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.

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?
Squannacook Greenways / Girl Scout Troop 65303 / Glen Shepherd	Decorating bikes and riding together in the parade, following Uncle Sam
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		Table
Women in the Military Service – WIMSA		Table
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
Seven Hills Foundation	Walking as a group
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.
Friends of Townsend Library		Games for kids on the common
Great American Marching Band	Marching band playing patriotic songs
Dee Bus	Antique Bus
Committee to Elect Glenn McLeod	Walking as a group	A spot on the common
Sweet ‘n Salty	TBD	TBD
King Farm Inc.	Antique vehicle
Gaswerks Automotive	Antique vehicle
Farmers Exchange	Vehicle
State Senator Cronin and Rep. Margaret Scarsdale	Walking as a group	Speaking at opening ceremony
Charlotte’s Web and Friends	An old red truck with a big pink pig and other characters from the story	Two tables
First Baptist Church of West Townsend	Walking as a group	A table with free books, free snacks, free drinks
Townsend Veterinary Hospital	Walking as a group	A spot on the common
Rock and Roll Gymnastics	Walking as a group
Daughters of the American Revolution	Float	Table on the common for books and information
Pepperell Lions Club		Selling grilled food on the common
Townsend Highway Department	New highway vehicles
Townsend Republican Town Comm.	Walk or ride float	Booth on the common
Sue Luongo		Spinning wheel
Lisa Wallat	Driving a 1968 Cadillac DeVille convertible
Flag Committee	Marching in parade	TBD
Scout Troop 10	TBD	TBD
Townsend Fire Buffs	A group of four people riding bikes, no music but sirens and horns
Chris Lyons for State Representative	Walking as a group	Information table under a 10 x 10 canopy
Delory’s historic oxen and cart	Two oxen pulling a cart
Cemetery and Parks Department	Riding new lawn mowers
NH Dadkart Racing League	2-3 small off-road style go karts	Possible parking go-karts
Townsend Recreation Department	Walking as a group	Games on the common
The Diana Cannon – Carter Family		Displayed on the common
June Cloutier -Photographer	Photography	Photography
Daniel LaCroix		Colonial Woodworking

Program of Events

Thanks to Dee Bus, parade participants can shuttle from the common to the beginning of the parade either before or after the parade:

Shuttle bus from north end parking lot at Townsend Common to Scales Lane: 9:15 – 10:45 AM
Shuttle bus from north end parking lot at Townsend Common to Scales Lane: 12:45 – 2:15 PM

Want to participate in the parade as a family with kids?

All kids, families, and kids of all ages are invited to join the bicycle/non-motorized vehicle parade. Squannacook Greenways will set up a table at 10 AM on Scales Lane with free decorations to help you decorate your bike or other wheeled vehicle. You can take the shuttle either before or after the parade to make the round trip.

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