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By Jim Buice

For the Clemmons Courier

CLEMMONS — After anticipating another attendance of 5,000-plus for the 2025 Clemmons Community Day, the latest estimate indicates a record crowd of 8,000.

Lynette Fox, the events coordinator for the village of Clemmons, gave that number in Monday night’s council meeting and said afterward that the projection came from the sheriff’s office through Kristen Johnson, the current president of the Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce, using a formula that during a high traffic time there were 50 parking spots that were open and it took eight minutes for those spots to be filled.

“Somehow, they have a mathematical formula,” Fox said.

Either way, last Saturday’s celebration of community at the Jerry Long Family YMCA provided plenty of evidence to show the popular event was indeed “bigger and better than ever” with a record 150 vendors.

Then there was the Clemmons Farmers Market held in the parking lot right beside the large field set up for CCD with an all-time high of 50 or so vendors — making it 200 vendors overall for the day with that budding partnership.

The West Forsyth High School Army JROTC kicked off the opening ceremonies by presenting the colors as the sun started to break through cloudy skies and some light rain earlier in the morning, followed by Emily Anne Jones singing the national anthem.

Johnson, who emceed the event, later joked that “Clemmons Mayor Mike Rogers ordered that,” referring to the sunshine.

And perhaps, it was only appropriate that “We Are Family,” the old Sister Sledge hit, was playing in the music provided by WTOB Radio as Johnson spoke about the annual gathering.

“This is our 14th year here at the Jerry Long YMCA, and we are so excited to be here again combining local businesses, a local farmers market and all the extensive offerings,” Johnson said.

Of course, that featured the interaction of the local businesses and residents, including expanded activities for kids such as the bounce castle, inflatable slide and retro challenge, but also multiple sports activities and the return of the popular train. The big day also included several great demos, including martial arts, yoga and an Irish dance team performing.

And don’t overlook all of the food trucks and vendors serving up all kinds of tantalizing options for the large crowd that enjoyed visiting the local business booths and getting to know more about them in a casual, interacting atmosphere.

Johnson said that is a point worth emphasizing on this special day.

“I feel like the main purpose of this event is to get the businesses and the residents connected in a different way,” she said. “With the chamber, our focus is always on supporting businesses, small, medium and large. We support the business community, and this allows the people that live and work and play in this area to be exposed to the businesses in a celebratory way.”

Gina Daughtery, who is the executive director of the YMCA, was also on the stage with Nate Dimock, associate executive director, and other dignitaries for the opening ceremonies.

Daugherty said she was happy to be there with their partners at Novant Health and coordinating the Healthy Kids Day. 

“This has really grown over the years,” she said. “It’s incredible.” 

Also on the stage was Denise Heidel, the executive director of the Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce, who was referred to by Johnson as “the beauty and the brains behind making everything that we will experience here at Clemmons Community Day,” along with Angelia Cornatzer, marketing and communications director, and Lynette Fox, events coordinator for the village of Clemmons who is responsible for running the farmers market.

With the record number of vendors, there’s something for everybody.

Take PickinPoop, for example. As the name implies, it is a pet waste removal service that is locally owned and operated.

“This is our first time as a vendor,” said owner Kendall Bradford, who lives on the western side of Winston-Salem. “I’ve been before as a regular citizen but decided to get a booth as a member of the chamber of commerce. It’s a great opportunity to get the word out and be a part of the community.”

Stephen Soroosh of Lewisville returned to Clemmons Community Day for the second straight year and was there with his daughter.

“It looks like a good gathering here,” he said. “I’m going to pop into the Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber of Commerce tent. My wife (who is a physical therapist) owns a business in downtown Lewisville. I think next year we ought to get a little booth out here.”

There are many who circle the date of Clemmons Community Day on their calendar each year but quite a few others that are first-timers.

That was the case with Weston and Laura Gaskill from Winston-Salem, who brought their young children, Coley and Lottie, to Clemmons for some fun and games.

“We live in Winston, and I come to this gym (Jerry Long YMCA),” Weston said. “I’m really loyal to this gym and love it. This is the first time that we’ve been here. Wendy, who runs the front desk at the Y, told me about it and said we should bring the kids. So we’re really excited to be here.”

Not to be overlooked in such a massive undertaking, Cornatzer talked about the importance of volunteers to make an event like this successful.

“Over the whole day, we had 35 to 50 volunteers,” she said. “And it’s the most amazing group. We had the West Forsyth football team, and they have been incredible. These boys are out here lifting these heavy things and helping people. They have a can-do attitude to go the extra mile. The whole team was here at 6:15 this morning.

“We have chamber members who are volunteering, and we call in the Chamber in Action, a new initiative that is bringing the community together to serve more consistently other than just once a year. We’ve also had Forsyth Christian Day students. We’re just grateful for everybody.”