick off at 7:30 a.m. May 16 at First Baptist Church of Woodstock.

Participants can run alongside local SWAT Teams in what has been deemed “the only place in Georgia to legally attempt to outrun the cops,” the Woodstock Police Department said in its press release.

A 1-mile run will follow at 8:30 a.m. All participants will receive a T-shirt and race packet. Awards will be given out for best overall male/female, Top Hero (police/fire/EMT) and for various age groups.

The race route is kid, family, wheelchair and stroller friendly.

“We are excited about the response we’ve seen thus far,” said Tori Hand, race coordinator and Woodstock Public Safety Foundation board member. “What makes this race so great is that the route is entirely on the church campus so participants do not have to worry about running near traffic. We’re looking forward to a fun and exciting event.”

Residents can register in advance for the race online. For those who tend to procrastinate, race-day registration will also be available and starts at 7 a.m. Prices for race-day registration are $30 for the 5K; $15 for the 1-mile run and $15 for those who are police, fire and EMT personnel to take part in the 5K. 

The Spring Festival will start at 10 a.m. at the Park at City Center. The event features live music, K9 demonstrations and various activities for children. There will also be public safety demonstrations by the Woodstock Police and Fire departments as well as various food and merchandise vendors.

The Georgia Law Enforcement Moving Memorial trailer will be on display for the duration of the festival. The moving memorial honors the 678 Georgia law enforcement officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

“This day serves as an excellent opportunity for citizens to enjoy a day of fun with our local heroes while we, as a community, remember those heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty,” said Scott O’Meara, president of the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation.

All proceeds from this day will directly benefit the recently established Tessa Basford Memorial Scholarship Program, which provides continuing college education support to Woodstock’s first responders.

For more information or to register for any of the day’s events, visit the Woodstock Public Safety Foundation’s website at www.wpsfoundation.org.

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Photo credit: Woodstock Public Safety Foundation