Townsend has always been a community that honors its past while looking toward the future, and now we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate both. As our nation marks America’s 250th birthday, Townsend has been hosting a series of events that will lead up to a grand finale: a 250th Anniversary Parade and Old Home Day Celebration on Saturday, June 20, 2026. This date is special because on June 20, 1776, Townsend voted to support our country’s independence.

This will be more than just a parade. It will be a hometown celebration of who we are, where we’ve come from, and the people who make this community strong. The parade will start from Scales Lane at 11:00 a.m., travel down Main Street, and end at the Town Common, where the Old Home Day festivities will continue with games, local food, and displays such as antique cars.

Want to be part of this parade? To bring this incredible milestone to life, the Townsend Historical Society, working closely with town residents, organizations, and volunteers, is inviting all town boards, committees, departments, churches, businesses, and community and nonprofit organizations to be part of the parade! To sign up your group, click the button below. Every group and business that participates gets a free time capsule kit to make the 250th extra special!

Click here to sign up!

Who has signed up?

Group	Parade activity	Old Home Day activity
Townsend Historical Society		Townsend Community Time Capsule
Lions Club	Walking as a group/float?	Open to help…perhaps food??
Squannacook Greenways	Decorating bikes and riding together in the parade
Townsend-Ashby Youth Soccer Association	We have not yet decided if it will be a float or walking parade but most likely a little of both.	Possibly mini-nets for the kids to play?
Townsend Community Access Media	Video recording	Video recording
Townsend 4-H Club	Some type of float
Townsend Rod and Gun Club	Old military truck with people	Military truck to explore
Townsend Veterans of Foreign Wars	Walking/riding in a vehicle	Table
Townsend Veteran Service Officer
Women in the Military Service – WIMSA
Townsend Minuteman Company	Marching with drummer and fifer	Setting up a small recreation of a Rev War encampment – usually in the corner toward Evans
Girls scouts and Congdon family	Float depicting the Bill of Rights and our amendments including women’s right to vote
Sven Hills Foundation	Walking as a group	TBD
Disabled American Veterans North Middlesex Chapter	Walk as a group	Information table under a 10 x 10 canopy
Christ Church Townsend	Walking as a group with a float	A booth for kids activities
American Flag Committee	Walking with flags from over America’s history.
Great American Marching Band	Marching band playing patriotic songs
St Johns Knights of Columbus	TBD	A booth on the common

Program of Events

Want to be a sponsor?

To help us put on this celebration, we are looking for your support! In appreciation of your generosity, THS offers several sponsorship levels to be recognized in the official program to be handed out to all participants the day of the event, in addition to social media and our website. Please review the sponsorship levels outlined below and consider joining us as a proud supporter of the 250th celebration. Signing up is as easy as scanning the QR code below, or clicking on the Sponsorship button.

Thank you for your support in preserving our town’s history and making this celebration unforgettable!

Townsend Celebrates 250th Sponsorship Levels & Benefits

Colonial Friend – $100