Nites to remember

Everyone within earshot of downtown Newton knows when it is Thunder Nites. The revving engines are a dead giveaway, and so are the crowds. Anyone who has driven past First Avenue on the second Friday of every month since June knows just how many people flocked to the local motorcycle rally.

Erin Yeager, executive director of Newton Main Street, could not be happier. Seeing the large crowds of bikers and visitors walk around the northwest corner of the square and check out the food trucks, live music and vendors brings a smile to her face. This past Friday was the final Thunder Nites of the season.

“Without doing like an actual count, I would say the first bike night probably had 300 to 400 or even 500 bikes total. It was full. And that didn’t include all the people who were walking around,” Yeager said. “We grew the second event. I would say we got close to 800 to 1,000 people. We got bigger each week.”

Of course, the Aug. 12 night was no different. Folks wandered the streets, set up lawn chairs or were boogying at the front of the stage while Standing Hampton performed. Yeager said organizers tried to bring different genres of music each month, but the move downtown was the real seller.

“We had large group come up to us the first night and told us they were excited to be back downtown,” Yeager said. “They like the feel it gives you in the downtown environment. We wanted to make sure it was a great event for the bikers. A lot of people are coming from Central Iowa.”

Yeager said when the Thunder Nites board approached Main Street in the past about taking it over, the organization was not in a position to do it. After the pandemic, the board met with Main Street again with the same question in March 2022. Within the next few months, organizers rolled out the events.

Collaboration and dedication fueled volunteers’ efforts.

“I cannot take credit for it. Laurie Moffit, she’s been a ride-or-die partner with me on these projects. She’s been the one that has been out and has taken this on with great pride. Her and I work continuously,” Yeager said. “Our volunteers and the Newton Touchdown Club have been great to work with.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com