Old Home Days
The legendary East Hampton, CT parade, featuring carnival rides, live music, and the Gallop 5K Road Race.
Key Highlights
Old Homes Day Parade is a four day event
Old Home Days Big Parade
Held Saturday morning, the parade features local marching bands, antique cars, civic groups, and elaborate floats.
The Carnival
A classic fair atmosphere with amusement rides, games, and local food booths operated by town organizations like the Lions Club and the Rotary.
Gallop 5K Road Race
A popular road race that usually kicks off Friday evening, taking runners through the "Rails to Trails" path.
Bicycle Raffle
A long-standing tradition where dozens of new bicycles are raffled off to local children for free throughout the weekend.
Former Connecticut Governor and East Hampton native William O'Neill was a staple of this parade, helping it grow into the massive production it is today.
How to Join the Celebration
All admission and musical performances are free to the public, funded entirely by donations and local sponsors rather than taxpayer dollars.
Old Home Days - A Century of Celebration
From a 1912 village bazaar to today's four-day tradition, over a century of East Hampton coming together.
The Beginnings
The concept dates back to the Village Improvement Society, begun in 1912 when local church societies organized for the betterment of the community. Harlan G. Hills was named its first chairman.
A 1912 church bazaar grew into the famous "Push Cart Carnival," flaming along nearly half a mile of Main Street and yielding a profit of over $200. Annual carnivals followed with colorful themes: "Carnival of Allied Nations" (1917), "Mother Goose Carnival" (1922), "Book Carnival" (1924), and more, drawing thousands of visitors and spreading East Hampton's name across the state.
The American Legion Years
The Great Depression interrupted the Village Improvement Society's carnivals, but in 1933 the American Legion petitioned to hold its own, becoming "The Seventh District American Legion County Fair and Old Home Day." The name "Old Home Day" stuck, a day for townspeople past and present to reconnect.
The Sporadic Years
For the next three decades, celebrations were sporadic, revived by the American Legion and VFW in 1953, again for East Hampton's Bicentennial in 1967, and once more for the Nation's Bicentennial in 1976.
The Glorious Celebration
Moe Lanzi organized the first modern Old Home Day in July 1979, an all-volunteer tradition that continues today. The event gained a major boost in the 1980s when Governor Bill O'Neill, an East Hampton native, marched every parade until his health declined, cementing groups like the Governor's Foot Guard and the Ancient Mariners as lasting mainstays.
The COVID-19 pandemic halted what would have been the 42nd annual celebration in 2020, but the volunteer committee's enthusiasm never dimmed.
History as written by Dean Markham.
Watch the 2025 Parade
See last year's full Old Home Day parade route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Old Home Days.
When is Old Home Days 2026?
July 9, 10, and 11, 2026, at the Center School Fairgrounds.
Is admission free?
Yes, admission and all musical performances are free to the public, funded entirely by donations and local sponsors rather than taxpayer dollars.
Is Old Home Days held every year?
Yes, it's an annual Chatham Historical Society tradition dating back to a modern revival in 1979. Follow our Facebook or Instagram for updates on the 2027 celebration.
What happens during Old Home Days?
A Saturday morning parade, a carnival with rides and food booths, the Friday-evening Gallop 5K Road Race, and a bicycle raffle for local children.
How old is the Old Home Days tradition?
It traces back to 1912, when the Village Improvement Society began the tradition that would become Old Home Day. The modern, continuous celebration began in 1979.
The 2026 Old Home Days Celebration
Dates: July 9, 10, and 11, 2026.
Location: Center School Fairgrounds
X-mass Tree Raffle: $5.00
Stay Tuned for the 2027 Celebration