Plans underway for annual Gateway to Fall Festival

Ray Booth
·3 min read
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NEWCOMERSTOWN — While fall may seem to be off in the future, plans are already under way for the annual Gateway to Fall Festival on Aug. 19-20, held each year to benefit the Thomas R. Little Community Fund, which provides scholarships and funding for worthwhile community projects.

The event is named for the late Atty. Thomas R. Little, with his family and friends creating the Foundation to continue his work in the community. Atty. Little was very active in projects that would benefit the Newcomerstown community.

The Gateway to Fall Festival will be held at Cy Young Park and will include bands, a beer garden, vendors, food trucks, a pulled pork dinner, swimming, an auction, “Deal or No Deal” and more.

Sponsors will have names attached to flyers, banners, social media, radio and more. Sponsorships are now available at various levels, including:

• Platinum ($1,000): Official Festival sponsors, where names will be most prominent and the company or individual name will be placed on the TRL Foundation “Perpetual Plaque.” Platinum sponsor names will be announced several times throughout the stage line-up.

• Host Sponsor ($500): Official sponsors of the “Band Area.”

• Gold Sponsor ($300): Official sponsors of the “Auction Tent” where local businesses and home businesses will have items available to view and win.

• Silver Sponsor ($200): Official sponsors of the “Pool Party” area where there will be swimming and games.

• TRL Friend Sponsor ($100): Yard signs in addition to other mentions and official sponsors of the Food Tent, where people will have the opportunity to relax while grabbing something to eat or while watching the stage acts.

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. More information is available on the Gateway to Fall Festival Facebook page.

TRL officers said sponsorships are already being received, including those from Raven’s Glenn Winery, ARTSNCT, Elks BPOE 1555, H&R Block, Park National Bank, Hair Craze, Dr. Richard Roe, Seitz Cattle, Mike’s Body Shop, Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union and Coshocton Regional Medical Center.

The Gateway to Fall Festival will also have a “River Duck Derby” on Saturday morning, Aug. 20.

At approximately 11 a.m., hundreds of yellow rubber ducks will splash into the Tuscarawas River and race on the current to the finish line at the River Street bridge at the Heller-Simonds Park.

All of the ducks are up for adoption and will proudly display a unique adoption identification number on his underside. Duck adoptions are available for purchase and the first six winning ducks guardians will receive cash prizes. The duck adoptions are to be purchased in advance of the race. Ducks are $3 each or four ducks for $10 or nine ducks for $20. Sale sites will be posted on the Gateway to Fall Festival Facebook page.

Prizes will be awarded on the Gateway to Fall Festival stage at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20. Winners need not be present. Participants must be at least 18 years old to purchase ducks.

The Festival is also in the process of securing vendors. Vendor setup is available for Saturday, Aug. 20 from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Vendors are asked to submit a vendor request form. All applicants will be notified of availability, one vendor per product. Go to https://form.jotform.com/220923841012142 to fill out the form. The vendor setup fee is $25 and providing one item for the auction.

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: Plans underway for annual Gateway to Fall Festival