Canterbury Old Home Day 2024

Canterbury’s favorite way to welcome the return of the fall will be taking place on the Town Green – aka the lawn of the First Congregational Church – on the last Saturday in September. This popular hometown event will feature demonstrations of traditional crafts & trades, historical reenactors, delicious food, vendors of all varieties, children’s activities and more! Admission and parking are always FREE and the event goes on rain or shine though we’re really hoping for shine this year after a couple of soggy years!

Parking for Old Home Day will be at the Dr. Helen Baldwin School at 45 Westminster Road and a shuttle bus will be running regularly to transport attendees between the school and the Green. There will be a limited amount of handicapped parking on the Green but all others are encouraged to ride the shuttle bus.

In addition to all of the other activities, we’ll be holding our Second Annual Scarecrow Contest! Last year’s contest was a big hit so we’re hoping for more great entries this year! Registration is required by Sept. 15th to secure a plot for your scarecrow. To register or for more information, send an email to kelceyjohnsonmartin@gmail.com or call/text Kelcey at 860-428-1629. There is no fee to register, but due to space constraints, we can only accept a limited number of participants.

More information on Old Home Day will be forthcoming as vendors are confirmed so check out this space or our Facebook page regularly! See you on September 28th and be sure to bring your friends!

For more information, be sure to check out our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/CanterburyHistoricalSociety.CT/

Food:
Creamery Brook Bison – Food truck offering local bison burgers, hot dogs, bratwurst, shakes and more!
Jumping Cow Ice Cream – Connecticut’s finest mobile ice cream truck
The First Congregational Church of Canterbury Cafe and Annual Pie Sale – Delicious chicken pot pies and more served in Hart Hall on the lower level of the church

Exhibitors & Vendors:
The Crafty Lady – fleece dog coats, cat mats, herbal neck wraps, wine bags and more! The Landing – Handcrafted Birdhouses
Toby Jax Designs – Handmade jewelry
Lynn Gandolf – Stained glass
Mill River Primitives – Handmade wooden signs, antiques, vintage jewelry Sunflower Valley Goat Milk Soaps – Soaps, shampoos and gift baskets Lazy J Ranch – Stitched and quilted items for babies, kids and adults
MB Art – Greeting Cards
Lisa’s Chocolates & Gifts – Handmade chocolates, recycled feed shopping bags, 100% cotton dish cloths, microwave bowl cozies and more
Yankee Woodworking – Handmade birdhouses, charcuterie boards and flags
JGA Creations – Quilted art
Sandy Symington – Handmade quilts, quilted hangings and gift bags Afterlife – 18th century gravestone art
Melody Hope Honey – Local honey, beeswax candles and more Sawmill Pottery of Putnam – Pottery demonstrations and sales Creative Wonders – Face-painting
Cub Scout Pack 9059 – Assorted baked goods, handmade keychains
Finnish American Society – Free samples of Pulla bread and whole loaves for sale
Friends of Canterbury Library – Books, kids crafts, bags and information on membership
Bill Kivik – Open-fire waffle making
Flying Pig Forge – Blacksmithing demonstration of hand forged items
Michael Westcott – Cooper and harness maker
James Easton – Master woodcarver
Alton Orlomoski – Display of historic collectibles
Bill and Debbie Eccleston – Unusual 18th and 19th century tools
Jeremy Pomfret – Chainsaw carving demonstrations and hand-carved wooden items
UConn Master Gardeners – Free seeds, information on the MG program, fact sheets
Plainfield Historical Society – Display of items from their collection
Daughters of the American Revolution – Information and resources for genealogy searches
Northeast Early Childhood Council – Free resources for families including books and information
The Last Green Valley – Brochures and materials, Walktober calendars
Veterans Coffeehouse of Eastern CT – Information for veterans
Tiny Treasure Farm – Goats and emus, metal art work
Hay Burr Inn – Equine rescue and sanctuary offering calendars, cards, mugs, and clothing
41st Infantry Regiment attached to the 2nd Armed WWII Group
The Pewter Pot Fine Spice Chocolates – 18th century chocolatier with demos, displays and sales
John Rosetti – Native American reenactor with displays and stories
Ye Old Lebanon Towne Militia – 18th century reenactors including men-at-arms with musket and cannon firing demonstrations along with basket makers, weavers, beekeepers and leather working.

Timed Events:
Story Time in the Green Schoolhouse with Canterbury Public Library’s Kathleen Hart and Friends – 11:45 am, 12:45, 1:45 and 2:45 pm.

Artillery Demonstrations by Ye Olde Lebanon Town Militia, Co. 1775 with firings at 12:00 and 2:00 pm. Learn about the devastating capabilities of the cannon and the intricate firing process. Safety precautions are explained and enforced at all times.

Musket Demonstrations and Firings by Ye Olde Lebanon Town Militia, Co. 1775 at 1:00 and 3:00 pm. Experience the process as soldiers follow their officers’ commands and note the differences between one man firing alone and several men firing together.

On-Going Events:
18th-century chocolate-making by Richard Lecce of The Pewter Pot Fine Spiced Chocolates. Delicious chocolate products made with 18th-century recipes will be available to buy also!

Pottery making by Sawmill Pottery of Putnam. Pottery available for purchase!

Open-fire waffle making by Bill Kivic of the Canterbury Historical Society.

Blacksmithing demonstrations by the Flying Pig Forge.

Chainsaw carving demonstrations by Jeremy Pomfret along with hand-carved wooden items for sale.

The civilian component of Ye Olde Lebanon Town Militia, Co. 1775 will also have demonstrations of civilian crafts, skills and occupations such as Basket Making, Textile Production, Leatherwork and more throughout the day.

*Due to the limited amount of parking on the Green, we ask that visitors park at the Dr. Helen Baldwin School (45 Westminster Road) and ride the free shuttle bus that will be running all day. Handicap parking will be available on the Green but you must have a placard on display as the town constables who are in charge of directing traffic will be checking for those.