CVB sees increase of visitors to Newton

Increased traffic at summer events shines an even brighter light on the efforts of the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Newton to attract more people to the community.

“We have seen an increase in hotel/motel tax revenue from the last fiscal year of just more than 6.5 percent. Their numbers are up significantly this year, even as much a 15 percent each month over last year,” CVB Executive Director Linda Bacon said. “We have a lot going on here. We have some really great attractions here that bring a lot of people to our community.”

Visitors from across the country had a chance to do a variety of activities including catching a race, taking part in Newton Fest and visiting a local mainstay, Maytag Dairy Farm.

The Iowa Speedway clearly brings the largest amount of tourists into the community, Bacon said. Through visitor guides at the Get to Know Newton booth, at all hotels and on HIRTA buses and other advertising, the CVB reaches the more than 20,000 people that attend race weekends.

“Maytag Dairy farms has been very surprised. When I was talking with them they couldn’t believe the increase in traffic, especially after the Indy race,” Bacon said.

A new event, Newton Fest, helped capitalize on the tourists that planned on attending the annual Iowa Sculpture Festival and Alumi weekend.

“The Newton Fest, Iowa Sculpture Festival and Alumni weekend brought a lot of people in. The Newton Fest part of it was something that was really great to capture the audience that was coming to the sculpture festival and the alumni,” Bacon said.

Newton Management Analyst Natalie Umsted estimates about 2,000 people were in town sometime during the weekend. The All Class Reunion had more than1,000 in attendance and the sculpture festival tallied 700 guests.

Additional events such as the special sensory movies at the Capitol II Theatre, Thunder Nites and Newton Kart Klub events drew in a surprising amount of patrons and helped diversify the crowd that visited Newton.

“The Fourth of July is, of course, a really big weekend here. Between the morning activities and everything that goes on at Agnes Patterson Park a lot of people are coming into town,” Bacon said.

With summer winding down, Bacon said there are plenty of events coming in the fall to fill the calender.

Later this month, the River to River Retro Road Trip group will be making an overnight stop in town. Along with Weekend Pit Stop and DB Kustomz, the 100 plus road trippers will be parking their vehicles at Hawkeye Stages and put them on display for local car lovers to look at as well as enjoy music, food and a good time.

In October, the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA competition will once again take place, bringing hundreds of visitors to stay for the long weekend of pageant events. The winners will then move onto the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA national competition.

Wrapping up Thanksgiving weekend, the annual lighting of the Jasper County Courthouse and lighted Christmas Parade will be held on Friday following the holiday. The lighting of the courthouse and downtown square will be followed by the parade along with food, carriage rides and a visit by Santa.

Finally, adding to the holiday festivities is the Holiday Tour of Homes by the Dollars for Scholars Committee on Dec. 5. The event that brings groups to several homes around the community is also a great opportunity for visitors and locals alike to see everything that Newton has to offer.

“When you go around and look at those houses and its on a Saturday, if the stores are open and the restaurants are open people make a day of it,” Bacon said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com