First Town Days plate honors Quaker Alumni Band

The First Town Days Festival plate will honor the members of the New Philadelphia Quakers Alumni Band. The alumni band also will lead the grand parade on July 5 at 6:30 p.m. The committee wanted to keep the design a surprise but decided to post it ahead of time at www.firsttowndays.com.

“We’re really hoping that we get some emphasis on the alumni band, who will be leading the parade this year,” said Joe Croft, First Town Days Festival president. “We’re hoping a lot of those band members from over the years will come out and support our plate auction, which will take place on the fourth at opening ceremonies at four o’clock.”

The plate auction is a tradition that helps support the festival. This year’s plate was designed by Jim Celuch of Celuch Creative. The first five numbered plates will be auctioned, and there will be 70 plates available to the general public.

The festival also likes to donate to park projects when they are able.

“Our first mission is to keep the festival going. It’s an expensive proposition to keep things running,” Croft said.

A walkathon has been added in conjunction with the 5k, with proceeds going to a new playground project at the park.

This year’s parade marshal honoree is Bill Graham, who is married to Cheryl Graham.

“He’s one of those people that worked behind the scenes, but he’s done a lot for First Town Days and a lot for the community over the years,” Croft said. “But he’s not someone that seeks out a lot of recognition. He’s just one of those people that has been there and done things and helped.”

Croft is looking forward to the Family Day events. The East Central Association of Realtors also will be there distributing backpacks and pencil boxes.

“Family Day is really, to me, what the festival is about,” Croft said. “Family Day is that Americana kind of thing — apple pie and frog jumping and turtle races on the Fourth of July. It’s kind of that throwback to a scene out of a 1950s-’60s movie. And we’re proud of that because we are a family-oriented festival.”

Marc Davis, who serves as host of the talent show, also will serve as emcee of the Family Day activities. The petting zoo also will be back again this year.

Saturday will be the busiest day of the festival with the fireworks show at 10 p.m.

“I always like to tell people come out early as parking is at a premium,” Croft said.

Lots of good entertainment is planned for the entire festival. In the afternoon the Cronebaugh Auction Entertainment Tent is the place to be.

“It’s a great place to come to grab some great festival food, sit down in the tent or next to it, and listen to some really good local talent,” Croft said, “anything from country to rock to folk to a number of things.”

Scheduled to perform at the entertainment tent are Fueled By Crown, Teddy Snyder, Brady McBride, Brothers, Marc Davis, Jared Barton and Alex Hursey. Check the schedule of events for dates and times.

The Al Maloney stage will be busy with performances too. Scheduled to appear are Ed Kirkpatrick on July 4, Mike Wikoff — Wacky Country and Prime on July 5, The Undecided on July 6 and Jericho Big Band on July 7.

The first best cheeseburger competition will be held July 6. The event is not for the general public, but for restaurants using a recipe from their regular menu. The cheeseburgers will be divided into quarters for the judges to sample and make their decision.

For the most up-to-date information, visit www.firsttowndays.com.

—July 4, Family Day and opening ceremonies sponsored by Dover Phila Federal Credit Union: Select midway food vendors open for breakfast and petting zoo opens at 7:30 a.m., fishing derby at 8 a.m. with 7:30 a.m. registration, frog jumping at 9:30 a.m. with 9 a.m. registration, turtle races at 10:30 a.m. with 10 a.m. registration, parent/child sack races at 11:30 a.m. with 11 a.m. registration, midway and craft vendors open at noon, Fueled by Crown at Cronebaugh Entertainment Tent from noon to 2 p.m., Big Wheel Races at 1:30 p.m. with 1 p.m. registration, parent/child hoop shoot at 3 p.m. with 2:30 p.m. registration, opening ceremonies as well as selection of FTD Little Princess and VFW scholarship awards at 4 p.m., plate auction at 4:30 p.m., bocce tournament from 6-10 p.m. with 4-6 p.m. registration, Ed Kirkpatrick at Al Maloney stage from 7:30-9:30 p.m., and midway closes at 9:30 p.m.

—July 5, Seniors Day and grand parade sponsored by Kelly’s Heating and Cooling and WJER: Midway and craft vendors open at 2 p.m., Mike Wikoff — Wacky Country at Al Maloney stage from 2-4 p.m., senior displays and activities from 2-5 p.m., bingo from 3-5 p.m., Teddy Snyder at Cronebaugh Entertainment Tent from 4:30-6:30 p.m., grand parade at 6:30 p.m., Prime at Al Maloney stage from 8-10 p.m., and midway closes at 10 p.m.

—July 6, Family Fun and Fireworks: Robert’s softball game (city vs. county) at 9 a.m., McInturf Realty & Lawver Homes 5k and walkathon at 9 a.m., CSB baby contest at 10 a.m. with sign-in beginning at 9 a.m. at amphitheater, midway and craft vendors open at 11 a.m., Brady McBride at Cronebaugh Entertainment Tent from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., kiddie tractor pull registration from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Parkway Superstore pedal tractor pull from 1-3:30 p.m., Brothers at Cronebaugh Entertainment Tent from 2-4 p.m., men’s leg and pie eating contest from 4-5 p.m., first best cheeseburger contest from 5:30-6:15 p.m., Marc Davis at Cronebaugh Entertainment Tent from 5-7 p.m., The Undecided at Al Maloney stage from 8-11 p.m., City of New Philadelphia fireworks display at 10 p.m., and midway closes at 11 p.m.

—July 7, Car Show and Talent Show: First Christian Church service at amphitheater at 10 a.m., Jared Barton at Cronebaugh Entertainment Tent from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., midway and craft vendors open at noon, talent show practice from noon to 12:45 p.m., Ferris Chevrolet Junior Superstars competitions from 1-3:30 p.m., Dover Hydraulics amateur talent show from 1-3 p.m. with preregistration by noon on July 6 required, J.W. Cookson car show from 3-5:30 p.m., Simpson Salute/Fro’s Drive-Thru Wiffle ball tournament from 4-8 p.m., Alex Hursey at Cronebaugh Entertainment Tent from 5-7 p.m., Jericho Big Band at Al Maloney stage from 7-9 p.m., and festival closes at 9 p.m.