Jul082007

Old Home Day Starts August 15 – Are You Ready?

Are you ready for a wonderful Old Home Day (OHD) celebration?

This year we kick it all off with the Seniors event on Wednesday, August 15. This is a fabulous cookout at the Lions Hall pavilion. Once you have had plenty to eat, cross the street to attend a wonderful concert by the 20-piece Windham Swing Band. Every year this concert gets better and better!

Mary Tetreau
OHD Blog Queen

Aug222006

THANK YOU!!!

Thanks to all the volunteers who gave of their time to support the 107th Old Home Day Celebration here in Londonderry, NH. We are grateful to our sponsors and all the business that donated goods and services to make our hometown celebration special.

I would personally like to thank Kathy Morse and Pat Slozak for their hard work in organizing the parade. That is a very difficult task during a political year. I would like to thank all of our Old Home Day Staff.

Without your help this event would not be possible. Very special thanks go out to Troy Brown and Al Baldasaro who help Reed every year in marking all of the booths for Old Home Day. I would also like to say thank you to our Fire Department. They are a wonderful group of individuals. Our department hangs the banner and decorates the bandstand each year, never complains and takes in all in stride. They also donate the gator to the event. We are truly blessed as a community to have these individuals as our firefighters. Without the help of the police Old Home Day could not take place. Their assistance with the fireworks and the parade in managing all of those people is greatly appreciated. Whenever we needed anything we called our finest, they never questioned, they responded, and made this event truly fun.

Sincerely, Kathy Wagner, Old Home Day Chair

Aug202006

Contemporary Christian Concert on the Common MOVED!

Due to the Rains Last night.  The Londonderry Town Common has about 1/2 inch of water in some spots.  The Concert Sponsered by the Old Home Day Committee and the Londonderry Clergy has moved to to St. Judes Church near the corner of Litchfield and Mamoth Road (Rt 128).

Aug192006

Fun on Saturday

Londonderry Fire Department celebrates its win over the police in the softball game.

 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
    

 

Hank Peterson, Grand Marshall of the OHD parade, wears his banner with pride. 

Hank Peterson, Grand Marshall of the OHD parade, wears his banner with pride. 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
      

 

 

And they’re off! Start of the Lundgren 5K road race. 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
     

 

 

 

Aug182006

Fireworks display follows rock concert!

An estimated 3,000 folks turned out for the concert and fireworks display Friday night. Everyone hoped for perfect weather, and they weren’t disappointed.

 

 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
 Here’s a small sample of the beautiful display they got to see!     

 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
     

Aug182006

Fireworks a big hit!

Londonderry familes turned out in droves on a beautiful night to watch the Old Home Days fireworks display.

 

 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
    

Fireworks fans were treated to a rock concert featuring the ageless Souled Out.

 

 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
   

Here, some more Londonderry young folks enjoy the excitement of a rock concert before the fireworks display.

 

 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
  

Young Sean and Alex got a chance to show some dance moves while they enjoyed the excitement!

 

 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
  

Aug182006

Friday Night Fun!

Police and Fire Softball Game Matthew Thornton Field 5:30 – 7:00 pm

Concert on The Front Lawn of the High School Featuring “Souled Out” 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Fireworks 8:30

Aug182006

Kidz Night! What a Great Time!

Thursday, August 17, 2006 night marked the 5th annual Kidz Night on the Londonderry town common.  An estimated 2,000 people attended the event.  With beautiful weather and plenty of food and fun, a great time was had by all.
The local elementary PTAs and children’s businesses planned free activities for the kids, keeping in line with the minimal cost agenda;  there was face painting, tattoos, relay races, sandy candy, sensory tables, and much, much more. 

Children were greeted by balloon artist clowns,  Miss Londonderry, Batman, Blitz from the Manchester Wolves and Wildlife Encounters.  They were able to climb into a fire engine and police cruiser or bounce in the moon walks or giant slide!
After working up an appetite, families had plenty of food to choose from.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, nachos, pretzels, and popcorn brought smiles to hungry faces.

And speaking of smiles, the entertainment was fabulous!  The Londonderry Dance Academy wow’d the crowd with upbeat hip-hop performances, The House of the Samurai martial arts techniques were perfectly executed, our Fairy Princess and Prince Charming delighted the crowd with a skit and songs, and Steve Thomas brought the world of magic to the crowd!

The OHD committee would like to thank all of the volunteers who helped make this night a success.

Aug182006

Some Press from far and wide

The celebration promises to provide some good old-fashioned fun for past and present residents of all ages. Events and activities such as band concerts, a kids’ night, fireworks, a parade, a 5-kilometer road race, a baby contest, pony rides, children’s games and a family-orientated atmosphere makes this a special hometown celebration.

  • Click HERE for the Nashua Telegraph story by Kathleen Gilday

 The volunteer committee has been planning Londonderry’s 107th celebration since September 2005. The event attracts more than 10,000 people. The ever-growing popularity has seen the event grow from a one-day celebration.

  • Click HERE for this story

 

  • NHToDo event listings HERE

The event promises to provide some good old-fashioned fun for all ages. The event kicks off with our Senior concert on Wednesday, Thursday is Kidz Night, Friday are the fireworks and an outdoor Concert, Saturday is the big day with a 5k road race, baby contest, one of the largest parades in New Hampshire..

  • From WMUR click HERE

…and family-oriented atmosphere makes this a special hometown celebration.

  • Click HERE for NewHampshire.com

Old Home Day in 1955 was a straightforward affair. Needless to say, Batman never made it.

“The exhibit of antiques and flowers at the Grange Hall and the tour of Londonderry will take place Saturday, August 27, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.,” one press account reads.

The next day, there was a townwide church service at 10:45 a.m., followed by a potluck lunch. Cold drinks provided, bring your own table service.

Originally conceived in 1899 by then-Gov. Frank Rollins, Old Home Day was created to encourage those who had moved out of New Hampshire to return home and renew friendships with former neighbors.

Since its modest beginnings, Old Home Day in Londonderry has since evolved into a nearly weeklong celebration that, while still encompassing tradition, now takes on a contemporary sheen.

  • Click HERE for the rest of a great story by Todd Morrison of the Union Leader

This year’s celebration also honors resident Hank Peterson, the longtime maple sugar and syrup producer, who will take his place of honor as the Old Home Day Grand Marshal for 2006’s parade, set for Saturday.

The Derry News honors Londonderry’s longtime tradition of bringing its community together and offers a special pull-out supplement with Old Home Day information, booth listing, schedule of events, and everything our readers need to know about Old Home Day.

  • Click HERE for the Derry News artical by Julie Huss (note these articles expire in about a week)

LONDONDERRY – Tonight’s barbecue and concert for seniors opens the five-day festivities for the 107th Old Home Day. The barbecue is at 5:30 p.m. at Lions Pavilion on Mammoth Road, and the concert is on the Common at 7 p.m.

  • Click HERE for the story by Suzanne Laurent of the Eagle Tribune

Events like Old Home Day help market a town and its civic organizations, but they also set the stage for residents to meet their neighbors, organizers say.

  • Click HERE for the Story by Shelley J. Thompson of the Eagle Tribune

LONDONDERRY – The kickoff to Old Home Day is just two days away, but a familiar part of the pre-celebration is still missing from town.

  • Click HERE for the artical by Rebecca Correa in the Eagle Tribune
Aug172006

Kidz Night Was a Blast!

There was a huge turnout at Kidz Night.

Look at these happy youngsters!

 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
     

Here is Miss Londonderry, Cara Silva, with her young admirers.      

 

Photo by Mary Tetreau
    Photos and Text by Mary Tetreau