Wilton will celebrate Old Home Days starting Saturday, Aug. 10, with festivities running all week through Sunday, Aug. 18, celebrating Wilton with the theme of “Damn Near Perfect.”

The theme is a tribute to the longtime Wilton Old Home Days Committee Chair Gary Crooker, who died in March 2023. Crooker’s favorite response to the question “How are you?” was “Damn near perfect.”

All 23 Old Home Days Committee members will be wearing Hawaiian shirts in honor of Crooker, who often wore one.

The celebrations begin on Saturday, Aug. 10, with a cornhole tournament on the Whiting Park Flat from 8 to 11 a.m. Registration opens at 8 a.m., the tournament begins at 9 a.m. The cost is $20 per two-person team. To register, send email to wiltonoldhomedays@gmail.com or text Don Condon at 603-554-7195. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the WJAA.

At 11 a.m., the Children’s Parade, hosted by Florence Rideout Elementary School and Lyndeborough Central School, starting at the Flat, will walk through town. The theme is tropical/Hawaiian luau.

From noon to 1 p.m., the homegrown children’s troupe Flying Gravity Circus will be performing on the Flat.

At 1 p.m., at Carnival Hill, there will be a “Battle of the Badges,” a softball game between the fire and police departments.

At 2 p.m., the Boys & Girls Club of Souhegan Valley Dance Team will perform on the Flat.

Residents can pick up scavenger hunt forms at the Flat from 4 to 5 p.m. Scavenger hunt forms must be returned by 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 18.  Also at 4 p.m., the town will be dedicating the Riverwalk Gazebo, located behind the police station parking lot, to “Doc” Raymond Galloway.

“Anyone who lived in Wilton in the mid-20th century probably would have a story about Dr. Raymond Galloway,” said Richard Putnam, retired owner of Putnam’s Clothing.

Harv Galloway, major donor and son of Doc Galloway, remembers something his dad said that is emblematic of the way he cared for his community, “If a patient comes in with a dog bite I will not ask them for any money. If I charged them for the treatment and the owner of the dog, undoubtedly their neighbor, couldn’t or wouldn’t reimburse them, then it would likely destroy their friendship.”

A plaque will be unveiled dedicating the gazebo to Galloway. The Galloway family’s donation helped fund the gazebo, and purchased the weather vane and cupola. The boulder was donated by the Wilton Highway Department, and the mounting services were donated by Medlyn Monuments in Milford.

“It amazes me how many good people came together to celebrate our community’s history in this event,“ said Jennifer Beck, board chair for the Wilton Alliance, a nonprofit on a mission to invest in Wilton. “It’s perfect timing to hold this dedication during the start of Old Home Days in Wilton. I hope people come out to share their stories, because stories are how we remember our history and pass along its lessons.“

The day will cap off with a ham-and-bean supper hosted at the Second Congregational Church on Gregg Street at 5 p.m., followed by an official opening ceremony to kick off the rest of the week’s events at 6:30 p.m. on the Flat. The last event of the day is a kickoff dance with The Soultown Band, a Motown band, on the Flat, starting at 7 p.m.

On Sunday, there will be a breakfast on the Flat at 9 a.m., followed by a firemen’s parade and touch-a-truck event with public safety demonstrations at the Flat at 11 a.m. There will be a chicken barbecue at the Flat at noon and a fire sprinkler demonstration at 1 p.m., and a food auction at 2 p.m. The Stone Hill Station band will play on the Flat at 3 p.m. From 3 to 5 p.m., the Wilton-Lyndeborough Women’s Club will sponsor a $10 burrito bar fundraiser.

On Monday, there will be a Family Fun Night at the Flat from 5 to 8 p.m., with a flag retirement ceremony, grilling provided by the Clinton Lodge, folk dancing with music by the Milford Contra Dance Band and family games. The Select Board will hold its weekly meeting on the Flat and present the Boston Post Cane to the town’s oldest resident.

On Tuesday, at 6 p.m., on the Flat, there will be an “Iron Chef” competition cookoff, followed by a trivia night at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Wilton Public & Gregg Free Library. Teams of two to six people can take part. Call 603-654-2581  or xend email to wiltonlibrarynh@gmail.com with the details of a team to register.

On Wednesday, there will be a burger and hot dog dinner, by Scouting America, on the Flat at 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Also from 6 to 8 p.m., there will be the A.J. Dodge Memorial Car Show. There is no entry fee, but donations are accepted. Music will be provided by the Bel-Airs. The proceeds benefit the “A Lift from AJ” scholarship fund.

On Thursday, starting at 8 a.m., there will be the 14th annual Wilton Old Home Days Golf Tournament, rain or shine, at the Crotched Mountain Golf Course. The format will be a four-person scramble. Registration is $100 per person, which includes green fees, cart, access to the driving range and dinner. From 7 to 9 p.m., there will be bingo on the Flat, sponsored by the Wilton Fire Department. Cost is $2 per card. Proceeds are split 50/50 between the winner and the Wilton Firemen’s Relief Association. The entire proceeds from the “Jackpot Round” will be awarded to the winner.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday there will be a horseshoe tournament, with the pits available for casual play now. There will be a signup sheet for the tournament at the pits, or contact 603-231-0131 or 603-554-6579 to reserve a two-person team. The cost is $30 per team.

On Friday, there will be an all-class reunion of Wilton High School and Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative on the Flat from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Saturday, Aug. 17, at 10 a.m., the official Old Home Days Parade will start from Riverside Way. The New Magnolia Jazz Band will play on the Flat from noon, and the Pine Mountain Bluegrass Band plays at 2 p.m. At 7 p.m., the Old Home Days Dance will be held on the Flat, featuring the Jennifer Mitchell Band.

On Sunday, Aug. 18, the Wilton Old Home Days 5K run and two-mile fun run/walk will be held. Registration starts at 8 a.m., and the run or walk begins at 9:30 a.m. There are no entry fees, but donations are accepted for the Open Cupboard Pantry. The walk/run is sponsored by Ciardelli Fuel Company. For information, contact Aaron Robins at twoaztwobz@aol.com. Race maps can be found at wiltonoldhomedays.com/schedule/fun-run-walk.

Old Home Days finishes with a music festival on the Flat on Sunday from noon to 5:30 p.m. Bands include the Bat Magoon Band from noon to 1:30 p.m., Hell on Heels from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and Tom Hurley + The Retro Rockers from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Closing ceremonies will be held at 6 p.m. at the Flat.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.