Get to Know a Fun Weekend Visit

Head to a Race

Newton is home to the biggest, loudest and fastest races in Iowa at the Iowa Speedway. Between tailgating, post-race concerts and concourse fun, the Iowa Speedway experience is for racing enthusiasts and newbies alike. Stop at the main office to schedule a tour or visit the gift shop in the off season. You can also check out the Newton Kart Klub for fast, fun, and competitive kart racing on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from April to September.

Do Something Fun

We know that “fun” doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone, but we promise Newton offers something fun for everyone! During warmer weather, enjoy bike rides on our scenic trail system or play disc golf in one of our beautiful parks. You can also play 18 holes at Westwood Golf Course, splash around at Maytag Pool or catch a concert at Maytag Bowl! In the cooler months, curl up with a book from the Newton Public Library or sled down a hill at Sunset Park. There’s an abundance of activities and events for everyone!

Enjoy A Night Out

The Maytag Dairy Farm, founded by the Maytag family, strives to make the best cheese they can — possibly the best in the world. Your visit to Newton wouldn’t be complete without a cheese tasting and a few tasty souvenirs to take home from their hometown store at Nostalgia Wine Spirits. 

You can also check out award-winning craft beer brewed right here in Newton at Gezellig Brewing Company! Located at Legacy Plaza, the brewery has won golf medals at several international beer competitions. The female-founded brewery firmly believes in the recruiting power of a glass of beer! You can also check out Murph & Mary's Pub named after the owner's grandparents. Murph & Mary’s Pub is setting itself up to be a community gathering place where families can enjoy a beer or a root beer while playing a board game and snacking on popcorn.

Having a hard time deciding what to do? Head to The Thunderdome - home to Revel & Rind a high-end cocktail lounge. You can also take in in a game on the big screen, battle it out on the board games, enjoy a snack, climb a mountain in VR, or throw axes in real life - there's something for everyone at The Thunderdome.

Catch the Latest Flicks

Valle Drive-In is the oldest drive-in in Iowa — and also the most authentic! Toss a Frisbee or football around before you settle in for a one-of-a-kind double feature. The drive-in offers two movies each night and movies are shown rain or shine. You can also head to the Capitol II Theatre, located in the Hotel Maytag building in our historic downtown. The locally-owned theatre shows the latest movies, has a full concession stand and even has a theater mascot, Joy the MiniPig! 

Dig Into Our History

Newton’s history is rich; the community has several locations on the National Register of Historic Places including the Fred Maytag Park Historic District and The Newton Downtown Historic District. The Newton Downtown Historic District consists of 85 properties (including the Jasper County Courthouse and Hotel Maytag) and was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in September 2014. You can also tour the Jasper County Historical Museum which showcases the history of the washing machine (and Newton’s central role) as well as other significant industries, agriculture, commercial and societal exhibits. 

Love Art? Look No Further

Newton has a rich and vibrant art scene featuring local and regional artists alike. Consider adding one of these stops to your next Newton visit: 

  • Visit the Centre for Arts and Artists where you can take an art class and see local artists at work! There is also an artist's gallery and gift shop!
  • Don’t forget to pick up a map of the Public Sculpture & Art Tour at the Centre featuring over 90 pieces of sculptures and murals!
  • At the Jasper County Historical Museum, you can view sculptures by local artists Herman and Neal Deaton.