Pelham Old Home Day 2025
Is Coming to Town
Saturday September 13th 2025
About Our Old Home Day!
Pelham's Old Home Day is a gracious response to the request of the Governor of the state of New Hampshire in 1899 who asked for a statewide celebration of Old Home Days. The first Old Home Day was celebrated in Pelham on August 18, 1906. August was the best time because the farming communities were between harvests. Farmers were not known for having summer vacations. Pelham was championing its place on the new Electric Railroad System between the points of Lowell, Massachusetts and Canobie Lake/Salem, New Hampshire. Wednesday was an excellent day for this event! Businesses closed in Lowell for the afternoon and their day in the country benefited the people of Pelham. The first celebration in 1906 reunited the Greeley Singers. A souvenir book with ads and pictures was available. It was a time of speeches and a dinner at the Pilgrim Hall sponsored by the ladies of the Congregational Church. Several years later a parade and sporting events were added to the venue. The Lowell Symphonic Orchestra would come to play in the evening at 6 p.m. Mrs. Bigelow, choir director at First Congregational, was instrumental in bringing the Lowell Symphony to Pelham.
Some people still fondly recall those summer celebrations. People had a good time just visiting. By 1931, Old Home Day was sponsored by the Pelham First Congregational Church. This fundraiser helped to meet church expenses. The Ladies Aid Society would make aprons and pot holders which would sell for a few pennies each. May Smith was known for buying enough aprons to keep herself for a year. A doll carriage parade, baby shows, fashion shows, plus talent and dance became a part of the program. A bake table provided cuisine fresh from the oven. Tug of wars and baseball games would not only provide entertainment but also be wonderful means of endearment and encouragement.
Vendor Information
Time: 9:00 am until 4:30 pm
A very popular event at Old Home Day is the Crafter and Vendor Fair. Each year we attract over 90 crafters and organizations from right here in our Southern NH community.
Crafters provide a wide variety of beautifully crafted items, from handmade baskets, pottery, quilts, knitted items, photographs, custom jewelry, wooden cutting boards, signs, and custom cornhole boards, handmade candles and lotions, wreaths and décor and more! You will find delicious home-baked goods, candy, popcorn, cake-pops and ice cream!
Home shopping vendors round out the participants by providing items from Scentsy, LuLaRoe, Tastefully Simple and others. Local businesses offering health services and information are happy to provide you with information.
Non-profit community and civic organizations will also be present in our Community Corner to discuss services they have available. Join us, come visit the crafters and businesses to learn about the products and opportunities they have available.
Interested in participating in the Craft and Vendor Fair?
Applications are now being accepted from individuals interested in participating as a crafter or vendor in the 2025 Pelham Old Home Day Celebration. Spots are filled on a first come first serve basis. Please make your reservation as soon as possible. We sold out of spaces in 2023 and 2024!
**Non-profit organizations are welcome to join us in our Community Corner.
REMINDER:
We do not provide tables, tarps, chairs or tents.
No electrical hookups are available
Tents must be secured without the use of stakes
Attention: Applicants with Branded Merchandise
Please e-mail marieohd@gmail.com if you have a branded product such as LuLaRoe, Tastefully Simple, Arbonne, Usborne etc.
We only allow one vendor who sells branded merchandise to sell at the event.
You must complete payment in order for the application to be accepted.
Mail your reservation form with payment to:
First Congregational Church, UCC
Old Home Day Reservations
3 Main Street
Pelham, NH 03076
First Congregational Church of Pelham Office 603-635-7025 uccpelham@gmail.com
For vendor space reservation questions, email Marie marieohd@gmail.com
Vendor Space Fees:
Standard Crafter Space $125
Prime Crafter Space $150
Standard Business Space $150
Prime Business Space $175
Non-profit Standard Space $50
Non-profit Prime Space $85 - SOLD OUT!
Thank you all so very much for your support!
Sponsors
If you wish to be a part of our fabulous sponsors please reach out to Stephanie Noel 603.635.7025 or uccpelham@gmail.com
