FRANCONIA — It was all about small town family fun at Old Home Day festivities on Saturday.

Hundreds of people gathered for activities presented by the Lafayette Lions Club and benefiting the tri-town area of Sugar Hill, Franconia and Easton.

“It's a very low-key celebration,” said Robert Warden, president of Lafayette Lions Club. “It's not a carnival atmosphere — it's locals doing for locals and it's a fun, local-type affair.”

Activities in the morning included a pancake breakfast, flea market, book sale and a 10K Franconia Scramble Road Race with 65 runners competing.

The race was sponsored by Profile High School Class of 2013, and it had its own small-town, informal touches.

“When my sunglasses hit the ground, you can start,” starter Ian Bolton told the runners.

Doug Richardson from Lunenburg, Vt., found the Scramble on the internet the night before and decided to enter. His most recent race was a run up Mount Washington.

“That was fun — much better than my last race,” he said after running the Franconia Scramble. “I like the rolling hills and it's a nice, peaceful run in the woods. I'll definitely do it again next year.”

Julie Weisman of Franconia agreed. “It's a fun race, a nice small race.”

Children's activities at Dow Field included pick-up games of soccer and baseball, face-painting, bike-decorating, sack races and a magic show by Dick Perreault of Dover.

Hartman Badurina of Littleton was picked from the audience to help the magician.

The “volunteer” was a little nervous at first, but was soon having a great time.

“We look forward to this every year,” his father said. “It's just a good day.”

Bruce McLaren of Sugar Hill watched his son play soccer with members of the Lafayette Recreation Department.

“He loves it — soccer is his passion,” he said. “We come to this every year — it's a nice little celebration.”

“It's a fun day,” said Kris Kappler of the Lafayette Recreation Department, which coordinated the children's activities.

“It's nothing really organized — we just make use of the field so families can get out and play.”

Throngs of people enjoyed the summer artisan's show, bought barbecue from the fire department and explored the town until it was time to line both sides of Main Street for the parade.

This year's parade honored the 100th anniversary of the Abbie Greenleaf Library. The parade theme was “Celebrate Books.”

Littleton's storybook figure “Pollyanna” put in a parade appearance and historical figures Charles and Abbie Greenleaf — or at least re-enactors that looked like them — were honored.

The traditional celebration also included a multi-colored rubber duck race down the Gale River, band concerts by McLure's Alumni Band and White Mountain Swing Band and fireworks over Dow Field in the evening.

“This is just a special little town,” said Warden.



kgarofalo@newstote.com