Tompkins Weekly

It’s time for Groton Olde Home Days!


Reid (front) and Juliette Competillo enjoying one of the Playland Amusements Carnival Midway rides at Groton Olde Home Days a few years back. Photo by Linda Competillo.

Groton Olde Home Days (GOHD) — Groton’s greatly anticipated three-day festival — will begin with the opening of the Playland Amusements Carnival Midway at 6 p.m. Aug. 25 and will conclude late into the night with music Aug. 27.

Groton on the Inside by Linda Competillo

There is truly something to please almost everyone during this annual community celebration, and while there is not enough room here to list every offering, I bring you a fairly extensive list of highlights.

The family-friendly, old-fashioned carnival, from which 15% of all ticket sales support GOHD, will be open on the municipal lot on Main Street starting at 6 p.m. nightly Thursday and Friday and noon on Saturday. It’s fun for the entire family, with rides, games and classic carnival food. There will be a wristband special for rides from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Possibly tied for first place in popularity with the carnival is the Groton Fire Department grand parade, which will step off from East Cortland Street and turn at Main Street at 6 p.m. Saturday.

With marchers, floats, veterans’ organizations, antique and classic autos and tractors, horses and wagons and more — around 150 units on average — it’s the largest parade in our region! It also features the Pittsford Fire Department Marching Band, an old-time traditional firefighters’ band from Monroe County, which is 40 members strong. The band will also perform after the parade at the American Legion.

“This parade stretches back to the 1890s and has been a focal point of GOHD since its inception,” said Lee Shurtleff, the parade’s organizer and District 9 Tompkins County legislator. “It’s a proud community tradition we’re honored to carry on, with flavors of local life in the parade such as businesses, sports, churches, youth groups, agriculture, community service and fun. You get a sense of the wide range of interests and hobbies our neighbors enjoy. Participants span all age groups. It’s a great way to see what this wonderful community is all about!”

The usual plethora of food and beverages will be available on Friday and Saturday, with more vendors than ever before, including food trucks, Foggy Bog Hunting Camp’s sausage, burgers and fresh-cut fries and the Groton Fire Department cooking at the Groton American Legion Post 800, with beer provided by the Legion also available for purchase.

DJ Rick Uhl will be the emcee for a teen/kid dance from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, where there will also be a 40-foot inflatable obstacle course.

The Groton Future Farmers of America will hold a tractor show from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the lot across from Baker-Miller Lumber, along with light breakfast items, coffee and other beverages, chicken barbecue, salt potatoes and fire-roasted corn on the cob.

Beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, Groton Assembly of God church will give away new school backpacks with starter supplies in front of the former Clothing Closet, 160 Main St., as well as free bottled water and chips until all are gone.

Also on Saturday, the Groton Historical Association’s annual “Crafts & Collectibles” show will be at the Town Barn on Conger Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free pony rides and a petting zoo right across the street, sponsored by the Town of Groton.

The annual Groton Cruisers Club car show will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Car registration is at 8 a.m. with a $10 fee per car.

The Motorcycle and Bicycle show will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday behind the C.R. Pavilion on Main Street, with awards and trophies given at 3 p.m. Call (607) 342-1059 or (607) 644-0638 for more info.

The annual Groton Art Show will be at the Groton American Legion. Drop-off and registration of art pieces will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and the opening gala will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. The actual art show will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, contact Marian Davie at mdavie123@gmail.com or (607) 279-6676.

Sir James the Balloon Artist will perform a magic show at noon Saturday in the Conger Boulevard Gazebo, and then he will be strolling on Main Street from 1 to 5 p.m., ready to make his amazing balloon creations for everyone.

Not to be missed for the children are Paw Patrol, SpongeBob and the Cornell Raptor Program birds of prey. Look for them all day Saturday on Main Street and Conger Boulevard.

Throughout the weekend, music will fill the air in a few different places.

The Cortland Old Timers Band will kick off the music lineup behind the American Legion Hall with a concert at 5:30 p.m. Friday, followed by Chasing Neon at 7:30 p.m. The Pittsford Marching Band will perform right after the parade on Saturday, followed by the Johnny West Trio at 8 p.m.

There will be music from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday by Josh Dwyer and Joel Kane, a country, bluegrass and blues acoustic duo, at the C.R. Pavilion on Main Street.

The Leisure Studio Concert Stage, 123 Main St., proudly sponsored by Young and Sons Custom Renovation and Summerhill Brewing, will feature music on Friday by Brad Allen at 6 p.m., Rocco Rich and Aaron Craig at 7 p.m., Crystal Vision Band at 8 p.m. and Brad Collins from 9 to 11 p.m.

The concert stage on Saturday will feature Logan Wannall at 3 p.m., Ana Florencia at 4 p.m., Off the Rails at 5 p.m., Throwing Down Cold at 7 p.m., Even Keeled at 8 p.m. and Ryla from 9 to 11 p.m.

Visit grotonoldehomedays.com, as more activities are added almost daily, and don’t miss this wonderful Groton tradition!

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@VizellaMedia.com or text or call Linda at (607) 227-4922.  

In brief: 
 
Vintage at the Barn

The Vintage at the Barn Flea Market, 800 S. Main St., will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 13. In addition to shoppers, they welcome vendors of antique or vintage-inspired products or collectibles. Vendors need to bring their own tents, tables and chairs. Call or text Barry at (209) 402-2905 for more information or a vendor application.

Groton Youth Soccer 

Online registration for the upcoming fall 2022 Groton Youth Soccer season is now open. Registration may be completed at leagues.bluesombrero.com/grotonsc.

The Groton Soccer Club, also referred to as Groton Youth Soccer, serves the Groton community. It provides youth with opportunities to participate in both recreational and competitive travel leagues. Its mission is to provide players with a fun, safe and enriching environment to successfully develop their skills in preparation for modified and varsity soccer.

Free personal care items 

The Groton Public Library (GPL) has received a small supply of personal care products. These items are supplied by Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga and the Community Foundation of Tompkins County.

Items include a four-pack of one-ply toilet paper, a single “mega” roll of one-ply toilet paper, two two-pack bars of soap, a two-pack of toothbrushes, an 8-ounce bottle of hand soap, a 2.4-ounce container of toothpaste, a 10-ounce bottle of laundry detergent, a 16-ounce bottle of shampoo and an 18-ounce bottle of shampoo.

Bags are limited to five items, no duplicates and no similar items, while supplies last. To receive a bag, a form needs to be filled out, and a family can get only one bag every other month. Forms and display items can be found at the front desk of the GPL for closer inspection. Front desk staff can also answer questions.

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