A weeklong series of local events beginning June 26 will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
ANTRIM
Antrim’s 250th Committee, led by Renee Mercier-Gerritsen and Stephen Burkhardt, has been hard at work planning townwide events for July 4. Antrim’s 250th celebration will kick off at noon at Shea Field with games and activities inspired by the 18th century.
On July 5 from 1 to 3 p.m., members of the 250th Committee will lead walking tours of Antrim historic sites, including Meeting House Hill and the Old Center area near the Antrim Grange building and the Old Parsonage, near Meetinghouse Road on Route 31.
Tours of the Old Center will include stories of Antrim residents who served in or contributed to the Revolutionary War effort.
“We have a very strong committee that is focused on helping families celebrate our nation’s birthday by showing how Antrim residents lived 250 years ago,” Mercier-Gerritsen said. “We’ll have fun for all ages — come have some ham and beans, cornbread, strawberry shortcake; press some apples, play games like they did in Colonial times.”
Mercier-Gerritsen said there will also be costumes available for people to try on, as well as a “George Washington tent” for kids to climb into.
The committee is also organizing a townwide patriotic decorating contest for homes, sheds, yards and other properties. The winner will be announced July 4.
Antrim residents interested in volunteering or helping plan activities should contact Stephen Burkhardt at 603-588-2650 or Renee Mercier-Gerritsen by text at 603-547-5144.
DUBLIN
The annual fireworks display over the east end of Dublin Lake, put on by the Dublin Lake Club, are Thursday evening, July 2, starting at about 9 pm. Residents should check with the police department about permitted areas for parking and viewing the display.
FRANCESTOWN
Francestown’s 250th celebration will take place at the Recreation Commission fields all day on July 4. The Francestown Farmers Market will open at 10 a.m., followed by the annual pickleball tournament at noon. The town cookout will start at 1 p.m., followed by the presentation of the Colors and Reading of the Declaration of Independence at 2 p.m.
The children’s bike parade and apple pie contest are both at 2:30 p.m. At 3 p.m., the skate park will host a Skate Jam, and the hot dog eating contest will take place on the main stage at the rec fields. At 3:30 p.m., residents are invited to participate in a Patriotic Pet Parade. The dodgeball tournament starts at 4:30 p.m., the home run derby is at 5:30 p.m., and the day concludes with a bonfire and live music by Lonesome Train at 6 p.m.
GREENFIELD
Greenfield’s 250th Celebration will kick off with two events: the 5K Sparkler Sprint, which starts at Oak Park at 9 a.m. (registration starts at 7:30 a.m.), and a reading of the Declaration of Independence from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Meetinghouse. The reading will be followed by an official ribbon-cutting for the newly renovated Meetinghouse hosted by the Friends of the Greenfield Community Meetinghouse. Coffee, pastries, snacks and other beverages will be provided. The Friends will host tours of the Meetinghouse, including a new exhibit of historic photos by the Greenfield Historical Society in the newly renovated Community Center on the lower level.
“We are very excited for the entire town to take part in celebrating the nation’s 250th. We’ve had all hands on deck and people helping from a lot of the groups in town and it is really all coming together, ” said Kayla Kokal of the Greenfield Recreation Department, who chairs the July 4 Committee along with Library Director Ella Cademartori.
Following the ribbon-cutting, the town’s July 4 parade will leave from Slip Road at around 10 a.m. and proceed to Oak Park. Games, activities, vendors and food at the Oak Park kitchen will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., including a dunk tank, a Touch a Truck, face-painting, bubbles, pie tasting and a tie-dye table. The annual Guns and Hoses Fire vs. Police softball game will take place at noon.
At 11 a.m., local railroad historian Dale Russell will present a program on the history of the railroad in Greenfield. At 12:30 p.m., former resident Donald “Jimmy” Smith will share memories of growing up in Greenfield during the 1950’s and 1960’s and lead a discussion on the town’s enduring sense of community. Both events are hosted by the Greenfield Historical Society.
