Full-service DJ Twisted H Productions spun tunes from the Golden Age as locals, vendors and food trucks flooded the streets of Newberry’s Historic District Saturday afternoon for the third annual Fabulous 50’s Festival.
The Newberry Main Street Organization, a nonprofit that organizes community activities throughout the historic city, hosted the event. About 100 seniors, college students and families alike travelled to see the flashback in time — which featured a car show and costume contest in addition to food vendors.
“We were looking for something small to kind of bring us into the holiday season,” the Main Street organization’s president, Chris Mack, said.
Mack said he still expected the festival to bring in around 2,000 people.
This festival is part of the nonprofit’s plan to revitalize Newberry’s economy and support local businesses. It hosts a number of other events, like its BBQ and Blues Festival, which brought 11,000 people to the small town in February.
Considering Newberry’s population hovers around 8,000 people, the crowds boosted the economy, Main Street Organization said. All the donations and proceeds that come in from events like these go straight back into the community for more events and decorations.
Attendance for the ‘50s festival has been growing every year since its inception, according to Mack.
Main Street’s festivals usually involve 200 vendors, but this festival scaled back with only 20 vendors. Hosting a smaller event allowed the group to get their footing before ramping up with larger events throughout the year, Mack said.
One of these vendors was the Newberry-based The Kettle Corn Store. Owner Kevlyn Mcintosh said it’s a pop-up store, meaning it doesn’t have a brick and mortar location, so going to these festivals is how they sell their products.
She was especially impressed with the theming at the festival.
“I just think this is amazing with all these old cars,” she said.
Newberry’s Main Street Organization is affiliated with the nationwide Main Street America, which aims to reenergize small town America.
The organization worked with Gainesville Street Rods, a club for car lovers in North Central Florida, to pull off the ‘50s festivities.
Around 80 cars, with manufacturing dates ranging from 1926 to 2025, parked along the streets, adding to the atmosphere as the 163-member car-lovers club got ready to host its old car show. The group has been around for 43 years.
All proceeds from its events and festivals, including this one, go to charity. On Saturday, it gathered donations for the Homes 4 Heroes organization. They also gathered clothing donations for St. Francis House in downtown Gainesville.
According to its president, Scott Mello, its most popular car show, held in March, garnered over $11,000 in donations last year for children’s cancer.
“I like the fact that people associate us with charity and good works,” said Vice President Debbie Remsen, who used to race cars in the ‘70s.
The car show will be back for Newberry Main Street Organization’s BBQ and Blues festival next year. Newberry Main Street Organization’s Fall Festival and Halloween event are both approaching in the next two months.
Contact Alexa Ryan at aryan@alligator.org Follow her on X @AlexaRyan_
Alexa is a second-year journalism and international studies students serving as the Fall 2025 Criminal Justice beat reporter. She previously served as a copy editor. She spends her free time running, traveling, having movie nights and going on random side quests with friends.
