Event is Free and Open to the Public: Parade Begins at 5:45pm; Free Movie Begins at 8:45pm
The Ooltewah-Harrison Education Foundation, also known as D9 in reference to its respective Hamilton County School District, will officially launch on Aug. 23 with a public celebration and parade at Cambridge Square in Ooltewah. Cambridge Square is a mixed-use development located at the corner of Lee Hwy. and Ooltewah-Georgetown Road, less than a mile from exit 11 off I-75. The event is free and open to the public.
D9’s mission is to enrich the educational and developmental opportunities for the Ooltewah-Harrison public elementary students by implementing and uniting fundraising efforts.
D9’s initial focus is on the district’s youngest students, but the organization’s long-term plan will spread to supporting the middle and high-schools.
The event on Aug. 23 will kick-off with a parade featuring the Ooltewah High School band, football team, and cheerleaders as well as the Central High School band, football team, and cheerleaders. In addition, the Ooltewah Youth Association, Snow Hill Recreational, Harrison Recreational Summer and Fall Teams will be marching alongside Star Wars Characters, and two very high profile Disney characters who will be the parade’s Princess and Queen. After the parade, D9 will be showing the movie Frozen on the public square at Cambridge.
The square will be closed to vehicular traffic mid-day on Aug. 23. People wishing to see the parade and stay for the movie will be asked to park in surrounding lots within the development. The parade begins at 5:45 p.m. and will move east on Lee Hwy. and turn into Cambridge Square on Chesteron Way. Once the parade has entered the square, the marching bands will perform and kids will have a chance to mingle with the players, cheerleaders, and special characters. The movie will begin at 8:45 p.m.
D9 will be seeking sponsorships during the event in support of the organization’s mission. Cambridge Square tenants Mixed Up Cup, Lupi’s Pizza Pies, Southern Burger Company, and Wired Coffee will be donating a percentage of their sales to D9 on that day. Tikiz Shaved Ice will also be participating and making a proceeds contribution.