NEW SHARON – Get ready for some old-fashioned family fun.
On Saturday, the annual Family Fun Day, aimed at the residents rather than tourists, will focus on the local talent, activities for the kids and the merchants of New Sharon.
In its fourth year, the festival grows out of the Freedom Festival which featured, among other things, a parade down Route 2.
“Nowadays you can’t ride your ponies down Route 2 anymore,” organizer Juniper Thompson said with a laugh. “This is for people wanting some of that same town-wide fun.”
Things will kick off with a pancake breakfast at the United Methodist Church at 7:30 a.m., running until 9 a.m. Breakfast will cost $6 for those over 12 years old and $3 for kids older than 5 years old.
There will be a small welcoming ceremony from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., consisting of a short prayer, flag ceremony and tree dedication in front of the town office on Cape Cod Hill Road.
Events throughout the day include cribbage under a tent at 10 a.m., puppet shows and puppet creation workshops at the New Sharon Library from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and arts and crafts at the United Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m.
There will also be a chicken barbecue at the New Mason’s Hall on Route 2 at 11:30 a.m., costing $8.
The afternoon events include a chili cook-off, chocolate chip baking contest and homemade pickle contest.
Another big draw is sure to be the saltine eating contest at Douin’s Market. Residents will be asked to eat and swallow seven saltine crackers in one minute. This is much more difficult than it may sound.
After a full day of demonstrations, contests and story-telling, a free picnic will be held at the town office, with hot dogs, popcorn and lemonade, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This will be followed by a hootenanny and talent show at the Congregational Church vestry, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The large itinerary is designed to appeal to a wide range of people, but especially children.
“We’ve tried to spread it out across the town,” Thompson said. “Make it bigger and more interesting and kid oriented. It’s a full day with minimal cost.
COMPLETE SCHEDULE FOR NEW SHARON FAMILY FUN DAY (.pdf formats available below):
Please click here to see a complete schedule of the days events in a .pdf format. Please click here to see more information on the evening’s hootenanny.
