5K, Brewfest Added To Londonderry Old Home Days

LONDONDERRY, NH — The give-day Londonderry Old Home Days are coming up this week, and a new addition this year is the Enterprise Bank Boot Scottin' Boogie 5K & Brewfest, happening Saturday. The date for this fifth annual event has been moved to coincide with Old Home Days, which this year will celebrate Londonderry's 120th birthday celebration, and will also mark the Nutfield 300th anniversary.

The 5K & Brewfest is expected to draw more than more than 2,500 runners and spectators. It's taking place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, starting at the Londonderry Athletic Field Complex. After the 3.1-mile race, there will be a three-hour event with a country music concert, a bonfire and a Brewfest with more than 20 of New Hampshire's craft breweries providing beer tastings, according to event organizers.

Running has been a tradition at Londonderry Old Home Days, with for more than 40 years featured the Lundgren Old Home Day 5K on Saturday morning of Old Home Days. But with low participation and rising costs of putting on a road race, it became increasingly difficult to produce the race, with is a fundraiser for the Londonderry High School cross country and track Booster Club.

Now, the road race tradition continues to live on through Millennium Running, with support from Enterprise Bank and the community. Thousands of dollars are expected to be raised for the high school's cross country and track teams, and other organizations such as the Londonderry Lions Club, Londonderry Cheer, Londonderry Friends of Hockey and Veterans Count, even organizers say.

Millennium Running founder and race director John Mortimer said he is honored that the town and the Old Home Day Committee has continued to support running and has included the event as part of the Old Home Days celebrations.

"Being a former Londonderry student-athlete, it is even more important to me personally to ensure that the LHS Cross Country and Track Booster Club will continue to receive the financial support as the official event charity," he said.

Londonderry Old Home Days will begin on Wednesday and continue through Sunday. The five-day event will feature a parade, fireworks, and a softball game between Londonderry Police and Fire departments and those of Derry. There will also be music, food, contests, a "revolutionary encampment" and more.

For further details and a schedule of events, visit oldhomedays.com.