MADISON — Burke Field in Madison was quiet early Tuesday afternoon, with rows of tables under long white tents waiting to be set up for townwide celebrations and events.

Tonight, Burke Field will be filled with vehicles new and old for Cruise Night, starting at 7.

Later tonight, the field hosts Starry, Starry Night, a supplement to the 6 p.m. presentation at the library, “The Story Behind the Stars,” with Matt Krug.

Burke Field isn't the only location for Madison Old Home Week's “There's No Place Like Home” fun and festivities, but it's central to many of the activities. It's just a stone's throw from the Madison Library and the Madison Elementary School, and is the destination for all participants in Friday's Mardi Gras Parade. The parade will take place at 7 p.m. rain or shine, with floats and antique cars winding up their walk through town to Burke Field. Open Mic entertainment follows, and the evening concludes with fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

The celebration kicked off Saturday and continues through Sunday. On Thursday at the Madison Library at 1 p.m. it's going to be “All About Beavers,” when local author Jean Heilprin Diehl reads from her new picture book, which was inspired by the beavers along the town's Chain of Ponds. The event includes a talk by a beaver expert from the Elaine Connors Center, and all who attend the presentation are invited for a ride on the Silver Lake Railroad. The scenic train ride goes through the Chain of Ponds.

The authors of “The Pond: A History of Big Pea Porridge Pone in Madison, NH, Ice Age to 1951,” will talk about their book on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the library.

Silver Lake is the place to be on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, with a kayak poker run and timed course, and then the new corn husking contest. Later, at 4 p.m. folks can launch their homemade water crafts for the Cardboard Boat Race, followed by the Bean Hole Supper at 5 p.m.

The Silver Lake Railroad Company Museum is open from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and offers train rides by donation.

The fun continues on Sunday, with a pancake breakfast at the foot of Silver Lake, and the popular Chucky's Lucky Ducky Race, which benefits the Madison Scholarship Fund.

When Old Home Weeks started up the population of rural communities in state was declining.

In the decades since that time, many towns — including Madison — have seen dramatic increases. While the population of Carroll County has more than doubled over the past 40 years — from 18,548 in 1970 to 47,818 in 2010 — the population of Madison has increased more than fourfold. The 1970 U.S. Census counted 572 people in Madison. As of the latest census, that number jumped to 2,502.

For a complete schedule of events, go to www.madison-nh.org/.

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Sara Young-Knox may be reached at syoungknox@newstote.com.