Fireworks hosted by the Ungrateful Colonists, a group of town volunteers, will start around dusk on the lawn of the Greenfield Inn. Donations to fund the free fireworks display are now being accepted at Delay’s Harvester Market.
HANCOCK
The Town of Hancock will celebrate the nation’s 250th Independence Day on Sunday, June 28 at Moose Brook Park.
The event starts at 5 p.m. and will include live music by Danielle Miraglia, Rusty Bearings and Eyes of Age. Food will be available for purchase, including hot dogs, burgers, snacks, beverages, and snow cones.
The event will conclude with fireworks.
The celebration continues for the 4th of July on Saturday in the Hancock Common at 10 a.m.
Hosted by the Hancock Town Library, the event will start with a live reading of the Declaration of Independence by children from the town. David Young will lead a singalong and apple pie will be served.
Rain location is in the meeting house.
JAFFREY
Jaffrey will host the 26th Reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Meetinghouse at noon on Saturday, July 4, followed by a free ice cream social in the horsesheds.
The Declaration will be read by volunteers, each reading a short section from the historic 1775 Meetinghouse in Old Jaffrey Center. Local officials, community leaders and Jaffrey citizens, young and old, will participate. The Little Red Schoolhouse and Melville Academy will be open, and the restored Seagrave Fire Engine and a modern-day Jaffrey fire engine will be on display.
These free events are co-sponsored by the Jaffrey Center Village Improvement Society, the Jaffrey Historical Society, the Jaffrey Historic District Commission and the Town of Jaffrey Select Board Meeting House Committee. All are invited to attend, participate and enjoy the celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.
On July 5, the Jaffrey Historical Society and the Jaffrey Village Improvement Society will host an “America’s Potluck” event for Jaffrey residents starting at 4 p.m. on the lawn of the Civic Center, 40 Main St.
“Citizens, friends, and neighbors are invited to bring some food to share and enjoy some conversation with others,” said organizer Bruce Hill.
PETERBOROUGH
Peterborough will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a full day of events organized by the Monadnock Center for History and Culture and sponsored by the Town of Peterborough.
The celebrations kick off at 10 a.m. with a Classic Car Cruise In. At 10:30 a.m., the Center will host a flag-raising and reading of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration will be read by descendants of Revolutionary War patriots and a signer of the Declaration.
Peterborough Select Board member Tyler Ward said this is the second major town anniversary he has been involved with.
“As a newly elected Select Board member in 2014, it was a thrill to participate in Peterborough‘s 275th anniversary. I became fascinated with William Diamond and his connection between the battles at Lexington and Concord and Peterborough,” Ward said.
Diamond, who was originally from Lexington, MA, played the drum reveille summoning the Minutemen to the Battles of Lexington and Concord. He moved to Peterborough with his family at the age of 40, died in 1828, and is buried in the town’s cemetery on Old Street Road.
From 11 a.m. to noon, the Center will host old-fashioned games, including three-legged races and other traditional July 4 games, and an ice cream social with ice cream from Connolly Brothers.
At noon on Grove Street, residents are invited to “Dance Like it is 1776” with a pop-up contra dance; no experience is needed. The community is invited to take part in an “1876 Baseball Game” at 1 p.m. at Adams Playground. The game will be played using official baseball rules from 1876.
The Peterborough Library will host a showing of “National Treasure” on July 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the 1833 Room. Snacks will be provided; guests are welcome to bring their own dinner.
For more information, contact the Monadnock Center for History and Culture at www.monadnockcenter.org.
RINDGE
Rindge will celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday on Friday, June 26, as part of the annual Family Fun Fest at Rindge Town Common, starting at 5 p.m.
Participants in the bike decorating contest should come to the common at 4 p.m.; staging for the parade starts at 5 p.m., and the parade will kick off at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., town officials will dedicate the Liberty Elm, followed by the ringing of the Meetinghouse bell at 7:15 p.m. Members of the public can take a turn ringing the bell; $10 for 10 rings. Fireworks will begin around 8 p.m.
