Newport Pioneer Day will soon be here, spread across two days.
Complete this year with a Friday night move and a new website (https://www.newportpioneerday.com), the annual festival arrives in earnest Friday, Aug. 8 with a movie at Pioneer Park, located off Sixth Street in Newport. The Friday movie will be followed by the main festivities on Saturday, Aug. 9. Volunteers are still being sought to help with the annual celebration, with those willing to contribute their time receiving a T-shirt.
As in the past there will be sweet corn, with purchase of a button allowing one to enjoy all you can eat corn while supplies last. Buttons also act as the bearer’s entry to win raffle prizes at Pioneer Day on Saturday. Those seeking a button may purchase one at City Hall, North Pole/Newport Drug, and the Newport Public Library, and can be secured for $3 each or 4 for $10, cash only.
New to this year’s festivities, meanwhile, the main Pioneer Day festivities will move to Saturday and will feature a 5K run before the parade. For those who like to celebrate earlier, a film will be shown in Pioneer Park the night before on Friday, Aug. 8. The Movie in the Park will be “Dog Man.” Dog Man is about a dog and police officer injured together on the job, resulting in a life-saving surgery that changes history. Produced by Dreamworks and rated PG, this year’s Dogman movie is made possible by Movies with Mo. Other sponsors for the Newport Pioneer Day festivities include Marathon Daley Electric, North Pole Restaurant, Shannon Glass Company, and Newport Collision Center.
As for Saturday, the schedule is packed, starting with the Pioneer Day Road Race at 9:30 a.m. Arriving at 10:30 a.m. will be a kids fun run, with the parade at 11:30 a.m. Parade line up will be at the Newport City Hall/Public Safety Building at the intersection of Second Avenue and 20th Street and begin at 10 a.m.
Already set for participants, line up information will be sent out by Aug. 1.
Down at the park, meanwhile, Pioneer Day activities will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include a petting zoo, car show, local vendors, kids activities, and live music from Cole Diamond.