Londonderry’s 125th Annual Old Home Day celebration will begin on Wednesday,
Aug. 14 and continue through Saturday, Aug. 17, with lots of activities available for residents of all ages.
This year’s theme for the annual event is “Blast from the Past,” celebrating the history of Londonderry and the tradition of Old Home Day.
The following is a list, provided by the Old Home Day Committee, of what is scheduled to be happening throughout the four-day-long celebration.
Wednesday – Aug. 14
- 4 p.m. – The annual Senior Bingo & Picnic at the Reverend Morrison Meetinghouse parking area and Pavilion.
This event is already sold out, but those who signed up will have a number of rotating cast members calling the numbers at Bingo callers. Those participating in calling numbers will be recognized for their roles around in town. Senior Affairs Director Ilona Arndt has collected more than $1,000 worth of prizes for the winners.
Members of the Londonderry Police Department will be serving food cooked by Londonderry Lions Club members. Timeless Treats will be donating ice cream as a dessert. - 7 p.m. – Concerts on the Common featuring “Studio Two” a Beatles tribute band on the Town Common. This Beatles tribute band will be returning to perform for residents once again this year. Studio Two will be paying tribute to the Beatles with chosen songs from the groups club and touring years.
The band features graduates from Berklee College of Music and Beatles devotees, from Milford, New Hampshire.
Timeless Treats and One Happy Clam will also be on the common for those wishing to purchase food. - 7:30 p.m. – Londonderry Police Association Movie Night: “IF” will be screened on the Londonderry Police Station green area.
IF is family friendly film about a young girl who goes through a challenging experience and begins to see everyone’s imaginary friends who have been left behind as their real-life children have grown up.
“Doors” open at 6:30 p.m., and we hope to start the movie around 7:30 p.m. As in years past, there will be music, refreshments, and police cars on display at the event.
Thursday – Aug. 15
- 12:30 to 2 p.m. – the Londonderry Senior Center Inc. Ice Cream Social Fundraiser will take place at the Londonderry Senior Center, 535 Mammoth Road, Londonderry and will feature “Build Your Own Sundaes”
This event is open to all residents with a cost of $5 per person. - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. – “Color Run” presented by WIN Waste Management at the LAFA Fields Complex. This event is new this year and residents are encouraged to “Come have the most colorful fun you can have at Old Home Day.” The run is open to all ages for both walking and running. People are encouraged to wear white clothing for the best result in displaying the chalk that will be thrown at participants. Runners can dash through the half-mile loop as many times as they’d like while enjoying music from the D.J., cotton candy from Sweet Heat, and lemonade from Squeeze the Day. The run is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Registration is $15 per person with a $45 maximum per family. Registration includes a packet of color with additional packets for sale on site. Runners can register in advance, online, at londonderrynh.myrec.com, or in person on the day of the run, until 5:15 p.m. - 7 to 9 p.m. – The annual “Battle of the Bands” will take place on the Town Common. Attendees will get to see some of the best area musicians battle it out for this year’s title.
Friday – Aug. 16
- 3 to 6:30 p.m. – The “L-Town Classic Softball Tournament” will take place at the Matthew Thornton Softball Field
New this year, there will be a four-team softball tournament to see who can beat the Londonderry Police Department. Sports fans are encouraged to come out and cheer on their team in the annual softball game expanded into a mini-tournament. The teams include: Team Town Hall/DPW, Team Fire, Team Police Ammo and Team Police Zeus. Spectators will see which team will come out on top for bragging rights. This is open to the public and spectators are encouraged to bring their own chairs.
6 to 9 p.m. – Food Truck Alley presented by St. Mary’s Bank at the Londonderry High School, rear of the building. The third annual Food Truck Festival will feature more than 20 trucks representing at least 12 different types of cuisine. The trucks will allow people to stake out a spot for the fireworks while dining outdoors. The band East Coast Soul will be performing and games will be taking place while spectators wait for the fireworks. - 7 to 9 p.m. – “The Lions Den” presented by the Londonderry Lions Club at the Reverend Morrison Meeting House parking lot (formerly the Lions Hall). New this year, those looking for an adult beverage can get one at The Lions Den, a pop-up pub set up at the Lions Hall with live entertainment and classic beers on tap, courtesy of the American Legion Post 27, the Sons of the American Legion, and the Auxiliary.
- 9:15 p.m. or dark – Annual Fireworks Extravaganza – Residents are invited find a spot near the center of town and watch the show brought to you by Pyrotechnico Fireworks.
Saturday – Aug. 17
- 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. – Londonderry Baby Contest – The annual crowning of Little Miss and Little Master will take place at the Bandstand on the Town Common. The contest is open to Londonderry residents that were born after August 17, 2023 and before Aug. 17 of 2024. Registration is just $10 with each participant receiving a raffle ticket for a “Parents Date Night Out” basket, and a chance to win the crown. Thos wishing to participate should contact Mandy Harrison at OHDBabyContest@gmail.com to register.
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Londonderry Historical Society Morrison House Museum & Artisans takes place at 140 Pillsbury Road. The Londonderry Historical Society’s annual celebration includes Revolutionary War and Civil War encampments, artisans presenting historical crafts, tours of the museum, and so much more – including a real cannon that goes off on the hour. This is a good way for families to share some of the town’s history through a hands-on experience.
- 10:15 a.m. – Old Home Day Parade – Along Mammoth Road, starting at Sargent Road and proceeding all the way to Mack’s Apples Farm Stand.
- Bob Ciarletta was named as the Parade Grand Marshal by the OHD Committee. Ciarletta was named in recognition of his contributions to Old Home Day over the years. It was a fitting choice seeing as this year’s theme was Blast from the Past, celebrating the history of Old Home Day.
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Touch-a-Truck – Give the kids a chance to climb around dozens of trucks of all sizes. The annual event will take place at Orchard Christian Church this year and children can enjoy trucks, games and activities throughout the day.
- 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Over 100 Booths will be set up on the Town Common and the Reverend Morrison Meetinghouse parking lot. Londonderry’s local civics clubs, organizations, and businesses will be set up offering games, raffles, giveaways and prizes. There is also bandstand entertainment scheduled throughout the day, featuring local dance studios, musicians, and performances from the local Ovation Theatre Company.
An “Artists Alley” will also be set up this year, featuring local crafters and artists selling their work and giving insight into their process. - “The Lions Den” will be open on Saturday with beer, pizza from Friendly Reds, live music, and sausages, hamburgers, and hot dogs from the Londonderry Lions Club.
- Kids Zone is expected to be bigger than ever this year. Children can play carnival games and win prizes with all proceeds going to the LAFA Cooperstown team. Kids can also get their favorite stuffed animal checked out at the Crossroads Animal Hospital Stuffy Clinic. They can also play games, get a face painting, ride the train through the woods and more.
- The Strongman competition is back. Presented by the Londonderry Rotary Club, testing your strength on a 10-foot or 17-foot striker. Win bragging rights and prizes.
- 4:30 p.m. – Valley Cemetery Grave Dedication – Valley Cemetery on Pillsbury Road. Join the Sons of the American Revolution as they mark and honor the graves of those buried in Valley Cemetery who fought in the Revolutionary Road. Attendees should park on Willow Lane and not on Pillsbury Road.
- 6:30 p.m. – Enterprise Bank Boot Scootin’ Boogie 5K and Brewfest – LAFA Fields. Brought to you by Millenium Running. 5K course followed by a bonfire and brewfest with over 20 breweries. For registration and more information, please see www.millenniumrunning.com/boots