Newtown Festival president seeks to maintain best small town event

In the fall of 2022, Gina McIntire replaced four-term festival president, Tootie Rinker and together they co-managed the 2023 Newtown Heritage Festival (NHF). McIntire is a Stephens City resident, property owner and independent business person who heads the event in 2024 and acknowledges the position requires scheduling monthly meetings year-round with volunteer committee members.

The committee is composed of about 12 people and the goals are simple; deliver a volunteer and donations driven, free, easy access, safe, and family friendly event. “After 32 years of success, Tootie Rinker has handed over a finely tuned machine and I just need to work with the committee leads to ensure the necessary adjustments are in place to produce another successful festival event,” said McIntire.

However, due to increased Memorial Day weekend venue competition in Berryville, Front Royal, Strasburg, and Winchester, McIntire must push the festival committee to solicit the best crafts, food, beverages, music, and entertainment available. Today folks are seeking more variety regarding food, craft, and music options to support an increasingly diverse demographic allowing for a wide array of preferences.

After the Memorial Day festivities are over, the committee meets in June to compare post event notes and reconvenes in August to document lessons learned, proposing changes that will generate tangible, repeatable improvements to the festival processes, and products. “Minutes are taken at every meeting, and during the fall Months, lessons that are found to have the efficiency and effectiveness to improve the festival are implemented by the committee,” McIntire said.

Committee leads for main street parade, music and entertainment, food vendors, crafts, publicity and advertising, car show, selfie garden, chess tournament, Veteran’s Day Observance, history tour and museums are identified and planning continues to move forward.

“In December a letter is distributed to our faithful sponsors thanking them for their invaluable monetary and in-kind support which makes this festival a reality. Many sponsors are long time town business partners that we often visit. The festival relies on relationships between committee members and community businesses to continue the decades long success of the best small-town festival in the Lower Shenandoah Valley,” said McIntire. “Local businesses believe the festival is an ideal venue to promote Stephens City’s identity as a village with a pioneering spirit and prolific history.”

Application, permit, and license forms for food and craft vendors, and parade participants are updated and proofed in January and made available to participating parties by March. Radio and print advertising decisions are made in February and communications begin in March to meet April deadlines. The Grandville Pottery commemoratives are ordered in April and delivered by May. Contracts for fireworks, music groups, portable restrooms, and dumpsters are signed and delivered in April and May. Health and fire department officials, and Stephens City Police are kept apprised of festival plans and schedules.

Police Chief Bill Copp coordinates the manpower to manage traffic control and safety. Stephens City Town Manager Mike Majher oversees town employees who interface with the fireworks vendor, set up pavilion tents, mark parking areas, apply appropriate signage, and manage restrooms, trash collection and disposal. The town also carries insurance that covers the festival and has a line item in their budget to assist in funding incidental costs.

McIntire says, “We tend to be one big committee with members wearing many hats. During the month of May, the committee meets weekly with Mayor Mike Diaz and Mike Majher to review and ensure all ‘To Do List’ items are on schedule. It is a mutually cooperative effort between Mayor Diaz, Town of Stephens City, and the volunteer community.”

The committee is always seeking new volunteers. “We meet on the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the town office on Locust Street. The transition from print to online media has been our biggest adjustment. We are adapting to website and social media technology. There is a continuous need for volunteers who are passionate about keeping social media sites active and current,” McIntire concluded.

The festival will kick off Friday May 24, with live music at the Newtown Commons stage at 6 p.m. and finish dramatically Saturday, May 25 at dusk with scintillating fireworks, sponsored by the Hollis Family Foundation. The fireworks display can be viewed from the Newtown Commons. For more information, call the Town office at 540-869-3087.