Londonderry’s 116th Old Home Day celebration is kicking off with a full lineup of fun activities for residents of all ages.
And this year’s schedule features some exciting new events, including the Grange Hall’s Mums for Meals flower sale to raise money for the New Hampshire Food Bank and a team scavenger hunt on the Town Common.
On Thursday, Aug. 13, families are invited to the Town’s 14th annual Kidz Night, where children ages 10 and under will enjoy age-appropriate entertainment, including bounce houses, a clown, food, games and live performances by Wildlife Encounters, the Roaming Railroad, Mad Science and Judy Pancoast. Kidz Night is held on the Town Common from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
RE/MAX 1st Choice Realty will sponsor hot air balloon rides at Matthew Thornton School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13, followed by Movie Mania at 9 p.m. on the Town Common. This year’s showing is the 2013 animated hit “Frozen.”
Old Home Day festivities continue on Friday, Aug. 14 with the Police vs. Fire Softball Game at Matthew Thornton School at 6 p.m., at which the Londonderry Lions will be hosting concessions to raise money for Camp Pride; and a family concert on Londonderry High School’s front lawn from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. featuring high-energy band “The Voice,” followed by a fireworks display. The family concert is to benefit The Friends of Music.
Moving into the weekend and the heart of the Town’s Old Home Day celebration, the Lundgren 5K Road Race begins at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Grange Hall, followed by more than a dozen fun events and activities.
Morning activities on Saturday include a free continental breakfast at the Londonderry United Methodist Church from 7 to 9:30 a.m.; the annual Baby Contest in Matthew Thornton’s gym at 9 a.m. (no same-day registration); and the Old Home Day Parade on Mammoth Road at 10:30 a.m., running from the middle school to Mack’s Apples.
The Grange Hall’s flower sale and craft fair will begin at 9 a.m., and members of the Grange will also offer tours of the Hall, sharing information about the Grange’s mission and work in the community.
The mums are being donated by Orchard Hill Greenhouses and will be sold from $9 per pot. Boy Scout Noah Carey will be selling baked goods to raise money for his Eagle project. Visitors are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to contribute to a collection for the Food Bank.
Saturday’s Old Home Day events and activities also include the Morrison House Revolutionary Encampment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring Capt. Morrill’s American Revolutionary War Militia Unit and encampment with cannon salutes, children’s military drills, cooking, demonstrations, fur trading, musketball molding, building tours, blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, pottery, and children’s colonial games; a farmer’s market at the Historical Society featuring live folk music, artisan craft fair, farm market and a pig roast; the Lions Club sausages and beer tent from 11 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; 74 booths on the Common from 11 to 4 p.m.; Londonderry Sings Contest at the Bandstand on the Common from 2:30 to 4 p.m.; a Wildlife Encounters Animal Show on the Common at 2:30 p.m.; bingo at the Matthew Thornton gym at 3:30 p.m., with over $500 in prizes; and a Team Scavenger Hunt on the Common at 2 p.m.
The Greater Londonderry YMCA will sponsor a pie eating contest, relay races and a piñata on the Common from noon to 2 p.m.; and the Londonderry High School Student Council will sponsor Applestock on the Common from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., featuring a battle of the high school’s bands.
Closing out Old Home Day this year on Sunday, Aug. 16, is a community worship service and picnic on the Common at 11 a.m., hosted by the Old Home Day Committee and the Londonderry Clergy Association. Guests are asked to bring a non-perishable food items for the St. Jude Food Pantry.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, with a map of booths on the Common on Aug. 15, see the special insert section in today’s edition of the Londonderry Times.