- March 2, 2026
Ormond Beach resident Doug Thomas has always been intrigued by the idea of large community events.
They run in his blood, as his family is from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a town known for its annual Groundhog Day celebration, one which his family has been a part of in the past. Twenty years ago, when the city started planning to construct a perimeter road around the Ormond Beach Sports Complex, Thomas thought that would create an avenue to hold a community celebration in the sports fields.
One, he said, that would bring unity to the community while celebrating history.
"My hope is that it makes people stop for a moment to realize how wonderful of a community that Ormond Beach seems to have always been and still is," Thomas said.
But such a celebration needed to wait. Logistically, Thomas knew that the perimeter road needed to be completed first.
Which, it is today.
The first Ormond Beach Founder's Day event will be held from 1-9 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, at the Sports Complex, located at 700 Hull Road. The event will feature food trucks, a kids zone, fireworks, live music, vendors and more, with proceeds benefiting the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League; Thomas chairs the nonprofit's board.
In addition, the Ormond Beach Youth Baseball and Softball Association will host T-ball games. There will also be baseball and soccer games going on.
"We started planning over a year ago — officially started our group, and it's made up of members throughout the community and about two or three board members from PAL," Thomas said. "We've relied on the expertise of some past city commissioners for advice and how to to do this. We're truly trying to make this a total community [event]."
The celebration will commemorate the date Ormond Beach was incorporated: April 22, 1880.
Businesses including S.R. Perrott and community groups like Ormond MainStreet, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and the Ormond Beach Historical Society have been major supporters. So has Seabreeze High School, Thomas said, with performances planned by the school's marching band, theater group and chorus.
Seeing the event come together has been great, he said, though many years have passed since he first thought of the idea.
"I've had to sharpen a skill that I'm not very good at, and that's called patience," Thomas said with a laugh. "It's been a long time coming."
Thomas has been involved in championing recreation in Ormond Beach for almost 50 years.
When asked why, Thomas said it's because his father and grandfather instilled a certain in principle in him.
"One of the most important things that they ever told me was to always give back more than what you get from your community — than what your community gives you," Thomas said.
Thomas is entering his 36th year on the city's Planning Board, of which he serves as chair. He's served on the OBPAL board since around 1996. He's served on the city's Parks and Recreation board since 1994. His service to the community, he said, would not have been possible without the support of his late wife.
In January 2025, the city celebrated the opening of a 2,150-feet road extension connecting Hull Road to the Sports Complex. They named it Doug Thomas Way. But Thomas never refers to it as such. To him, it'll always be the "perimeter road."
"What I tell people is that I'm just lucky because they picked that name out of the phone book," Thomas said.
