WARWICK — Have you ever moved away from your community and needed an excuse to come visit?
Most old towns have this age-old tradition, a day just for this. Warwick is one of them.
Warwick will celebrate its Old Home Days this weekend, with events all day long to socialize, learn, relax, eat, play, dance and shop.
The event started in the 1800s, but disappeared for many decades until it was revived in the early 1990s by then-Selectboard member Larry Carey. Now, his daughter, Colleen Paul, has taken over organizing the event.
“It brings in many different communities and councils in the town all together for this great event,” Paul said. The Arts Council, the church, the Women’s Guild, the Warwick Free Public Library and more groups all get involved.
Brian Hubbard will bring his horse-drawn carriage, allowing people to ride around Warwick the way many had for years before automobiles lined the streets.
Also at the event will be a large tag sale. Anyone is invited to set up a table on the common to sell their goods. There is no registration needed or fees to be part of the tag sale. Clare Green, resident and member of many councils involved in the event, explained some people sell their crafts, while others sell household belongings.
In terms of food, the Women’s Guild will host a cafe on Saturday morning, serving breakfast in the Town Hall basement. For lunch, the Fire Department hosts a cookout to raise money for its equipment. At dinner, the church will serve a ham and beans supper.
The local band Space Bar will perform as well.
“They have a unique mix of sounds,” Paul explained. “They are really good.”
“It’s not all about food and buying,” Green noted. She pointed to the climate crisis vigil that will take place at 11:30 a.m. This vigil happens every Saturday in Warwick.
Old Home Days also includes educational elements. The Historical Society hosts a cemetery walk, with this year’s theme being “The Myriad Facets of Love.” Aunt Zylpha Smith, born in 1815 and played by Green, will guide residents around the cemetery and share history.
Members of the Historical Society research different people from the society’s collection to share information about with Old Homes Days attendees.
The celebration also honors a member of the community. This year’s event honors Diana Tandy, who was instrumental in running the Friday Cafe at the church, and Beth Gilgun, the town assessor. Both these women died in the past year, and devoted themselves to the community that is honoring them.
On Sunday morning, a cardboard boat race will take place at Moores Pond, called the “Corregatta.”
“We care about one another. This is a way to have a little time to party,” Green said of Old Home Days. “I have been here 33 years, but I’m still a newcomer.”
■Tag sale — All day
■7:30 to 11:30 a.m. — “Guild Cafe,” coffee and muffins downstairs in the Town Hall.
■10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Open mic.
■10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Library open.
■10:30 a.m. — Tai chi demonstration.
■11:30 a.m. — Person of honor.
■1 p.m. — Tom Ricardi and his birds of prey.
■3 p.m. — Cemetery walk.
■Noon — Fire Department cookout with hamburgers, hot dogs and fries.
■5:30 p.m. — Ham and beans supper outside on the common, benefiting the Trinitarian Congregational Church of Warwick.
■7 p.m. — Space Bar performance sponsored by the Warwick Arts Council.
■9:30 a.m. — Worship at Trinitarian Congregational Church.
■2 p.m. — Corregatta at the Moores Pond beach.
Bella Levavi can be reached at blevavi@recorder.com or
413-930-4579.