Time to tailgate! RVTV is coming to town

Newton is rolling out the red carpet for the upcoming WHO 13 RVTV Tour this week, and the individuals in charge of organizing the celebratory downtown tailgate on Friday afternoon are excited to showcase the town, its strong sense of community and what it means to have “Red Pride.”

Erin Yeager, executive director of Newton Main Street, is leading the charge for the upcoming tailgate. She is excited to show off the beautiful downtown and all it has to offer to larger audiences.

“We’re getting to kick off the football season as well as kicking off the biggest rival college football game,” Yeager said. “It’s a great way to kick off fall sports.”

Sponsored by Advantage Credit Union, the RVTV Newton Tailgate on Sept. 6 will feature food trucks, a beverage tent, games, a pep rally for Newton High School’s first home football game and a live music performance by Damon Dotson. All the while RVTV will hold live broadcasts at 4, 5 and 6 p.m.

Yeager encouraged community members to start packing into downtown Newton by 3:30 p.m. for the tailgate. Folks should be dressed in their favorite Iowa Hawkeyes or Iowa State Cyclones gear in preparation for the big Cy-Hawk game held the next day in Iowa City. Now is the time to show your team spirit.

Here is the schedule of the events:

• 3:30 p.m. Food trucks and beverage tent open

• 4 p.m. Newton High School pep rally

• 4:30 p.m. Games and contests begin

• 5:30 p.m. Damon Dotson concert

• 8 p.m. Tailgate ends

In addition to Advantage Credit Union being title sponsor, other businesses have contributed to the event, including: supporting sponsors DMACC Newton and Van Hemert Family Dentistry, “fan-atics” sponsor Chevron Renewable Energy Group and touchdown sponsor Justin Goodfellow of American Family Insurance.

Cardinal sponsors Riggs Printing and Free Classified Weekly have also made contributions. The Emerson Hough chapter of the Izaak Walton League is handling the beverage garden at the tailgate. Yeager said the tailgate gives the community a chance to come together towards one goal.