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. 

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

2020 Newport Halloween Hootenanny is ON!

The Town of Newport has approved the 2020 Newport Halloween Hootenanny to occur on Halloween night at the Newport Town Park and Newport Little League Field. Newport Rotary announced the approval and their continued organizer role in their meeting on September 14, 2020, after completing meetings with Town of Newport officials, with input from Newport Police Department and Newport Fire Department. COVID-19 precautions such as social distancing, small groups and masks will be built-in to the design of this year's event. Large gathering areas, inflatables and carnival foods will not be available. Further instructions will be posted on this website as the event draws nearer. 

Friday, November 1, 2019

View Event Photos Here.

2019 Hootenanny a Smashing Success!

Over 3,500 ghouls and goblins enjoyed the 2019 Newport Halloween Hootenanny on a mixed weather night. Click here for the photos! The first half of the event saw splendid summery weather in the upper 70's, with some light rain moving through in the latter half of the event, thinning the crowds.

The 2019 Hootenanny saw record support from our community volunteers at the event and our business community sponsors beforehand, both of which keep the event free to the public.

We thank our Event Sponsors: Frank Door Company, Bevin Wall, Attorney at Law, Boulia Construction & Restoration, Chick-Fil-A of Morehead City, Hope Mission, Riverside Pizza & Subs and Veneer Tech. Please refer to our website right panel for the comprehensive list of our Game Sponsors, Candy Sponsors, Individual Sponsors and In-Kind Sponsors & Volunteers.     

Special recognition goes to a contingent of our US Marines from Air Traffic Control at Cherry Point, and numerous churches showing up with significant volunteers. We also thank event mainstays The Newport Pig Cooking Contest, Town of Newport employees and Newport Little League, without whose support the event could not occur!       

Kids and Adults enjoyed having the Petting Zoo return, thanks to The Barnyard. Our new Hayride tractor driver, Eric Bryan, kept a full load running all night.

We thank everyone that made the 2019 Hootenanny a great success! Newport Rotary, Event Coordinators.