Gateway Festival draws big crowds
NEWCOMERSTOWN — At least the rain held off until late Saturday evening as the annual Gateway to Fall Festival drew crowds to a variety of events over Friday and Saturday, Aug. 19-20.
The event is sponsored by the Thomas R. Little Community Fund, named for the late Atty. Thomas R. Little. Atty. Little was very active in projects that benefitted the Newcomerstown community and the Foundation was created to continue his work.
The event included a pulled pork dinner and music by the Chestnut Hill Band and The Moonlyterz on Friday; and vendors, food trucks, demonstrations of pottery and glass blowing, a Chinese auction, corn hole tournament, music by Rolandos and the Will Rockwell Band and a rousing game of “Deal or No Deal.” A beer and wine garden was open each evening. Newcomerstown’s own Charlene Kehl joined Rolandos as a vocalist on Saturday.
The Gateway to Fall Festival had a “Rubber Duck Derby” on Saturday morning, Aug. 20. The event was moved from the Tuscarawas River to the pool at Cy Young Park. Numbers were printed on the bottom of 500 rubber ducks. The ducks were then put into a race course outlined by pool noodles and volunteers helped create the “current” to take the ducks through the route.
Ducks “adopted” by the following people claimed the cash prizes for the first six places, in order: Brenda Williams McIntire, Kayte Marstrell, Denny Ross, Kayte Marstrell, Chuck Seitz and Carley Seitz.
Officials of the Gateway to Fall Festival, held Aug. 19-20 at Cy Young Park, recognized the following sponsors of the 2022 event:
EZ Money Swap Shop, Trinity Health System Twin City Medical Center, Ron Hickman Realtor and Auctioneer, Jeff and Mariann Harding, Helen and Ray Booth, John and Pam Ripley Hendershot, McDonald’s, Rotary Club of Newcomerstown, McDonnell Excavating, SIMONA Boltaron, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 532, Christ United Methodist Church, Cheryl Hogue Realtor, Marstrell Auto Parts and Trailers, Christi Olinger of Olinger and Co. Realty, Raven's Glenn Winery and Restaurant, ARTSNCT, Elks Lodge 1555, H&R Block, Park National Bank, Hair Craze, Dr. Richard G. Roe, DC, Seitz Cattle, Mike's Body Shop, Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union and .Coshocton Regional Medical Center.
To become a sponsor, mail a check to the Thomas R. Little Community Fund, 774 Cross Street, Newcomerstown, OH 43832; or use the Foundation’s PayPal or Venmo accounts.
Officers noted, “We appreciate every donation. The Thomas R. Little Community Fund provides scholarships to local students, grants for community projects and funds for Journey’s End to help those in need.”
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Gateway Festival draws big crowds
