Londonderry Old Home Day

Old Home Day kicks off this year with the Senior Barbecue at 5-6 PM on Wednesday, August 17.  The barbecue is held at the Lions Hall Pavilion on Mammoth Road in Londonderry, NH, across from the Town Common. You need a ticket for this event and you must be a senior citizen to attend. The Lions cook up a fantastic meal and good fun is had by all. The seniors have a raucous good time and are usually the rowdiest crowd of the 5-day Old Home Day celebration!

For tickets, call 432-8810.

This event is followed by a fantastic concert by the Windham Swing Band at 6:30 PM on the Town Common. Folks of all ages may attend the concert, and it is an exceptionally good one! One of the highlights of the Old Home Day celebration.

The band concert is open to the young and the young at heart!

Kidz Night is scheduled for Thursday August 18 at 5:30-8:30 PM.  Come on over to the Londonderry Common with your kids or grandkids!

Kids – come ready to bounce at the many bounce houses, meet enchanted characters and Miss Londonderry, face paint, take part in sack races, and more!  If you are reading, this beg your parents or grandparents to take you to Kidz Night!

Kidz Night is appropriate entertainment for families with children 10 and under.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Carol Mack, best known as Principal of Matthew Thornton School.  Many of you may know her as “Mrs. Mack.”

What does this mean?  Carol gets to ride in a special convertible at the Parade, which kicks off Saturday 8/21 at 10:30 a.m.  Get there early to get a good spot to watch the parade and to cheer Carol on!

How was Carol chosen?  Members of the Old Home Day Committee hold a secret election each year for the Grand Marshal.  Many worthy Londonderry residents are nominated.  When the votes were counted, Carol came out on top!  Congratulations, Carol – Londonderry is very proud of you!

1. See Carol Mack as 2010 OHD Grand Marshall cruising down Mammoth Street in a convertible. You rock, Carol or should we say, Mrs. Mack!
2. Run in the road race on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. or cheer runners on!



3. Swingin’ with the Seniors — Concert Wed. 8/18 night with the 20-piece Windham Swing Band. Folks of all ages are invited.
4. Kidz Night — Thursday 8/19, 5:30-8:30 p.m. @ Londonderry Town Common.
5. Friday Concert and Fireworks — The Souled Out Show Band is a high-energy band — Concert 7:15-8:45 p.m. @ front lawn of LHS — Fireworks start at 8:45 pm!
6. Baby contest on Sat. morning at 9 AM, Matthew Thornton gym.
7. Hot air balloon rides Sat. 8/21 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. (if weather permits).
8. Firefighters vs. Police softball game Friday 6p.m. @ Matthew Thornton Field — rain or shine!
9. Contemporary Christian Concert on Sunday 3-6 p.m. @ Londonderry Town Common.
10. Best parade in the entire state of New Hampshire starts at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, 8/21. Come early for a good seat – or stand!

For details, go back to the Old Home Day page. Click the Events menu.

Visit the Old Home Day Darkroom for more 2009 photos.

Saturday’s events kicked off with the 5K road race at 8 AM.

The giant Re/Max balloon provided great rides for guests of all ages. What a thrill!

Skip Bork, a member of the Ides of March, wowed the large crowd at the Londonderry High School as he sung “Vehicle”, his band’s hit that peaked at #2 in 1970. This song is familiar as “I’m Your Vehicle, Baby” to folks of a certain age.

Skip played drums and sang lead vocals for the band, which he described as a “One-Hit Wonder.” The song “Vehicle” knocked the Beatles out of the #2 spot, but could not knock Elivs Presley out of the #1 spot.

Here Skip meets LHS Band Director Andy Soucy and his family.

Bragging rights go to Londonderry’s Finest as the Police beat the Firefighters 6-5 in the annual softball game.

This is the 4th year in a row that the police have won! Count ‘em – 4, that’s 1, 2, 3, 4!

It’s a big trophy and I know the police will be showing it off in the Old Home Day parade, which starts at 10:30 AM on Saturday Aug 15. Be there or be square!

Principal of the Year twice. Proud Yankee fan. Leader of the 2008 New Hampshire School of the Year. Well, now Jim Elefante can add another title to his list. Elefante, who retired after 26 years with the Londonderry School District, will be Grand Marshal for the 110th Old Home Day Parade on Saturday, Aug. 15.

Bubble gum and baseball caps. Pigs and pies. Yankees and elephants.

“School is there for the kids,” Elefante said upon his retirement last year.

“You can have fun and learn at the same time. We all perform better when we’re confident and happy in our environment.”

So, when he came to be the principal at the high school in 2004, Elefante decided…

Read the rest of the story in the Derry News by Suzanne Laurent “Elefante is this year’s grand marshal“

The Londonderry High School Band’s Drum Line gave a great performance.

This group of young Red Star Twirlers wowed the large crowd!

The Roaming Railroad delighted children & adults as it drove around the Lions Hall parking lot. Toot toot!

Ashton Napolitano enjoyed Kidz Night with his grandfather, Bob Napolitano.

Posing together are Miss Londonderry Alyssa McLaughlin, Miss Londonderry Teen Catherine Gile (16), and Miss Londonderry Preteen Sarah White (11).

Winnie the Pooh makes a friend!