Hitchcock to be honored at First Town Days

Sam Hitchcock, the founder of the First Town Days Festival, will be honored as the marshal of the grand parade Friday, July 4 at 6:30 p.m. Hitchcock retired from the festival committee in 2019.

The honor is long overdue. He also was the founder of the Summer Showcase concert series at Tuscora Park and headed the former teen center.

“We did appreciate all the years that he did with the festival and everything all around New Phila,” said Shalee Bloom, president of the First Town Days Committee.

Former Festival President Joe Croft retired from the committee late last year.

Bloom credits Hitchcock for getting her involved with the community event.

“I started at First Town Days as a child delivering water in the parade,” Bloom said.

Bloom also is the president of the Summer Showcase.

There is one change this year that might disappoint collectors. There will be no collectible plates. With fewer companies that make the plates, the cost to manufacture them was more than $5,000, which is much more than the money they raised.

The committee made the decision.

“It just was not a feasible thing,” Bloom said. “Unfortunately, the festival is a not for profit. We’re not trying to make money, but we have to survive. And that was just a very large expense that just wasn’t a very popular choice anymore.”

The family day events will be held July 4, with registration for the fishing derby beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the derby starting at 8 a.m. Many other events will follow through the day.

“I think the Big Wheels is probably one of my favorite things. It’s cute, and the little kids can win the Big Wheels,” Bloom said.

Three Big Wheels will be given away to the winner in each age bracket.

The cheeseburger competition will be expanded this year.

“We are actually going to have two this year. We are going to do a restaurant version for the best burger, like we did last year, and we are going to do a backyard burger, which is for people who do not own a restaurant,” Bloom said.

—July 3, Senior Day: Midway and craft areas open at noon, senior days displays and activities from noon to 4 p.m., Mike Wikoff at Al Maloney stage and senior bingo at the Lake Street shelter from 1-3 p.m., mayor and committee introductions at 4 p.m., Little Princess Contest at 4:10 p.m., FTD-VFW scholarship awards at 4:20 p.m., Sparkling Lion Champagne at Cronebaugh Auction tent from 5-7 p.m., bocce tournament from 6-10 p.m., and The Undecided at Al Maloney stage from 7-9 p.m.

—July 4: Fishing derby at 8 a.m. (7:30 a.m. registration), frog jumping at 9:30 a.m. (9 a.m. registration), turtle races at 10:30 a.m. (10 a.m. registration), parent/child sack races at 11:30 a.m. (11 a.m. registration), Midvale Raceway Big Wheel Races at 1:30 p.m. (1 p.m. registration), parent/child hoop shoot at 3 p.m., Brady McBride at Al Maloney stage from 3-5 p.m., WJER WTUZ Grand Parade at 6:30 p.m., and Prime at the Al Maloney stage from 7-10 p.m.

—July 5: Robert’s softball game (city vs. county) at 9 a.m., McInturf Realty & Lawver Homes 5k and walkathon at 9 a.m., midway and craft areas open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., CSB baby contest at 10 a.m., Parkway Superstore kiddie pedal tractor pull from 1-3:30 p.m., Brothers at Cronebaugh tent from 2-4 p.m., men’s leg contest at 4 p.m., pie eating contest at 4 p.m., Marc Davis at Cronebaugh tent from 5-7 p.m., annual best cheeseburger contest (open to restaurants and individuals) from 5:30-6:15 p.m., Alex Hursey at Al Maloney stage from 8-11 p.m., and City of New Philadelphia fireworks display at 10 p.m.

—July 6: First Christian Church service at amphitheater at 10 a.m., midway and craft vendors open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., talent show practice from noon to 12:45 p.m., Ferris Chevrolet Junior Superstars Competitions and Dover Hydraulics amateur talent show (preregistration by noon on July 5 required) at 1 p.m., Fueled by Crown at Cronebaugh tent from 2-4 p.m., J.W. Cookson car show from 3-5:30 p.m., Wiffle ball tournament from 4-8 p.m., Teddy Snyder at Cronebaugh tent from 5-7 p.m., Ed Kilpatrick at Al Maloney stage from 7-9 p.m., and festival closes at 9 p.m.

For the most up-to-date information on the festival and registration for events, visit www.firsttowndays.com.