Londonderry Old Home Day

My Family is in the Parade, how will we know where to line up?

On the morning of the parade (Sat Aug. 21st), look for a volunteer with a clipboard at the entrance to Londonderry Middle School on Mammoth Road. Smile and ask the volunteer for your unit number. Your group name will be on the list — remember we have many “troops,” “teams,” and “clubs.” You will need to know which one you are with!

The cheerful volunteer will direct you to a section and a number, like section 2 number 12. Look for a small tent on the ground (like a pup tent only smaller). The tents are about 12 inches tall. Then stand, park, or wait behind it for the parade to start.

The action is about to begin!

OHD Answer Pup
OHD Managing Editor

The OHD Parade is on Saturday, August 20th at 10:30am rain or shine! Our own Londonderry Police Honor Guard will once again lead us off, followed by the winner of the Police/Fire Softball game.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipe & Drums will make their first appearance in Londonderry. Our own LHS Marching Lancer Band & Colorguard, the Salem Blue Devils, and the Muchachos Sr. Drum & Bugle Corp. will delight us with their music and marching.

We’ll have the Bektash Shrine Clowns, Mini Bike Patrol , Cycle Patrol, and Mini Kar Patrol — always favorites of kids and adults alike. Miss Londonderry will shine in the parade.

The 1st NH Regiment and the 3rd NH Regiment will march. They will then demonstrate a battle camp at Morrison House.

The parade excitement continues with the Nutfield YMCA, St. Mark & St. Jude Knights of Columbus.

Little Mr. & Little Miss Londonderry 2005 will be as cute as can be.

Loud blasting of fire engine horns signals the end of the parade. Everyone loves the noise and tradition as vintage and modern fire engines end the procession.

Come early to get a good viewing spot!

Mary Tetreau, OHD Blogger
Kathy Morse, OHD Parade Chair

Kidz Nite Thursday less than one week away!

Click HERE for the Double Vision website and more info on MIXED NUTS

Old Home Day PUP

Longtime Londonderry resident Reed Clark has been chosen as Grand Marshall of the 20005 Old Home Day (OHD) celebration. Reed is one of the mainstays of the OHD tradition. For years he has worked behind the scenes to make the Londonderry, NH OHD celebration one of the best in the state!

You can see Reed and his wife Phyllis riding in the Grand Marshall convertible down Mammoth Road. The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 21st. Hats off to Reed!

Mary Tetreau
OHD Blog Marshall

2003 Grand Marshall

For excitement, try Friday at Old Home Day in Londonderry, NH, featuring:

– Softball. It’s the annual Police vs. Firefighters game at Matthew Thornton School field at 5:30 p.m. Firefighters want to avenge their defeat by the police last year, but “it won’t be easy,” says police officer Chris Childs.

– Soul. An outstanding concert by the “Souled Out” band, on the front lawn of the Londonderry High School at 7:00-8:30 p.m. Souled Out is a high-energy 10-piece band designed with one thing in mind… to get you out of your seat. Concert to benefit Londonderry Friends of Music.

– Sparklers. An exciting fireworks show behind Londonderry High School at about 8:30 p.m. Please bring canned goods, which will be donated to St. Jude’s Food Pantry in Londonderry.

Use extra caution when driving around Mammoth road Friday evening as people will be crossing to and from the fireworks in the dark!

Mary Tetreau
Blog Sparklette

There’s lots of excitement at OHD on Saturday, August 21st:

– Pony rides from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

– Free YMCA kids’ games at the Grange, including 3-legged races, family scavenger hunt, pinata, pie-eating contest, and a relay race

– Free bingo for all ages from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Lions Hall – one card per person

Come one, come all!

Mary Tetreau

Friday, August 19th between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. “It’s best to set up on Friday because a lot of activity occurs on Saturday,” says Old Home Day guru Reed Clark.

Each booth is 14 x 14 feet. Reed recommends a tent, table, and chairs for your booth. Many booths have exciting decorations or themes.

You can set up a booth on Saturday as long as you get your vehicles off the town common by 8 a.m. Again, Friday, August 19th is recommended as the ideal setup time.

Mary Tetreau

Ever wonder how you would escape from a burning building? Learn how in a safe way at Lions Hall from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, August 21st. The “Smoke House” will teach you and your family valuable techniques.

What else is up on Saturday at the Lions Hall on Mammoth Road across from the Londonderry, NH town common? There is Operation KidSight to screen children’s eyesight. This will be after the road race on Saturday morning.

Also Brooks Pharmacy is sponsoring a free opportunity to get a picture with a motorcycle policeman or police dog! How’s that for fun?

Mary Tetreau

A few years ago Steve Young of Imageability had some large (17-foot) balloons for marking construction sites that he would image for renderings of facilities for marketing presentations for our customers. One was quite colorful, so he brought it to Old Home Day (OHD) tied to the back of the jeep.

Steve says “There was extra helium so I picked up balloons at the local party store. Drove into the OHD events — on the common, in front of the school, through the parade — and started to hand out balloons. When I first started, everyone asked “How much?” My response is always the same, “Just a smile.”

There is nothing like red, white and blue balloons, hundreds of them bobbing around to the music at an event. Keeping them free keeps down on the commercialism, just the way it has been for over one hundred years.

Steve says “Andy Soucy has the 17-foot balloon now. He has been using it for his shows with the Lancer Marching Band and Color Guard.”

Mary Tetreau
OHD BlogMaker

RE/MAX 1st Choice sponsors hot air balloon rides from 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 21st. The ride is a tethered ride, that is you, don’t sail away into the sky but are attached to the earth with a rope.

The balloon rides are at Matthew Thornton School field on Mammoth Road in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Rides cost $10 each, and a family with a maximum of 4 members pays $30. Arlene Hajjar of RE/MAX explains, “All money collected from the balloon rides is donated back to local scholars. This is the 8th year that RE/MAX has sponsored the rides.”

Rides are dependent on the weather. Arlene gives this advice: “Come early, because it’s first come, first served. The rides are very popular!”

For more information, call Arlene Hajjar at 603-425-2400.

Mary Tetreau
OHD Blog Queen