Forty-three years ago, members of the New Philadelphia Park and Recreation Board along with a few other civic-minded individuals decided that it would be a great idea to stage a city festival in the park for the purpose of raising funds to restore the aging 1928 Hershel-Spillman Carousel. The festival was such a fun event for all involved and here we are 43 years later, still having fun!!
First Town Days has certainly evolved over those forty-three years, like so many other things, but as the saying goes, "the more things change, the more they remain the same" and sometimes that is a good thing. First Town Days still maintains so many of the same great events and traditions that generations of Tuscarawas County citizens have come to expect and enjoy year after year as we celebrate our Nation and our Community each July Fourth Holiday season. Events such as Junior Superstars have been with us since the very beginning as have several of our food concessions and vendors. Our Family Day Frog Jumping, Turtle Races, and Fishing Tournament have been part of our tradition for many of those same years. We truly are a Family Festival and wouldn't want it any other way. Our goal as the First Town Days Festival Committee is to provide our citizens and visitors to the festival, a genuine, family friendly, good time and entertainment experience including many events that can be enjoyed together by children, parents, and grandparents together as a throwback to a simpler time. Don't have children or grandchildren? There's still lots to do. We have mouthwatering Festival Food favorites, Craft and other Vendors to shop with and explore, Free Musical Entertainment every night, Contests, Softball Games, 5-K Run, Car Show, and Fireworks just to name a few.
Also, for 2020, we are adding a second stage inside the Cronebaugh Auction Entertainment Tent at the diagonal walkway between the Midway and Crafts Pavilions. This will be a smaller stage featuring two 2-hour shows on Friday and Saturday as well as our Talent Show on Sunday. This year we are also adding an "Anti 5-K Run/Walk" for the less energetic crowd to go along with our traditional 5-K (New Course) Run on Saturday.
Maybe not something for everyone, but very close.
43 Years in the making, we're still going strong. Many of the names and faces have changed, but like the festival itself, our committed group of volunteers continue to give of their time and energy to make sure that our children and their children and yours, will be able to look back and remember all of the good times they had and memories that were made visiting the First Town Days Festival in New Philadelphia, Ohio. We hope to see you there...
