Wednesday, November 2, 2022

2022 Hootenanny is the best yet!

The crowds enjoy the 2022 Hootenanny
 under the lights!
photo credit: Bevin Wall
The reviews are in- the 2022 Newport Halloween Hootenanny was the best one yet! With over 4,000 attendees and volunteers, the event showcased the business and civic spirit of the Newport community, who all turned out and contributed their time and money to keep this a free event for the community. 

The event features free hotdogs & drinks, popcorn, sno-cones, and Halloween candy and prizes for each of the 15+ carnival games. Added attractions included the Haunted House, the tractor pulled hay-ride, displays of fire trucks, race cars and specialty vehicles, demonstrations by Globetrotter Dexter Williams and America's Got Talent contestant twirler Joel Claudio, and the always popular costume contests.           

Thanks to everyone who attended, sponsored and helped at the event! 

See Hootenanny photos here. 

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Support the Hootenanny - One of the special events that makes Newport GREAT!


To the Newport Business Community. Newport Rotarians will be out and about in the community over the next months canvassing for the support of our Hootenanny business and community sponsors. Co-Organizer Rick Smith with Newport Rotary advises the event will be bigger and better this year, with no expected COVID restrictions. Also, some new games are being rolled out and some other retired. 

For our sponsors, Sponsor levels and benefits remain unchanged from 2022. Due to inflation affecting candy, prize and food costs, our volunteers will be requesting that sponsors consider a donation in the next highest giving category, if possible. 

The Hootenanny is one of the things that makes our community special and we want to keep it FREE for participants. We need everyone in the Newport community to help us support and staff the event.  

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Look out for those Orange Sponsor Cards! Hootenanny is Here!


The orange cards are back! 

Newport Rotarians will be out and about in the community over the next month canvassing for the support of our Hootenanny business and community sponsors. Sponsor levels and benefits remain unchanged from 2020. Due to inflation affecting candy, prize and food costs, our volunteers will be requesting that sponsors consider a donation in the next highest giving category, if possible. The Hootenanny is one of the things that makes our community special and we want to keep it FREE for participants. We encourage everyone to contribute, if they can.    

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Hootenanny Volunteers are Out Canvassing for Support!


Newport Rotarians will be out and about in the community over the next month canvassing for the support of our Hootenanny business and community sponsors. Sponsor levels and benefits remain unchanged from 2020. Due to inflation affecting candy, prize and food costs, our volunteers will be requesting that sponsors consider a donation in the next highest giving category, if possible. The Hootenanny is one of the things that makes our community special and we want to keep it FREE for participants. We encourage everyone to contribute, if they can.    

2021 Newport Halloween Hootenanny Planning is Underway!

The Newport Halloween Hootenanny will be held Sunday, October 31, 2021 at the Newport Little League Field and Town Park from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. An update on the planning for the event was delivered to Newport Rotary, the Event Coordinator, by Hootenanny Chair Rick Smith and Sponsor Chair Bevin Wall, at the club's September 6, 2021 meeting. President Julia Saikali presided. 

Like last year, the event footprint is planned to be expanded, allowing for more room for socially distanced activities.   

New or returning activities include: 

  • free hot dogs & fixin's, cotton candy, sno-cones, soda, & water available inside the games area. 
  • petting zoo for small children 
  • over 20 carnival games
  • separate small children games area 
  • multiple bouncy houses  
  • hay ride through the park
For the first time, the event will have food truck vendors available for paid food & drink outside of the games area. This will expand the choice of food and beverage, and also provide food after the hot dogs invariably run out. With the exception of the food truck items, the event remains free to the public. The event is underwritten by Newport Rotary, The Town of Newport, scores of other local businesses and community organizations.   

As with all in-person events, the COVID-19 situation and event protocols will continue to be monitored right up until the day of the event. Last year, masks, sanitizer and social distancing were recommended and structurally built-in to the event. No COVID-19 cases were reported attributable to last year's event. Updates will be posted to this website. 

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Sponsor & Volunteer Thank-You Pig Pickin' on Saturday

Sponsors & Volunteers, Despite COVID-19, the NEWPORT HALLOWEEN HOOTENANNY was a rousing success. We safely assembled over 2,500 children and adults and kept the tradition alive! It was truly a community effort.  

To thank our volunteers and sponsors, we will have a free THANK-YOU PIG-PICKIN' in the Newport Town Park this Saturday 11/14/2020 at 5:00pm until. 

All Rotarians, Sponsors, Volunteers and Friends of the Hootenanny are invited. Bring a friend and let's celebrate a great community and the continuation of this  great community event!  Free. No RSVP is required. Come as you are.  

Newport Rotary 
Matt Shortway, President
Julia Saikali, President-Elect 
Rick Smith, Hootenanny Chair 
Bevin Wall, Hootenanny Sponsors Coord.