NEWMAN — At its May 27 meeting, the Newman City Council voted to approve plans for the 2025 Newman Fall Festival, a beloved annual event that brings together residents for a weekend of entertainment, festivities, and community celebration.

The approval follows collaboration between city staff and the Fall Festival Committee, ensuring the allocation of city assets and services to support the large-scale event. As planning progresses, city officials will continue to work closely with organizers to accommodate any further updates or modifications.

The festival, which runs from August 27 to Sept. 1, will feature routine street closures to accommodate carnival rides, parades, and other scheduled events:

• "R" Street will be closed between Fresno and Tulare Streets from August 27 at noon to September 1 at noon for the carnival setup.
• Fresno Street will be closed between "R" and "Q" Streets from August 30 at 5 a.m. to September 1 at midnight.
• Additional closures will occur on Tulare and "Q" Streets for event activities, and Main Street will temporarily close on August 30 for the Tunnel to Towers 5K run.

The Fall Festival Parade will take place on Sunday, August 31 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with rolling street closures in the downtown area to accommodate participants and spectators.

Festival attendees can look forward to a mix of family-friendly entertainment, music, and community activities, including:

• "An Evening Under the Stars" wine and cheese event in the Downtown Plaza on August 29 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Carnival opening on August 29 at 12 p.m., with live entertainment at Pioneer Park gazebo from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Tunnel to Towers 5K Run on August 30 at 8 a.m., starting and concluding in the Downtown Plaza.

To facilitate the festival, the City Council approved several requests from the Fall Festival Committee, including:

• Waiving restrictions on event days, hours of operation, music timing, and alcohol consumption for “An Evening Under the Stars.”
• Waiving business license fees for vendors in the park and granting exclusive use of Pioneer Park, Densmore Park, Barrington Park, and the L.J. Newman building.
• Allowing Pioneer Park to serve as a Beer Garden, consistent with past years.

Recognizing the scale of the event, the City of Newman Police Department will deploy all available officers throughout the weekend to manage safety concerns, particularly intoxication-related incidents and youth altercations that have occurred in prior years.

The Fall Festival Committee will also hire private security personnel for additional coverage, including carnival security and overnight park monitoring. The committee has secured $3 million per occurrence and $6 million aggregate liability insurance, plus $2 million liquor liability coverage to meet city requirements.

With approval secured, the organizing committee will continue refining event logistics, coordinating with city departments, and finalizing site plans in the weeks leading up to the festival.

City leaders encourage residents to mark their calendars and participate in this celebrated Newman tradition, which promises a weekend of fun, family-friendly entertainment, and local community pride. The event organizers continue to seek more volunteers and can be contacted at office@newmanfallfestival.org.