It’s not just a festival, it’s a referendum

Newton gets what it deserves and what it supports. So if residents want to keep having amazing things pop up in their community, then they need to get off their couch, go outside and participate if they can.

Sand Creek Summer Daze will take place this weekend. The massive, three-day Newton festival will feature concerts, boat races, competitive eating competitions, barbecue and craft beer competitions, volleyball competitions, human foosball, children’s activities and other contests. Anything you could imagine wanting at a town festival will likely be there.

The festival is in its first year. And if it’s executed properly, it’s going to turn into one of the city’s crowning events.

The festival represents a year of planning and a massive undertaking by the people working to make it happen. By the end, hundreds of volunteers will have worked the event. Dozens of local businesses will have sponsored the event financially with thousands of dollars and with in kind donations. The Newton government, private sector and individual citizens will have cooperated to give this city a festival that will put the festivals of other towns to shame.

Yet, for all the plans and work surrounding the festival, one question remains: will anybody show up?

Can Newton residents be counted on to embrace something new, something worthwhile? Can residents be counted on to pay a $5 button cost for the weekend’s activities?

We’d like to say yes. We really would. And time will tell.

But Newton seems separated into two groups.

There are people who wish to see it succeed, who wish to solve problems. These people roll up their sleeves and get to work.

Then there’s the “can’t” crowd, the dead weight that drags the city down. Newton can’t support this. Newton can’t have a summer festival.

They would sit in a boat with a hole in it and say ,“See? Newton can’t hold water,” before they’d lift a finger to plug said hole.

That crowd is usually wrong. We heard that Newton can’t support a local paper when we came, but that wasn’t exactly right.

Still, we’d like to tell readers to forget the can’t crowd and not get dragged down by their pessimism. We think such people are simply a loud minority of Newton residents.

We hope Newton will prove us right this weekend at the summer festival and at future events, such as our Blues, Brews and Barbecue concert on Oct. 6.

As we’ve said before, such events represent important pieces for the community. They represent good developments, and eventually, such developments build a critical mass. More people want to live here. More people are willing to try to improve the city they live in. The story becomes “See? Look what Newton can do,” and not what it can’t.

Last year’s Blues, Brews and Barbecue was a risk for us, but Newton showed up to support it. That’s why we’re having one again this year.

Sand Creek Summer Daze is a risk for those involved, and we hope Newton shows up to support it so it’s yet another great thing the community has to offer.

We’re asking you all to come out to the event and see what it has to offer. We think you’ll have a great time and you’ll also be supporting others having a great time. Think about all the fun summer festivals you enjoyed as a child. You’re giving that gift to our city’s younger residents when you show up.

There are also plenty of volunteer spots still open for workers at the event, and if you’re able and have the free time, we’d encourage you to sign up by following the link on the Sand Creek Summer Daze Facebook page.

Say hi to us, as we’ll be out there with our goldfish race, cardboard regatta or sitting up on the dunk tank. We’ll also be getting plenty of photos and coverage for next week’s paper.

So, Newton, please do your part to help good things succeed in this city. Everyone has faith in you. You just have to come through.

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