It's that time of year again. Old Home Days weekend, our annual town-wide celebration will be held the third weekend of this month, August 20, 21, and 22. This year's theme, "Hancock Has Character(s)," celebrates our own library's 150th anniversary in this town which has a lot of character, and is filled with many wonderful characters! Hats and t-shirts are now available for purchase, and please know that when you do buy a hat, t-shirt, or both (for a very well-put–together look,) you are supporting Old Home Days by helping to fund these fabulous festivities! Many thanks are due to local esteemed artist, Kin Schilling, for her creation of the adorable t-shirt design. It is a very charming drawing of our library, with various literary characters within the windows and door, including our own local "character," Christopher Hogwood! You're going to want this one as a keepsake, and they're going to sell out quickly, so make sure you get yours soon, at the Thursday night Summer Concert Series, and the Saturday morning Farmer's Market. The hats will also be for sale at Fiddleheads, with a t-shirt on display, and possibly some for sale here as well.

The festivities will begin Friday evening with a performance by the very entertaining magician, B.J. Hickman, on the town common, as well as the annual Ice Cream Social, and the Talent Show. We're still looking for more acts for the TALENT SHOW Anything goes for our version of "Hancock's Got Talent," music, dance, acting, comedy, unusual abilities, etc. The more variety the better, so even if you're not sure if you have talent, perform anyway! This is your chance to shine, either solo, or with a group of friends or family members. We'd love to see performances from all age groups! Please contact committee members Deb Shumway or Megan Dodge (phone #'s at end of article,) and they'll put you on the list. After the Talent Show, head on over to the Depot for their annual Open Mike and Coffee House, held from 8-10 p.m.

Saturday will be jam-packed with fabulously fun activities and food! The much anticipated annual Old Home Days Parade will be led by Keene's American Legion Band, and will feature our Co-Grand Marshalls, Hancock's much-loved head librarians (past and present), Pat Briggs and Amy Markus, who have both been such amazing assets to the citizens of our town. We're so pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate them, and all that they've done for our wonderful library. We also can't

wait to see all the literary characters marching down our newly renovated Main St.! Parade registration forms can be down-loaded from our town's website, and turned in at the Town Hall. If your family or organization will be marching, it will make our committee's job easier if you could turn in your registration in advance, although you may register at Friday evening's Ice Cream Social, or at the parade meeting site at Hancock Elementary School. Parade muster is between 9–9:45 a.m. We would like all marchers to assemble well in advance of the 10:30 start time, so that judges can view your group, and make their decisions. Wonderful prizes will be awarded to parade participants in various categories on the town common at the end of the parade, and all children marching will be given a gift certificate for free ice cream cones at Fiddleheads!

There will be many other fantastic activities for children on Old Home Days. We're so excited to feature a fun and festive children's concert by talented performer Sarah Gardener. Don't miss this one! Throughout the day we'll also have games for kids on the beach, a Kid's Fun Run, pony rides, face painting, and a spectacular climbing wall for kids of all ages! At the arts and crafts table, kids will get to decorate cloth library tote bags with fabric paints that they can use on all their future trips to the library! Kids will also be given an opportunity to sell their own wares for 1 hour at "Kid's Craft Alley." Kids ages 6-12 may register for free by calling committee member Monica Laskey-Rigrod. All sorts of amazing handmade and homegrown items have been sold in the past, including soaps, photography, and artwork. We hope that everyone will make it a point to come by their tables to support and encourage our town's budding entrepreneurs during their 1 hour sale. It would mean so much to them!

Our talented local adult artisans will be displaying and/or selling their wares at the annual Tradesmen's Alley behind the church, and the Art and Photography Shows will be held in the Vestry. You can also support the library by purchasing books at their annual Friends of the Library Book Sale, Friday night, and all day Saturday. And don't forget to visit the exhibits displayed by the Depot and the Historical Society, or to attend Hancock Reminiscences to hear stories from our past.

Old Home Days will also feature many sporting events and contests, such as the annual Run-For–The-Honey Road Race, the Tennis Tournament, and the tug-of-war and pie-eating contests.

This year will also include a new Basketball Tournament. And be sure to catch the return of the Synchro Sister's stunning synchronized swimming show at Norway Pond. We've heard that they've increased their already impressive difficulty level! On Sunday morning, join Eric and Adine Alrich for a family "Muffin-Top Hike," up Mount Skatutakee. Bring your own muffins to share at the top! Meet at Cadot Trail on Old Dublin Road at 10 a.m. for departure. Call the Aldriches at 525-4716 with any questions.

There will be plenty to eat at Old Home Days. Once again, Art Hixson's kettle corn will be provided for free, and there will be plenty of other food items for sale in support of our local organizations. The Depot will sell breakfast wraps all through the morning on Saturday to keep those hungry runners fed. The Hancock Hospital Auxiliary will hold its annual bake sale, the HES PTO will sell frozen treats, and the Congregational Church will sell hamburgers and hot dogs Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. And of course we'll have the ever popular Firefighter's Chicken Barbeque, to name just some of the yummy options!

At the end of a very full day, in more ways than one, we'll be thoroughly entertained both during and after the barbeque with a toe-tapping concert by the terrific bluegrass band, Hot Mustard.

We're so excited about all our activities, most of which have been mentioned here, but not all! Please be on the look-out for our brochures, which will be placed around town at various sites when they're available. Within it you'll find the times and locations for all the food, activities, and sales offered over the entire weekend, including those not mentioned here. Our sponsors and donors will be mentioned as well, with many thanks!

We're still very much in need of volunteers to help in various capacities - setting things up, assisting with activities, etc. If you're able to help in any way, for any amount of time, please contact an Old Home Days committee member; Megan Dodge (525.9465, flowersdamore@hotmail.com);
Paul Frehner (525.3372, pfrehner@myfairpoint.net);
Monica Laskey-Rigrod (525.9485, xfire00@netzero.net); or
Deb Shumway (525.9345, karydebbie@earthlink.net)

And you can visit the town website, www.hancocknh.org for any updates or to download registration forms.

Submitted on behalf of the OHD committee by Monica Laskey-Rigrod