Recovery Day – celebrated Sept. 21 in Lancaster – is a community festival highlighting the reality of healthy recovery.

It is a pinnacle point for some people who survived darkest days and are now thriving in the community.

And their stories are not uncommon.

So much of what is published in news reports involves death tolls and stories of overdoses and arrests.

But the reality is many in Lancaster County are overcoming their addictions and living in recovery.

On Sept. 21 at Buchanan Park, those stories will be celebrated with a concert, a Walk for Recovery, and an all-you-can-eat barbecue lunch.

The event is free, and the entire community is invited and encouraged to attend; you do not have to be a person in recovery.

(The AYCE barbecue is available for $5.)

The festivities open at 10 a.m.

The Walk for Recovery starts at 11 a.m. It is a one-mile walk around the city’s west end.

The event’s focus is to celebrate recovery while eliminating stigma associated with addiction – a stigma that makes many hesitant to reach out for help or seek treatment.

Addiction impacts nearly every family and social circle. Recovery Day is a joyous event to illustrate how we are all in this battle together, and society benefits greatly when individuals fighting addiction achieve recovery.