STAMFORD, Vt. -- By the end of the week, the town may have a new yearly tradition.
A committee, led by resident and Selectman Thomas Houghtaling, is days away from launching the first-ever Stamford Family Day on Saturday.
The all-day celebration will include a road race, parade, gymkhana events, games for children and adults, a pick-up softball game, craft and food vendors, a chicken barbecue dinner, live music, raffles, storytelling and fireworks.
"We’re hoping that people will have a good time. If that happens, I think that it will be a success," Houghtaling said Monday.
He first thought about the event as an opportunity for the community to come together in a setting outside of the annual Town Meeting, he said.
"At Town Meeting, you have people who are just not happy with one another," he said. "I thought it would be nice for everybody to get together on a day, not think about things and get to know each other as townspeople."
Stamford Family Day has been sanctioned by the Selectmen in the best interest of the town, and Houghtaling hopes it will become an annual event, he said. The entire event will be paid for with donations made to the nonprofit Stamford Family Day, he said.
"We’ve been fundraising since last September and are still accepting donations," he said.
Stamford Family Day will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a 5K road race that will start and finish at Stamford Elementary School
Gymkhana events will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the driving range on Main Road, and Diane Oxton, Readsboro WINGS coordinator, will lead children’s games at the school throughout the day. There will also be games, including horseshoes and a children’s sawdust pile search, on the Stamford Community Church field.
Houghtaling said anyone interested in participating in the gymkhana, a series of timed equestrian games, can contact Dave McKay at 802-694-1441.
To reach Meghan Foley, email mfoley@thetranscript.com.
The essentials
Schedule of events for Saturday’s Stamford Family Day:
* 8:30 a.m. 5K road race begins and ends at Stamford Elementary School, $12 entry fee.
* 9:30 a.m. Parade
* 10:30 a.m. Gymkhana events at the driving range. Entry forms available at the town offices, Billmont’s Country Store or by calling Dave McKay at 802-694-1441.
* 10:30 a.m. All-day events, including children’s games, horseshoes, football and basketball throws and a dunk tank, begin at the school and Stamford Community Church field. Tickets to participate in some activities, ranging from 50 cents to $1, will be available for purchase.
* 1 p.m. Pick-up softball game at the school.
* 4 p.m. Chicken barbecue dinner at the Stamford Community Church pavilion. Tickets are $10 and are available at the town office or by calling Thomas Houghtaling at 802-694-1323.
* 6 p.m. Live music by Brave Brothers at the church pavilion.
* 7 p.m. ‘Under One Sky,’ stories and songs by Roger Tinknell and Davis Bates.
* 7:30 p.m. Gas grill and 50/50 drawings.
* Dusk: Fireworks. Best viewing areas will be from behind the school or by the church pavilion.
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