2023 Chairman's Message

2023 President's Message...

First Town Days is one of those things that so many in our community look forward to each year. Our festival is something we count on to bring us enjoyment and to take us away from our daily routines. It is a welcome break where we can enjoy picnics, outings with friends and family, festivals, food, and music, celebrations of who we are as a nation and all in all, a sense of community. This is what brings us together. We look forward to these events and the moments that bring us new friends and memories to last a lifetime.

On Friday June 30th we will be opening our 2023 and 46th Annual First Town Days Festival and are hoping you will come join us for many of our favorites such as Family Day including the ever popular Fishing Derby, Frog Jumping, Turtle Races, Bigwheel Races, Parent-Child Sack Races, and Parent-Child Hoop Shoot. We also feature Junior Superstars, a Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull Competition (adults are welcome too), the Amateur Talent Show, Best Legs Contest, Pie Eating Contest, Baby Contest, Car Show, Fireworks and much more. There will be lots of great musical entertainment each afternoon and evening, craft vendors, displays, and of course, that wonderful not necessarily good for you but tastes great festival food. So much of what we look forward to and expect each summer. There will continue to be nightly musical entertainment on the Al Maloney Stage. There will be a "New" New Philadelpia Rock'n'Roll favorite headlining our Saturday night show (before and after the Fireworks) so be prepared tp Rock Out to the sounds of New Philadelphia's own Electric Mud.

If that's not enough fun by itself, there will be a couple of "New Additions" from 2022 that will be returning again in 2023 and also a couple of totally new additions that we can't wait to see. Last year, Cronebaugh Auctions sponsored an afternoon Music Venue featuring multiple performances daily by area musicians. It was a great success and a lot of fun so we hope you will stop again this year for a bit of afternoon musical entertainment as you stroll the midway. First Town Days will also again be sponsoring a "Community Outreach" tent that will be shared by several local organizations serving the Tuscarawas County Community. Whether you have a need, know someone with a need, or just want to show your support, I hope you will stop in and see what it's all about.

We are also excited to announce that we will be featuring a Petting Zoo and Pony Rides throughout the festival and for the first time ever, we will have a Laser Tag concession for your enjoyment.

As usual, in keeping with one of our great First Town Days traditions, we will be doing our Commemorative Plate auction and Sale which helps support the many good things the First Town Days Festival Committee does including helping with various park projects and simply covering the cost of putting on this great festival. Our plate is something we do as a fundraiser to help support those things mentioned above but it is also an opportunity to honor and recognize deserving organizations, events or individuals that give of themselves to our community. It is also to recognize Tuscora Park and the First Town Days Festival itself. We hope you will enjoy this year’s theme and continue to support us through your purchase of these plates.

As President of the First Town Days Festival Committee, I also want to ask you to join me in offering a special thank you to all of our great supporters, advertisers, and event sponsors who through their generous contributions allow us to bring this great festival to Tuscora Park, New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County and the surrounding area for the enjoyment of all. We are grateful to them and to each and every one of you for coming out and supporting our 2023 First Town Days Festival. Our goal is to continue the traditions associated with First Town Days and to see it continue to be something we can be proud of and that we all can enjoy for generations to come. We invite you to join us in celebrating our 46th season and hope you will enjoy your time at the festival. Be safe, be blessed, and thank you for coming.

Sincerely,

Joe Croft

First Town Days Festival Committee President