Newton is the second largest city in Catawba County, North Carolina. Cultural diversity is what makes Newton special and you will find various forms of art here, that expresses its rich railway and music heritage. So, the best thing to do in Newton is to discover its past and appreciate how these cultures fused together to develop into the unique Newton of today.
Newton has annual events that showcase its unique variety of cultural expression, in music and art and you will find other regular art exhibitions and museums open for visitors. To make the most of your history and art encounters, don’t miss these seven places.
1. Museum of History
Get your first dose of Newton history here, at the Museum of History, where visitors can get a sense of Newton’s past. The region’s story is artfully displayed in the unique setting of the former Catawba County Courthouse, in the downtown Newton square - an imposing National Register Renaissance Revival structure, built in 1924.
Museum of History
Address: 30 N. College Avenue, Newton NC 28658 (Tuesday - Saturday 9 am - 4 pm)
Website: Museum of History
2. Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum
This second history stop offers you an encounter with southwestern railroad history as shown through music. Listen to the song “Wreck of the ol’ 97,” which was considered the first modern country and western song, by many historians. Vernon Dalhart’s 1924 version was the first million-selling record of the genre. The city’s musical heritage is deep and wide, so be sure to listen to the music when you walk around the Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum.
The museum houses a collection of vintage railroad equipment that dates as far back as the era of Reconstruction, days when primitive iron rails endeavored to connect the cotton fields of lowland farms to the vast timber interests of the Appalachians.
Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum
Address: 1123 North Main Avenue in Newton, NC.
Opening Times: Museum is open Fridays & Saturdays.
3. The Green Room at the Old Post Office Playhouse
The Green Room is a place where you can encounter Newton’s dramatic art. The theater is dedicated to strengthening the quality of life in Catawba County and the surrounding communities through the theatre arts. Located at the Old Post Office Playhouse, it offers twelve productions, which include one all-youth cast and at least one family or all-ages show, each season. You will find diverse and non-traditional castings in all their productions.
Check out their performance schedule and experience Newton dramatic arts, here at the Green Room.
The Green Room Community Theatre
Address: 10 S Main Ave Newton, North Carolina
Website: The Green Room
4. Red Leaf Artist Collective
Red Leaf Artist Collective is a means to showcase Carolina’s artists by displaying their paintings, pottery, photography, origami, quilts, glassworks and handmade items. Most of the pieces are made by Newton artists and all of them are from Carolinian artists. It is an ideal place to select gifts with local flavor - discover how these handicrafts and art pieces are inspired by the artists lives, in Carolina.
Red Leaf Artist Collective
Address: 24 E 1st St Newton, North Carolina
Website: Red Leaf Artist Collective
5. Newton-Conover Auditorium
Bach’s Lunch ‘n’ Listen is a popular lunchtime concert series, organized at the Newton-Conover Auditorium. The performance starts at 12 noon and ends no later than 1:30 pm. In the setting of the McCreary Modern Gallery, this high-quality music performance is put on by the volunteer group, the Chatterbachs.
Make sure you drop by the Newton-Conover Auditorium during lunchtime. This is a musical event that you should not miss.
Newton-Conover Auditorium
Address: 60 W 6th St Newton, NC 28658
Website: Newton-Conover Auditorium
6. McCreary Modern Gallery
In the Newton-Conover Auditorium, is the McCreary Modern Gallery. Here, you will discover Newton’s style of art exhibitions, be it local or international artists, the curation demonstrates a rich sense of artistic inspiration from the region’s people, landscape, railroads and even animals.
Be sure to make your rounds at this gallery to experience Newton’s art, before or after your lunch concert.
McCreary Modern Gallery
Address: 60 W 6th St, Newton, NC 28658, USA
Website: McCreary Modern Gallery
7. Foothills Folk Art Festival
Last, but not to be missed, is this family friendly festival, the Foothills Folk Art Festival, which draws thousands of visitors from throughout the region. The festival is a partnership between the Downtown Newton Development Association (DNDA) and the Hickory Museum of Art (HMA).
The Foothills Folk Art Festival is a juried, folk-art themed show, with a focus on artwork that is intensely influenced by and displaying the spirit of folk, visionary, and outsider art.
The Foothills Folk Art Festival is an annual event, since its first inception in 2005, which houses the acquired 153 folk art objects from Barry and Allen Huffman, of Hickory. Today, the Hickory Museum of Art has showcased contemporary southern folk art and has an ongoing and changing exhibition.
Best of all, the event is free for all, and you will have the option to buy a wide selection of the folk art, directly from the artists. There will be artist demonstrations, live music, food vendors, beer gardens, and other special activities during the festival.
Check out the dates this year, and plan your visit to Newton, accordingly.
Foothills Folk Art Festival
Address: 243 Third Avenue NE Hickory, NC 28601
Website: Foothills Folk Art Festival
Artistic impression of Newton
After all these encounters with art and history, you can better appreciate Newton and its art. The expressions show a diversity of forms, be it drama, folk art, or music - Newton gives its visitors a heritage-rich experience. Remember to bring home some Carolina inspired gifts!