Frequently Asked Questions

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Ritz Fest - South Carolina's Annual Suicide Prevention Benefit is an annual event centered around the FIRST SATURDAY IN FEBRUARY that aims to raise money for The Jason Foundation. Both Ritz Fest Eve and Ritz Fest will delight the audience with a wide variety of live music, all performing FOR FREE to help us raise awareness of and to end the silent epidemic of youth suicide. 

Ritz Fest is always held the First Saturday in February. 

Ritz Fest '25 is Saturday, 1 February 2025 from noon to 10:00 PM. Doors open at 11:00.

Martin Street, from Graham to Lindsay Streets, will be closed off for us from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM by the City of Newberry. We have an alcohol permit from 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM.

Ritz Fest Eve '25 is Friday, 31 January 2025 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM.

During our first event on 4 February 2023 it was decided we were on to something good and declared to make it an annual event. While drinking coffee and reflecting about our initial success that Sunday morning, 5 February 2023, the idea of Ritz Fest Eve was born.

Ritz Fest is held at the historic Ritz Theater, 153 Main Street in Newberry, South Carolina.

There is plenty of parking around the Ritz Theater. If you turn on Wilson Street just past the theater you'lll see a lot on the right before Friend Street.

There is a lot adjacent to the Newberry County Clerk of Court's office too. 

NOTE! The lot behind the Ritz (between Main and Martin Street ) is not for attendee parking. It is reserved for the loading and unloading of our performers and is a part of our street closure. 

The City of Newberry will be closing Martin Street from Graham Street to Lindsay Streets from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Saturday, 1 February 2025 for Ritz Fest.  In addition, we were granted an alcohol permit in the closed off area, which includes the lot between Main Street and Martin where our performers will load/unload. Hungry or thirsty during our events? No worries. Visit our Food and Beverage Page to learn more.

Our food trucks will be parked on Martin Street and people can walk between them and area restaurants to the Ritz Theater and enjoy their purchases and our show! 

We are so thankful for this! This is a huge turning point for Ritz Fest. THANK YOU CITY OF NEWBERRY for helping us grow!

Ritz Fest is raising money for the Jason Foundation (JFI). All sales from concessions, merchandise, raffle tickets, and silent auction bids, along with contributions from our vendors and cash donations during our events go directly towards our fundraising goal. Our goal for RF'25 is to raise $10,000 for JFI by the end of February 2025.

We do need funds to run this event! We are a 501c3 under the Newberry Community Players. We would appreciate any donations to our operations fund. Send checks to Ritz Fest, 1513 Main Street, Newberry, SC 29108.  Our Sponsor Request Letter can be downloaded below.

Follow the QR Code at the bottom of the page and help us get on our way to raise $10K by the end of February 2025!  You can also mail a check to: Ritz Fest, c/o the Jason Foundation, 18 Volunteer Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075

We sell tees at our event with our logo for $20. Every purchase puts $10 back in our tee shirt order fund (unless we get a sponsor to purchase the tees for us!) and $10 goes to The Jason Foundation towards our annual goal. 

The first ever Ritz Fest on 4 February 2023 had a goal to raise $3,000. We raised $5,101.18.

The 2nd Annual Ritz Fest tried to raise $5,000. We raised $6,880.

So, we first considered $8k for the RF'25 goal. However, we like round numbers, so help us shoot for $10,000 by the end of February 2025!!

Contact our event coordinator, Stephen Corsini, at theritzfest@gmail.com or by Google voice 803-271-0494 for all inquiries about sponsoring, emceeing, performing, setting up a booth, volunteering at our event, or fire watching. Feel free to reach out with any other ideas for us to grow or improve our efforts to spread awareness of the silent epidemic of and to prevent youth suicide!