Jesse Palmer, a Nashua resident and operator of the nonprofit Secondhand Costume Annual Redistribution Effort (S.C.A.R.E.), an organization that last year provided 1,500 free Halloween costumes to families, welcomes Hollis Old Home Days visitors to his on-site spooky house. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

HOLLIS – Hollis Old Home Days of 2026 saluted the town’s colonial heritage, Sept. 18-19, with festivities including a block party, a field full of games and inflatables for youngsters, a parade through town with Revolutionary-era re-enactors, an arts and crafts exhibit and a chicken pageant, among other enticing diversions.

The chicken pageant presented on Nichols Field drew more than a dozen competitors. Each chicken owner approached a judges’ table to extoll the beauty of their pet chicken. Awards aplenty were won.

The People’s Choice Award went to siblings Avery Ellis, age 6, and Graham Ellis, age 8, whose inflatable chicken costumes complemented their fluffy pet, “Chewbacca,” also known as “Chewy.”

“There is something incredibly rewarding about bringing the whole community together to celebrate this place we all love,” said Lindsey Sud, co-chairman, along with Corinne Beaubien, of the all-volunteer event supported entirely through donations, sponsor support and event revenue.

She commended everyone whose months of preparation resulted in a community celebration that not only heralded the town’s agricultural origins but its businesses, local organizations, athletics and artisans whose handmades of jewelry, woodwork, stained glass and other media surely originate in the imagination of the creative.

Some exquisite work, displayed at Hollis Old Home Days in the arts and crafts section of the Lawrence Barn on Depot Street, included handmade jewelry and original paintings by Cindy Riechling-Garruba, of Hollis, whose Cinergy Creations have favorites on Facebook and Etsy. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

A full roster of the weekend’s events is available by email via info@hollisoldhomedays.org, or on the website at hollisoldhomedays.org.

Cruising the perimeter at Hollis Old Home Days are these event committee personnel, from left, Kari Bard, silent auction and raffle coordinator, Lindsey Sud, event co-chair, and Allegra Boverman, a Hollis professional photographer and photo team leader documenting the two-day event for the second time. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

The aroma of jerk chicken prepared here by Shevettes Barnett, owner of B & Sons Landscaping, a Hollis family-operated enterprise with clients in many towns, served Hollis Old Home Days visitors with choice pieces of the smoky festival favorite. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

The Hollis Old Home Days chicken pageant winners of the People's Choice Award were Avery Ellis, age 6, and her brother, Graham Ellis, age 8, residents of Hollis, whose big, brown, fluffy contest entry, "Chewbacca," mostly called "Chewy," won them plenty of commendations. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Airborn is this young lady, here enjoying an inflatable trampoline provided by Vertical Entertainment, of Gilford, to please scores of youngsters at the 30th annual Hollis Old Home Days weekend events of Sept. 18-19. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Hollis Old Home Days festivities continue as Nashua Police Officer Brendan Holden, center left, and Hollis Police Officer Michael Trapani talk tech with some local cyclists adept at wheelies, spins, hops and skids. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Pam Bridge, of Merrimack, better known at regional parties as "Pammy the Balloon Twister, is busy at twisting up some Hollis Old Home Days fun for the Wilsons, whose local clan includes Jack and Sandra Wilson and their boys Jaxson and Weston. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON