NEWPORT – The town’s annual Summerfest will be greatly expanded this year, featuring new events such as a car show, an art show and sale and a 5K road race.

Although most of the events are scheduled for the weekend of July 14-15, the Fire Department-sponsored car show will be held Saturday, July 8.

“This will be the Summerfest kick-off,” said Summerfest chairwoman Teresa Bickford.

Smokey’s Greater Shows will offer its midway at the Sebasticook Valley Community Center and boat landing July 13-15.

Bickford also reported the following activities for the Summerfest celebration: cribbage tournament, children’s games, bingo, face painting, a canoe and boat race, and a horseshoe tournament.

Another addition to the Summerfest is a 5K road race set for 9 a.m. Saturday, July 15. Pre-registration is required by July 10, and Police Chief Leonard Macdaid, who will be running, has challenged area businesses to sponsor runners. All proceeds will benefit the Newport Cultural Center.

Major sponsors of the 5K are Healthy Living and Sebasticook Valley Hospital.

For information on the road race or to register, call Kelley Carter, 852-0647.

The art show and sale will be held at Occasions, the former Grange Hall on Main Street, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 14, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 15.

The Newport Garden Club is teaming with the artists to create floral designs that will complement each artist’s work. The pieces will be exhibited together.

In addition, musicians will entertain from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 14. These include Sam Hoekstra, Ryan Dort, Tom Clukey, Ben Nadeau and Brad McIntyre.

Throughout the event, artists are donating works to be raffled off, and a community weaving is being created. Newporters are encouraged to bring items to weave into the creation, which was part of a SAD 48 art project.

The art event is a collaboration of the Sebasticook Valley Arts Alliance and the Newport Cultural Center.

For information on the art show and sale, visit www.valleyartsalliance.org, or contact Annette Houston, 368-2443, or Sam Hoekstra, 368-5570.