Thousands of people are expected to visit Akron, the birth city of Alcoholics Anonymous, this weekend to celebrate Founders Day in commemoration of the organization’s 81st birthday.
Events will be held all weekend long at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens’ Gate Lodge, 714 N. Portage Path, which was dedicated as the birthplace of A.A. in 2000.
Events include Rock N Recovery, music and entertainment geared toward addiction recovery hosted by 91.3 The Summit radio station.
Transportation will be available between activities at the University of Akron and Stan Hywet on Saturday.
Another site of interest includes the Mayflower Manor, where Bill Wilson — better known as “Bill W.” — made the desperate call in 1935 that would start him down the path to co-founding A.A.
The stranger he dialed connected him with Dr. Robert Smith — aka “Dr. Bob” — who also was struggling with alcoholism. They became sober together after a long discussion at Gate Lodge and soon spread their methods to others.
Mount Peace Cemetery, where Dr. Bob is buried, is also a site of pilgrimage for many A.A. members.
For a list of Founders Day events, visit http://foundersdayregistration.akronaa.org.