Recovery Day Lancaster, an annual family-friendly festival that celebrates recovery from addiction, will mark its 10th year on Saturday, Sept. 23, at Buchanan Park, Race and Buchanan avenues, Lancaster. Recovery Day is Lancaster's contribution to National Recovery Month and will include a variety of activities.

The event will begin with a 10 a.m. opening ceremony with city and county officials and the traditional unity circle, followed by the 5K Run for Recovery. The run will start at the Buchanan Park side of the Franklin & Marshall College campus. The Walk for Recovery, with a shorter route, will begin at the same time.

Entertainment will be provided by The Mystic Alpacas, a horn-based band playing popular blues, melodic jazz, originals and old-school rhythm and blues, and the Quiet Tiger Band, an acoustic duo offering soulful renditions of classic songs, original music and contemporary modern artists.

Visitors may stroll the park until 2 p.m. to explore information and exhibit tables staffed by local addiction treatment professionals and recovery advocates to learn about local and regional resources for addiction recovery, including support groups, treatment options, family supports and holistic health and wellness modalities. The exhibit area will also feature crafting, selfie booths, magic and other interactive activities. Recovery Day will also include games and speakers.

Tickets may be purchased for an all-you-can-eat barbecue lunch prepared by Harvey's Main Street BBQ of Mount Joy with all the fixings. To reserve lunch tickets, visit http://www.lancastercountyrecovery.com.

Participants are welcome to bring a picnic lunch if they wish, as well as blankets, chairs and lawn games. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome.

The Lancaster County Recovery Alliance (LCRA) organizes the event in collaboration with the 521 Club, a sober club in Lancaster, and local and regional health resources and treatment centers.

The festival originated in 2013, when the director of Lancaster County's Drug and Alcohol Commission was approached by the Lancaster Barnstormers to find a way for the county to celebrate recovery and promote community education. A group of recovery advocates and addiction treatment professionals organized a recovery countdown during the seventh inning stretch at a Barnstormers' baseball game in Lancaster. A few local people in recovery were honored on the field, and families and friends gathered in the food tent near the right field for a barbecue. In the following years, Recovery Day grew to include more activities and became a stand-alone event rather than occurring in connection with a baseball game.

Through awareness, advocacy and access, LCRA seeks to encourage recovery within the community for those affected by addiction. LCRA also aims to eliminate the stigma of addiction so that local neighborhoods will become more welcoming to individuals and families working to sustain recovery.

To sign up to run the 5K or to learn more about Recovery Day and its sponsors, visit the aforementioned website.