LONDONDERRY | The 108th Old Home Day Celebration planned for Aug. 15 to 19 is fast approaching and there is something for everyone in town to enjoy.
Senior Night kicks off the five-day celebration Aug. 15 with an old-fashioned barbecue at the Lions Club Pavilion, followed by a concert on the Town Common performed by the Windham Swing Band.
"Sign-up is a must for the cookout," said Old Home Day Chairwoman Kathy Wagner. "People can call or sign up at the Londonderry Senior Center. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the concert."
Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. foll with the concert at 7 p.m. The 20-piece Windham Swing Band, under the direction of Rob Daisy, was formed in March 1998. The band has full big-band instrumentation, accompanied by vocalist Lauren Meehan, and its repertoire includes swing standards and other big band arrangements.
In case of rain, the barbecue and concert will be held in the Londonderry High School cafeteria.
On Aug. 16, the sixth annual Kidz Night on the Common is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There will be pony rides, face painting, clowns, food, ice cream, bounce houses, a super slide and games. Visits from a princess, a superhero and local team mascots will entertain children.
Performances are planned by the Londonderry Dance Academy, House of the Samurai, the Mad Science Fire and Ice Show, the Yo-Yo Show and Wildlife Encounters. In case of rain, the event will move to the high school cafeteria.
The observance of Old Home Day | originally a one-day event | has been a New Hampshire tradition for more than a century and was started in 1899 by Gov. Frank Rollins. Londonderry is one of fewer than a dozen communities that have faithfully observed Old Home Day on the third weekend in August.
Although it takes place over more than one day, the town keeps the name "Old Home Day" for historical and nostalgic reasons.
The theme of this year's celebration is "The Big Apple of New Hampshire." Carmen Reed's fourth-grade class at Matthew Thornton Elementary School came up with the name and won the annual contest open to the district's fourth grades in the spring.
On the evening of Aug. 17, the festival hosts the annual softball competition between the Police and Fire departments from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Matthew Thornton Field. Rumor has it the police always make a fake fire call so the firefighters have to leave the game, forfeiting the win.
The Aug 17 concert in front of the high school will again feature the Souled Out Show Band at 7:30 p.m. with fireworks to follow. Nonperishable food donations can be dropped off that evening at the concert for St. Jude's Food Pantry.
Aug. 18 is the busiest day by far with activities scheduled throughout the day. They include hot-air balloon rides, Morrison House tours and a demonstration of a Revolutionary War encampment, the Little Miss and Little Master Londonderry Contest, the parade, youth games, booths on the Town Common, a 5K road race and Lions Pavilion events.
The Londonderry Clergy Association will host a concert, "A Day of Gratitude," Aug. 19 at 3 p.m. on the Town Common. The concert will feature Jackie Cox, who will be joined by Cindy Letson Moffitt.
For more information, visit www.oldhomeday.com
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