Azusa hosts CommUNITY Festival, inaugural run-walk events

Azusa hosted its inaugural Canyon City Classic 10K/5K & Cutie Fun Run on Saturday, followed by the third annual CommUNITY Festival. 

The event took place 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the city’s Memorial Park and attracted more than 500 runners and walkers, along with more than 2,000 festivalgoers.

“The event showcased Azusa’s commitment to fostering a healthy and active lifestyle for individuals of all ages,” according to a city statement.

The Canyon City Classic 10K kicked off the event’s three options for participants, followed by the 5K at 9:30 a.m. and the Cutie Fun Run that started at 10:30.

“The Canyon City Classic & CommUNITY Festival embodied our city’s dedication to health and well-being,” Azusa Mayor Robert Gonzales said in a statement. “We were proud to see our community participating in the races and enjoying the festivities.”

The CommUNITY Festival kicked off at 10 a.m. and continued until 2 on Saturday afternoon. The free family-oriented festival featured live music, free food and a variety of resource booths by local organizations.

Festival activities included a silent disco, human-powered smoothie-making, a “sensory-friendly zone for neuro-divergent youth” and a fun zone for kids of all ages, city officials said. The fun zone had a zip line and petting zoo.

Winners of the 5K and 10K races were awarded $100 gift certificates for sporting goods, officials said.

Event sponsors included Azusa Light & Water, Athens Services and All in for Azusa, according to the city.

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