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Jaxson Thibault of Jaffrey uses stickers and markers to make a Halloween pumpkin at last year’s Autumn Fest. -
Author and reenactor Allyson Szabo creates a campfire stew dish at last year’s Autumn Fest. -
Harper and Halley Somero fish for winning ducks at a children’s game during last year’s Autumn Fest.
New Ipswich will celebrate the 2024 Autumn Fest this Saturday in Memorial Park, with food, vendors, hay rides, live music and games.
The Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Memorial Park, with a bonfire from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Among the festivities, the Boynton Middle School 8th grade is running cow pie Bingo again this year. The Recreation Department is partnering with the class of 2027 for a raffle of a Playstation 5 and the X Box Series X. Sales benefit the class of 2027 and Memorial Field. Tickets are $20, and will be pulled at the end of the festival.
The New Ipswich Fire Association will be cooking hot dogs and hamburgers, and food trucks, including a taco truck will be on site for food options.
The field will host more than 20 vendors, including usual Farmers Market stalls.
Johno’s and Sullivan Land Management have sponsored two bouncy castles this year, one for older children and one for younger ones.
Among the entertainment for young people, there will be carnival games including the Monster Mash and Giraffe High Striker, ring toss and magnetic darts. Mike Ordway will be performing educational music on the main stage, and have free instruments for children. Kosmic Kelly will perform kid-friendly science education experiments from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Ordway and Kosmic Kelly’s performances are sponsored by the Stearns Burton Lecture Fund. A balloon artist will be present all day this year, due to popular demand. Town vehicles will be on the flat for a Touch-a-Truck event.
“We’ve got a big list of things going on this year, it’s exciting,” said Recreation Director Mindy Buxton.
The New Ipswich Parks and Recreation Department is seeking volunteers for the event. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and can sign up in two-hour sessions. All volunteers will be entered into a raffle to win an Autumn Fest T-shirt and gift card for every hour worked. Volunteers can sign up for specific booths and times at tinyurl.com/NIAutumnFest2024.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.