Of course there are activities, concerts, food, fun, food, and did we say fun? Games and competitions for all ages, a BBQ and Band concert, special guests and more.
The Library is sharing in the fun, too: We'll have a Do-It-Yourself Family Crafts table in our air-conditioned space from 10 AM to Noon!
8:30 a.m. The day gets started with the bike race, and Nelson Marathon – both of which go up over Hardy Hill and comes back up along the Harrisville Road. Maury Collins (a many-year champion of this event) presides.
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Games on the Common – tug of war, egg toss, three-legged race and much more. Squeals of laughter, shouts of enthusiasm, cheers of support!
9:00am – 1:00 pm
The Friends of the Library Book Sale (Library lower level inside and outdoors) Support the library and maintain your literacy! Goes til 1 p.m.
9:00 – noon
Music (behind the Library / Town Hall)
9:00 Rachel Allen and Ethan McBrien came to Nelson in 2017. Arriving with a shared vision, they began the long journey of learning to live in harmony with the land and one another. Central to that pursuit is a love for folk music. With the birth of their son Ryder in 2020, song and story have become even more powerful forces in their family. This Old Home Day, they look forward to sharing some of those stories and melodies with you.
10:00 Nat Backes and Samuel Foucher ~ Tunes for fiddle and accordion and more, from the New England, French Canadian, and Celtic repertoire. Nat and Samuel are two of the Monadnock region’s most accomplished musicians in this tradition.
11:00 Singer Eve Pierce accompanied by Gordon Peery on keyboard. Clever and quirky originals, and an eclectic mix of folk rock, and covers ranging from Judy Collins to Taylor Swift.
Flower Pounding
9:00 – 11:00
Flower Pounding (The Old Library) An age-old fun and simple activity where you use a hammer or a rock to gently hit pieces of flowers, leaves, grass, etc. on a piece of white fabric or paper and the natural dye from the plant transfers onto the fabric/paper. We will create a display of the finished works of art!
10:00 – noon
In the Library: Do-It-Yourself Family Crafts table
12 (noon)
Enjoy a chicken barbecue (provided by the Nelson Congregational Church)
Price: $15.00. Menu: ½ Chicken, corn on the cob, cole slaw, rolls, tomatoes, cukes, watermelon and a beverage
and listen to the Nelson Town Band on the Church lawn.
12:45
Official Welcome, awarding of prizes from the games, dedication.
Dave Kennard in the ring
1:15 (ish)
Dave Kennard of Wellscroft Farm will offer a sheep dog demonstration, complete with real sheep! MacKenzies’ lawn, next to the church.
2:00
(or after the sheep dogs) The great water ball contest, on the Mackenzies’ lawn.
3:00
Softball in the newly restored ball field, behind the town barn.
This could be a new era for Nelson athletics!
Read the rules and more details.
Sandy Lafluer
7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Nelson Town Hall
Contra Dance with Sandy Lafleur, caller
Music by Laurie Indenbaum, fiddle; Gordon Peery, piano.
The dance will start with kid-friendly dances (which are totally enjoyable by adults) and progress to regular contras, in the Nelson tradition.
Sandy Lafleur, of Wilton, NH has been contra dancing since the 1990s. She has organized dance events and called throughout New England and New York for over a decade. Sandy delights in introducing contra dancing to beginners of all ages and enjoys the inclusiveness that is such an important part of New England contra dancing.
Lauri Indenbaum
Laurie Indenbaum has been fiddling for dances in New England since 1976. She has played with numerous bands over the years, including Applejack, New England Swing, The Turkey Mountain Window-Smashers, The Tune Police, The Fogues, Hidden Drive, The Red Fox Session Band, The Full Catastrophe, and Rompidoodle.
Her fiddling is a hybrid dance style, made up of Quebecois, New England, Scandinavian and Old-Time.
Gordon Peery has been playing for contra dances in Nelson (and around the world) since the early 1980’s. Bands include Fresh Fish, The New Hamsphire Fiddlers Union, and Trip to Nelson. His style has been described as “barrelhouse Irish.”
We are optimistic that we can hold this dance. In the event that things with Covid go south, we will make decisions about protocols or cancellation. Please check back here before coming to the dance to be sure that it is happening.