‘No place like home’: Gilford gears up for Saturday’s Old Home Day

GILFORD — Residents are expected to turn out in droves this Saturday, Aug. 29, for the annual Old Home Day event, taking place around the village. This year’s theme is, “Gilford, No Place Like Home.”

“We’re hoping for another awesome Old Home Day,” wrote Matthew Mansur, director of Gilford Parks & Recreation, in an email. “You can expect an incredible parade, all sorts of food and craft vendors, outdoor games, and exhibits. We’ve got demonstrations from Wildlife Encounters, the Gilford Police Department K-9 Unit, the Wicked Witches of the Lakes Region, and the Edgewater Academy of Dance.”

The schedule, which can be found on the Gilford Old Home Day Facebook page, kicks off with the ever-famous Gilford Rotary Pancake Breakfast at Gilford Youth Center. The all-you-can-eat breakfast lasts from 7 to 10 a.m., and features pancakes and juice.

As the breakfast celebrates its 41st year, all proceeds benefit the Cheryl Walsh Scholarship Fund.

The 5K road race is up next, hosted by the Gunstock Nordic Association, now in its 49th year. The race starts at Village Field and ends with prizes and awards. Sign-ups and bib pick-up are from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at Gilford Middle School.

The parade begins at 10 a.m.; formation starts at 9 a.m. at Town Hall. There will be no parking available there during the parade. Throughout the parade, child volunteers will be passing by with buckets, seeking donations for 2027 Gilford Old Home Day festivities.

Following the parade, a shuttle will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and again 6-10 p.m., making rounds from Town Hall, Gilford Elementary, Middle and High schools, the First United Methodist Church and the entrance to Gilford Village Field.

“We will have shuttles to and from the Village Field to the Methodist Church, and we are expecting a great turnout,” Mansur wrote in his email.

Live music kicks off at 11 a.m. with the likes of Bryan Conway, and broadcasts by 104.9 The Hawk and LAKES 101.5.

Guests can enjoy pie and ice cream at Gilford Public Library beginning at 9 a.m. until supplies run out, and can also shop the Friends of the Gilford Library Book Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Throughout Old Home Day, colorful quilts will be on display, with a chance to win, as part of the Gilford Old Home Day Quilt Raffle by the Gilford Old Home Day Quilt Committee.

“For the past several winters, the members of the Gilford Old Home Day Quilt Committee come together to create a raffle quilt. Funds raised are used toward offsetting the expense of running Old Home Day. This year’s participants are Ardythe Eaton, Diane Maher, Chris Bowler, Valerie Chase, Helen Murphy, Diane Muller, Sophie Furdyna and Karen Thurston. The quilting was done by Michelle Plourde. This piece-work quilt measures 61x73 inches and is perfect as a couch quilt,” wrote Karen Thurston in a press release. “The quilt is made with a combination of traditional and batik quilting fabrics and took over 40 hours to cut, piece and sew together.”

The raffle drawing takes place at 3 p.m.

Yard games and races are scattered through the afternoon amidst performances, including everyone’s favorite: the egg toss. Trivia, sponsored by Beans & Greens Farm, takes place at 5:30 p.m.

The evening will conclude with a fireworks display at 9 p.m., followed by a dance party with DJ Alex Bailey.

At a recent Gilford Selectboard meeting, Mansur credited the Gilford Old Day Committee for all of their hard work.

“The Old Home Day Committee has been really helpful. Since the start of the year, I came in and I sat at that committee meeting and said, ‘I’ve never seen one of these. What happens?’” he said. “A lot of folks have stepped up and really been helpful. The bulk of doing that work is during the beach season, which is such a busy time for us. Being able to get that volunteer help was wildly helpful and great.”

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