‘A super fun day’: Sept. 19 Meredith Old Home Day itinerary bursting with activity

MEREDITH — Meredith’s Old Home Day celebration is back, and believed to be “better than ever,” according to members of the Old Home Day Committee. The event returned in 2025, after a 70-year hiatus, and this year will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. 

“It's a real family-friendly day. It's like a real throwback to how life used to be," said Nick Perry, Meredith Old Home Day Committee member and co-owner of the Meredith Inn. "It's a reminder for a lot of us of how things were when we were young. Things were a little simpler, and it's just going to be a super fun day.” 

Old Home Day became tradition in 1899, when then-Gov. Frank Rollins (R-NH) launched the initiative, its goal intended to unify the community around its heritage after residents moved away from their roots to bigger cities. The idea was to showcase and take pride in your hometown.

“It’s very much a New England tradition,” said Bonnie Edwards, Meredith Old Home Day Committee member and board member of the Meredith Historical Society.

Last year, "Main Streeters” began forming the itinerary for an Old Home Day event. This year, support for the event has grown, now garnering the backing of Town Hall, the Greater Meredith Program and Shop Main Street. The Old Home Day Committee is 15 members strong, all bringing ideas and resources to the table.

With a full event lineup centered around this year’s theme, “Honoring Yesterday, Celebrating Today,” there is something for all ages. The master of ceremonies is Heather Bishop of Lakes 101.5 FM.

Kicking off the schedule is the parade, and since Meredith “is a parade town,” the committee has gone all out. This year’s grand marshal is Rusty McLear, an influential developer credited with “making the town what it is today” through his work on the Mill Falls complex, the canal and developing local hotels and adjacent waterfront properties in Meredith Village.

The parade route begins at LaValley Building Supply to Plymouth Street.

Simultaneously, materials for a scavenger hunt, spearheaded by Perry, are available beginning at 10 a.m. at Community Park.

“People get a list of like, eight or 10 clues, and they have to go around the town finding these things based on the little cryptic clue on their scavenger hunt card,” Perry said. “It's not too difficult to work out, but it's a lot of fun. People go around, and then once they've completed it, they come back and they get a small prize.”

The hunt for clues officially opens at 10:30 a.m., with winners announced at 1:30 p.m.

The pie-eating contest is ever-popular, and this year, trays of blueberry tarts with a dollop of whipped cream will await competitors chewing for the grand prize. Head to the Calvary Bible Church parking lot at 1:30 p.m. to witness the ooey, gooey — and messy — fun.

“Some people had a special technique where they grabbed the pie with their teeth and flipped it over so it came out of its metal casing and then they could just really stick their face in and get it eaten,” Perry said. “So, that's going to be back.”

Music notes will fill the streets thanks to two performance stages. The Sweetbloods will perform at 10:30 a.m., and noon, on Main Street. Red Daisy Revival will perform from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Calvary Bible Church parking lot.

To commemorate Old Home Day, organizers and town leaders will bury a time capsule. It will remain dormant underground until July 4, 2076.

“We are excited to have purchased a time capsule that will be buried at 11 o’clock on Saturday, Sept. 19, in Community Park,” said Chris Kelly, member of the Old Home Day Committee, in a press release. “This idea came from committee member and Selectboard Member, Jeanie Forrester, who was excited to leave a piece of today for the people of tomorrow. The time capsule will include memorabilia from the sponsors of this year’s 250th Meredith Celebration Committee, a declaration from our governor [Kelly Ayotte], a letter from our selectboard, a letter from our 250th committee and other corresponding material. The hope is that 50 years from now on July 4, 2076, this time capsule will be unearthed and the people of Meredith will enjoy some of what we have enjoyed today.”

For children, bouncy houses, a climbing wall, face painting and portraits will be available at either the Skal parking lot, 20 Main St., or the Calvary Bible Church parking lot.

There are plenty of parking options, including two public parking lots on Route 3 near the corner of Route 25, behind Bootleggers and across the street, and the Plymouth Street lot.

There is also public parking at Prescott Park.

Motorists should note the heavy foot-traffic and parking restrictions. They include:

• No parking on Main Street between Saint James and High streets after 10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18
• No parking in the Calvary Bible Church parking lot after 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19
• All vehicles must be moved from these locations or they will be towed at the owner’s expense

For more information and the schedule of events, visit mereditholdhomeday.com.

•••

Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.