Busy May weekend possible on Hope Town Square

The third weekend in May could be a busy one for activities on the Hope Town Square.

The Hope Town Council was approached by two groups last night, both wanting to use the square for large events on Saturday, May 18th. 

The Community Center of Hope asked for approval of their plan to move their annual Smoke on the Square barbecue competition to May 17th and 18th, saying that the current June date was conflicting with too many other community events. 

But organizers for Rumble for the Cure, a motorcycle rally benefiting the American Cancer Society, also want to use the square for the end of their ride and post-ride celebration. Organizers said that Hope has previously been a stop on the tour, with the ride ending in downtown Columbus. However, the city had made the approval process too difficult to close city streets, so organizers would like to bring the finale to Hope. In the past, Hope has included a police escort through the town and made the riders feel welcome, they said.

However, one strike against the organizers of the motorcycle rally was a plan to serve alcohol during their after-party. Although organizers said it would likely only be a beer for each rider, Town Council members Nellie Meek and Ohmer Miller said they were adamantly opposed to allowing alcohol on the Town Square. When pressed on their reasoning, Council President Miller joked that he previously had an alcohol allergy that made him break out in handcuffs. On a more serious note, he said that he did not want alcohol served so close to the town playground, endangering children.

But the council members said they would love to have the motorcycle rally in town, with the no-alcohol caveat, saying they support both the event and the cause.

Rumble organizers said that they would take the roadblock back to their committee and see if they would consider going without the beer for the post-event celebration.

Both groups seeking the use of the Town Square also agreed to try to work together to make both events happen and to be mutually beneficial to each other. 

Ultimately the council approved the community center's Smoke on the Square request. And added that they would like to see the motorcycle rally also, if it could work out the details with Smoke on the Square and hold an alcohol-free event.