Coming Soon - 47th Annual

First Town Days 2024

Thursday July Fourth through Sunday July 7th

Good News! Our 47th Annual First Town Days Festival will soon be here!

This year's Festival opens Thursday July 4th at 8AM  with our ever-popular Dover-Phila Federal Credit Union “Family Day” events beginning with the Fishing Derby at 8:00 a.m. and followed throughout the day with several other Family Day classics such as Turtle Racing, Frog Jumping, and Big Wheel Races.  A great way to start the festival with an entire day dedicated to these great family events.

“Opening Ceremonies” are set for 4pm that day at the Al Maloney Midway Stage and will include introductions of our New Philadelphia Mayor, the First Town Days Festival Committee, presentation of the VFW 1440 Academic Scholarship Awards and our Annual Commemorative Plate Auction raising funds to help support all our great events and activities. 

Thursday evening, for the older kids, we feature our Annual Bocce Tournament.  Don’t miss a minute of it.

On Friday July 5th (Kelly Heating and Cooling Seniors’ Day), beginning at 2:00 p.m., we'll feature Live Entertainment, Bingo, and other various activities in the afternoon for our Seniors and then at 6:30 p.m. we’ll kick off our WJER Radio Grand Parade through downtown New Philadelphia. We believe we have one of the absolute best “small town-hometown” parades anywhere in the entire State of Ohio. This great parade will this year be led by the New Philadelphia High School Alumni Band.

Saturday July 6th, we hold our Annual McInturf Realty-Lawver Homes 5K Race, the Roberts Uniforms City versus County Softball Game, the Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull sponsored by Parkway Auto Superstores, and our Annual Baby Contest sponsored by Commercial and Savings Bank as well as a number of other events and contests leading up to our always amazing City of New Philadelphia Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.

The festival concludes Sunday July 7th with our annual Dover Hydraulics Amateur Talent Show, the Ferris Chevrolet Junior Superstars competitions, the JW Cookson Car Show, and a family Wiffle Ball Tournament sponsored by Simpson Heating and Cooling. As usual, First Town Days will also feature lots of Great Food, Games, Vendors, and Crafts of all descriptions, and Entertainment every day and night (Afternoons at the Cronebaugh Auctions Tent across from the First Town Days office and in the Evenings at our Al Maloney Midway Stage). We're looking forward to bringing back all the great events that have made First Town Days what it has been for so many years, as well as a few newer additions for your enjoyment. You can find Complete Downloadable and Printable Festival AND Entertainment Schedules as well as most event applications on this Website under the Forms and Applications Page with Updates to be posted as needed leading up to and during the festival. We can't wait to greet you all again in person at this year's 2024 First Town Days Festival. Please be sure to check back periodically for updates.

Our dedicated group of volunteers that comprises the First Town Days Festival Committee has been planning the festival for the past several months. This planning of course includes selecting and booking our entertainment, organizing, and scheduling each of the many activities and events, obtaining sponsors and program advertisers, and much much more. We look forward to having all of you join us in all of the fun at the 2024 Festival and just ask you to be mindful and respectful of all those attending so that we can enjoy and celebrate together safely. Any required health and safety protocols that may be in place at the time of the festival will be posted here, on our Facebook page, and updated as we get closer to festival time as well as being posted at the festival.

The Fireworks Show that is so generously provided each year by the City of New Philadelphia for the enjoyment of our community will take place this year on Saturday, July 6th beginning at 10PM!  For more information concerning the Fireworks and other events and activities taking place throughout the Summer at Tuscora Park, please visit tuscorapark.com. You may also contact the Tuscora Park office directly or contact the City of New Philadelphia by phone or through their website.

Stay safe and healthy and we very much look forward to seeing you all again soon. If you should have any questions with regard to First Town Days that has not been answered here, please feel free to contact me directly and I will help however I can.

God Bless...

Joe Croft

First Town Days Committee President