Thirty Five years and still packing in the fun and festivities: First Town Days July 4 - 8

  • by Jennifer Kneuss
  • June 26, 2012
  • 372
                        
For thirty five years, First Town Days volunteers have been keeping the tradition of the five day long Festival, which is packed with every type of activity, contest, sporting event, and entertainment imaginable, as a family summer fun favorite. It has been thirty five years since a small group of civic minded individuals came up with the idea to host a hometown style festival with the hopes of raising enough money to restore the aging 1928 carousel that had been the center of Tuscora Park for many years. Not only did they refurbish the beloved merry-go-round, but they began the tradition of the First Town Days Festival, held each year over Independence Day. The 2012 five days of fun kicks off on Wed, July 4, with Family Day, starting with the 8 AM Fishing Derby. Old-fashioned fun for everyone continues throughout the day with frog jumping and turtle racing contests, parent and child sack races and hoop shoot, then a Big Wheel race for the youngest set. A wiffleball tournament at 3 is the tail end of the actual Festival opening and plate auction at 4, with the ever popular Dominic Greco Band and The Half Fast Band rounding out the evening. And that’s just day one! Of course, the Midway will be open all week long, too. Thursday is Senior Citizen Day, although there is plenty to do for any age. A Bocce tournament, bingo, and Senior Citizens Talent Show as well as ‘oldies but goodies’ at noon from the F-Troup band are sure to keep things humming throughout the day, with The Urban Dance Factory giving a 5 PM performance and the wildly entertaining Phil-N-The-Blanks from 7 to 10. Royalty rules on Friday, as the Queens Luncheon brings in dazzling young women who represent festivals all over the state of Ohio. First Town Days reigning Queen Amanda Guzik will step down and hand over her reign to her successor. “The Queen’s pageant itself will be held on Friday, June 29, at 7 PM in the Welty Middle School auditorium,” stated Debbie Henry, who is coordinating the pageant for the first time this year, as long-time pageant coordinator “Miss Judy” Miller steps down from that role after years of faithful service. Miller will continue to work with the queens in other capacities, however. July 6 activities really ramp up as the traditional First Town Days Parade rolls through town at 6:30 PM, with all of the pageantry of marching bands, twirling batons, dogs, horses, clowns, queens’ cars, floats, and of course, lots and lots of candy for ‘kids’ of every age. After the parade, the Stockdale Family Band will take to the stage from 8 to 11 with their bluegrass/humor stylings that can’t help but have their audience tapping their toes and feeling the urge to jump to their feet and do the two-step. Saturday sees plenty of sporting activities with a 5K Run and Junior Superstars contests. Of course, there is also the classic City vs. County softball game, with the first batter stepping up to the plate at 9 AM. “I think it’s going to be a tie. It’s an election year,” predicted Tuscarawas County Commissioner Chris Abbuhl. “There are very talented athletes on both sides and I’m looking forward to seeing who comes out the winner.” Abbuhl noted that he is already obligated to the Great River Race on the Tuscarawas River that day, so won’t be able to add his skills to the team’s efforts. The cuteness factor takes center stage at the 10:30 AM Baby Contest for little ones from birth to age 4. “It’s such a popular contest, that we can only take pre-registrations,” advised coordinator Henry. Entry forms and fees for this and all other contests, as well as the Festival schedule, can be found on the Festival website at www.firsttowndays.com. Men’s’ Legs and Pie Eating contests are later Saturday, with a performance by Mr. Speed and a ‘Gigantic Fireworks Display’ in the evening. Sunday starts with church services, and rolls along with a Cruise In and a Talent Show, plus Scott Miller and Friends and band LaFlavour to close out yet another great First Town Days Festival.


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