Many festival favorites return to First Town Days
Bradyn Galloway, then 14 and of Dennison, won first place in the talent show 14 and up category in 2019. Talent show applications can be downloaded at firsttowndays.com and need to be turned in at the First Town Days office no later than Saturday, July 3 at noon. The talent show will be held on Sunday July 4 at 1 p.m.
Unfortunately, fireworks are not on the schedule for this year’s First Town Days festival, but the festival will return with many fun opportunities for the community to come together.
The festival will officially open on Thursday, July 4 at 4 p.m. although food vendors may open earlier.
“Unfortunately, it appears at this time that there will not be fireworks at First Town Days this year,” said Joe Croft, First Town Days Festival committee president. “Not only has the cost skyrocketed (pun intended) but contracting a company to do them has also been a challenge this year.”
The City of New Philadelphia sponsors and arranges the fireworks that are commonly associated with the festival.
“They have been working hard to make (the fireworks) happen, but I am told they have pretty much exhausted all options,” Croft said. “The good news is they believe they have a commitment for next year. Like so many other things this year, we are just needing to have patience and know we will eventually get back to normal.”
With the exception of the fireworks, many festival favorites will return although the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic led to other activities being put on hold until next year.
“We are not doing our Queen’s program this year. We’re also not doing our baby contest, frog jumping, turtle racing or Big Wheels but expect to have all of those back in 2022,” Croft said.
The festival program book should be available at the Tuscora Park office soon and will be available at the First Town Days Office throughout the festival.
“The program has a full schedule and lots of good information about the festival in general,” Croft said. “In the meantime, the event schedule as well as other festival information can be found on the website at FirstTownDays.com and also on Facebook.”
There is much to look forward to at this year’s festival.
“We’ll still have lots of great food, a little extra entertainment this year, and most of the great family fun things that First Town Days is known for,” Croft said. “Something that we had two years ago for the first time is our Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull (kids and adults both) which is back and on Saturday morning.”
Look for Junior Superstars, several Family Day events including the fishing derby, talent show, wiffleball tournament and car show to be held this year.
The festival will have two plates for sale this year.
“One for 2021 but also one to commemorate 2020 and the ‘festival that wasn’t.’ They can be purchased separately or as a set for a discount and all profits go toward our scholarships or a number of great projects we have supported at Tuscora Park over the years,” Croft said. “I am not sure if a lot of people in the community are aware of it, but the First Town Days Festival Committee uses projects such our commemorative plate to not only help cover the expense of putting on the festival but also to put back into Tuscora Park.”
Friday night’s entertainment will feature Greg and Shayne, an acoustic duo who play a mix of classic rock, country, and even a little bluegrass.
“This year we will feature two musical performances on both Friday and Saturday and single shows on Thursday night and Sunday evening,” Croft said.
For any of the competitions or contests, visit the First Town Days website to find information on entry applications, deadlines and rules. Entry applications can be downloaded at the site.
Croft is pleased the community sponsorship needed to put on the festival is still there.
“Sponsors for our major events, advertisers in our program book, individual donations, and our small group of volunteers, all are needed to be able to put this on. We’ve been fortunate that most have stayed with us even as difficult as it has been the past year or two,” Croft said. “We can always use more to get involved but are very grateful to those who have and continue to support us, several of these supporters have been with us for many years. We would love to hear from anyone that would like to be involved either as a financial supporter or event to volunteer in planning and organizing the festival.”
Getting together with friends and the community is what Croft is looking most forward to at First Town Days.
“I hope we will have a great turnout of people who just want to get back out and get back to normal again,” Croft said.
“I would encourage businesses and individuals in our community to reach out to the festival committee if they would have an interest in supporting First Town Days in the future,” Croft said. “We can always use the help in keeping First Town Days a quality family event and continuing to become even better as we move forward.”
For questions call Croft at the First Town Days office at 330-602-2600 or on his cell phone at 330-432-1545.
Thursday July 1
4-9 p.m. Midway and Craft Area Opens Midway & Craft Pavilions
6 p.m. Mayor & Committee Introductions, Al Maloney Midway Stage
6:10 p.m. First Town Days Scholarship Awards, Al Maloney Midway Stage
6:20 p.m. Special Recognition, Al Maloney Midway Stage
6:30 p.m. Annual Commemorative Plate Auction, Al Maloney Midway Stage
7-9 p.m. SOBOS, Al Maloney Midway Stage
Friday July 2
2-5 p.m. Mike Wikoff - Wacky Country, Al Maloney Midway Stage
2-5 p.m. Seniors Day Displays and Activities, Al Maloney Midway Stage
3-5 p.m. Seniors Bingo, Lake Street Shelter (Behind Stage)
4-10 p.m. Midway and Craft Area Opens, Midway & Craft Pavilions
6-10:30 p.m. Bocce Tournament, Bocce Courts
6:30 p.m. WJER - Grand Parade, Downtown New Philadelphia
8-10 p.m. Greg and Shayne Acoustic Duo, Al Maloney Midway Stage
Saturday July 3
9 a.m. McInturf-Lawver 5-K Run, Woody Hayes Stadium
9 a.m. Roberts Softball New Philadelphia City v County, Hilltop Softball Fields
10 a.m. Ferris Chevrolet Junior Superstars, Woody Hayes Stadium
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Midway and Craft Area Opens, Midway & Craft Pavilions
12:30 to 3 p.m. Keith’s Cars Kiddie & Adult Pedal Tractor Pull, Al Maloney Midway Stage
3-5 p.m. Edward Kilpatrick - Rock n Roll Classics, Al Maloney Midway Stage
5 p.m. Men’s Leg Contest, Al Maloney Midway Stage
8-11 p.m. LaFlavour, Al Maloney Midway Stage
Sunday July 4
8:30 a.m. Fishing Derby, Tuscora Park Lake
10 a.m. Parent/Child Sack Races, Practice Field
10 a.m. First Christian Church Service, Tuscora Park Amphitheater
11:30 a.m. Parent/Child Hoop Shoot, Tuscora Park Basketball Courts
Noon to 8 p.m. Midway and Craft Area Opens, Midway & Craft Pavilions
Noon to 12:45 p.m. Talent Show Practice, Al Maloney Midway Stage
1 p.m. Dover Hydraulics Amateur Talent Show, Al Maloney Midway Stage
1 pm - Wiffleball Tournament, Woody Hayes Stadium
3-5:30 p.m. J.W. Cookson Classic Car Show, Practice Field
6-8 p.m. Jerome James Gospel Collection including By Grace Alone, Al Maloney Midway Stage
8 p.m. Midway and festival closes