Club events
11 April | Rotary Club of Marble Falls, Texas
0.5K Fun Un-Run: A Race from the Recliner to the Couch
Organizers of this “gloriously lazy” race call it “the most epic 1,640 feet you’ll ever ‘run,’” stressing that running is “absolutely not allowed!” People of all ages are welcome to participate, with adults choosing among three levels of commitment: Sofa Sprinter (complete the full course); VIP, or Very Idle Participant (skip to the finish line), and Pajama Jogger (take part virtually). Those who gather in person will enjoy refreshments and live music. Event proceeds benefit local and international projects.
11 April | Rotary Club of Greater Chino Hills, California
Multicultural Festival
The club’s signature annual fundraiser, this festival celebrates the richness of the cultures in the Chino Hills area, including those originating from Bulgaria, China, India, Korea, Mexico, and the Philippines. The free event includes music and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, displays of traditional and modern dress, and samples of international cuisines. Funds raised during the festival support local and international community projects.
11-12 April | Rotary Club of Salida Sunrise, Colorado
Chaffee Home & Outdoor Living Expo
Held at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds, this business expo has been a popular spring event in the Rocky Mountain county for more than a decade. More than 60 local and out-of-state companies will showcase home-related products and services, including window treatments, lighting, fireplaces, patio furniture, greenhouses, and landscaping. Attendees can connect with industry experts and get inspired to take on home repair and improvement projects. Proceeds benefit local projects, nonprofits, and scholarships.
Tell us about your club’s upcoming event: Write to magazine@rotary.org and put “calendar” in the subject line. To be considered for inclusion in Rotary magazine’s print edition, submissions must be received at least five months before the event.
18 April | Rotary clubs of Ankeny and Ankeny Evening, Iowa
Roaring Twenties Charity Event
With a combined 100-plus members, Ankeny’s two Rotary clubs team up annually to host a community fundraising gala. This year, the event has a roaring twenties theme, with guests encouraged to dress in their spiffiest 1920s-style duds. The night begins with socializing over drinks, followed by a catered dinner. There will also be live and silent auctions. Since the gala was first held, in 2011, more than 50 local organizations have benefited from the proceeds.
24-26 April | Rotary Club of Orange Park Sunrise, Florida
Tennis 4 Cancer
The club partners with Eagle Harbor Tennis in nearby Fleming Island to put on this doubles tennis tournament, in which players compete across several skill divisions. The registration fee includes meals and a Friday night party on the court and proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society and local nonprofits. Over the past 13 years, the event has raised more than $500,000, most of which supported people with cancer and their caregivers.
25 April | Rotary Club of Memphis, Tennessee
Cafe du Memphis
The club’s largest fundraiser features a lively morning of community, connection, and classic New Orleans-inspired flavors. Attendees will enjoy shrimp and grits, fresh coffee, beignets, and live musical entertainment. Now in its 15th year, the event benefits the Dorothy Day House, an organization that provides housing and support to families experiencing homelessness, and the service projects of the Memphis Rotary Foundation.
2 May | Rotary Club of Walnut Grove, California
E-Waste and Recycling Event
For a third year, the club has partnered with the Sacramento Regional Conservation Corps, an organization that provides job training to young people, to hold this recycling event at the Walnut Grove Library. People can drop off their old electronic devices, including televisions, computers, cellphones, printers, and stereo equipment, and the conservation corps (a registered e-waste handler) does the rest.
3 May | Rotary Club of Framingham, Massachusetts
Cornhole Tournament
Watch bags fly at this second annual tournament, where teams of two will face off in two divisions. Seasoned pros and first-timers alike will have a great time raising money for local nonprofits. A cash prize will be awarded in the competitive division and a brand-new set of cornhole boards in the social division. Area police and fire departments, as well as area Rotary clubs, will have their own structured competitions. Snacks and beverages will be available.
8 May | Rotary Club of Lake Mahopac, New York
12th Annual Rock & Roll Spectacular
An exciting night of 1960s music at the Mahopac High School auditorium will feature live performances by The Happenings, The Vogues, and Vinnie Medugno. The fabulous Coda Band will be backing all the artists for this fundraising show that is organized by the Mahopac club and sponsored by a local oldies radio station.
16 May | Rotary Club of Oakwood, Ohio
That Day in May
The club devotes more than 1,000 volunteer hours to this community festival, an annual tradition in Oakwood for more than half a century. The day begins early with a series of races (10K, 5K, and a 1K fun run) and a pancake breakfast. The afternoon brings a parade, a car show, a dog show, and a baseball game played by former Oakwood High School athletes. In conjunction with the event, an 18-hole golf tournament will be held 18 May. Proceeds benefit local nonprofits.
16 May | Rotary Club of Weston & Wayland, Massachusetts
Children’s Business Fair
This event provides 6- to 14-year-olds with the opportunity to be entrepreneurs for a day. The children think up a business idea and then launch it at the fair, marketing real goods or services to the hundreds of people who attend. Organizers say the experience sparks the kids’ creativity and gives them confidence and leadership skills.
18 May | Rotary Club of Point West-Sacramento, California
Birdies Over Bunkers Charity Golf Classic
Held at the Valley Hi Country Club in Elk Grove, this tournament raises funds primarily for the California Eagles program, which teaches golf and life skills to people of all ages with varied disabilities or medical conditions. The Point West club has supported the program for more than 30 years. In addition to donating money, many members volunteer during the five-month season to help coach the athletes.
29-30 May | Rotary Club of Fruita, Colorado
Mike the Headless Chicken Festival
Back in the 1940s, Fruita was the home of a physically peculiar chicken named Mike whose owners toured him across the country as a sideshow attraction. Today, the town celebrates its unusual claim to fame with an annual two-day festival of “fun, feathers, and pure weirdness.” Highlights include a 5K race, a chicken exhibition, a Peeps-eating contest, and a community chicken dance. Rotary members run the beer garden. Event proceeds benefit local and international projects.
30 May | Rotary clubs of Petaluma, Petaluma Sunrise, and Petaluma Valley, California
Petaluma Wiffle Ball Tournament
Thirty-two teams compete across four baseball fields at this double-elimination tournament, which lets adults rediscover a favorite childhood activity. The day also features a home run derby with a $400 prize for the contestant who hits the most. Food and drinks for sale include barbecue tri-tip sandwiches, beer, and wine. A portion of the proceeds goes toward two Bay Area nonprofits that support children with disabilities.