A new event called Newton Fest is being planned for June 12 through 14 in Newton.
Newton Fest will add a street dance and kids activities to an already busy weekend in Newton, including events like the Iowa Sculpture Festival, Alumni Weekend, a historical preservation celebration and Thunder Nights.
“It is going to be a new community celebration, kind of wrapping together a bunch of things that are already going on that weekend,” Natalie Umsted, Newton Fest organizer said.
This is an opportunity for Newton to have its own celebration, similar to those of many small communities in the county, said Jessica Lowe, another organizer of the event. She said it is an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the great art scene, red pride with alumni weekend and the community theatre with “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” scheduled to be performed.
“A lot of times people say there is nothing going on in Newton. Just this one weekend already has so many great offerings, so we just want to umbrella that and have it be a really great community event where everyone feels welcome,” Lowe said. “Whether you went to Newton High School or not or whether you enjoy the Iowa Sculpture Festival or you’re more of a outdoorsy person or craft person, we just want to have something for everyone there.”
A few new events for the weekend are the kids fest area, which will include inflatables, a teen pool party Friday night with a DJ and a street dance on Saturday night. Additional food vendors and a beer garden are planned downtown on Friday and Saturday evenings.
With so many events scheduled, the hope is people might plan on going to one and find that there are several more they are interested in.
“We want to make a weekend that people stay in town. We want residents to stay in town because there is so much going on in Newton and so much to do,” Umsted said.
More information is set to come on the new festival and a website and Facebook page is currently in the works for residents to stay up-to-date on events being planned.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com