WARWICK — What’s the appropriate gift for a 130th anniversary? Perhaps a Boston Post Cane ceremony?
That’s the plan for this year’s installment of Warwick Old Home Days, when the ebony wood-crafted cane that was once distributed by the now-defunct Boston Post newspaper to be given to each municipality’s oldest resident will be presented to the family of Virginia Fellows. It’s one of the festivities planned for the three-day event that dates back to 1895.
The Boston Post Cane ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday near the open mic area on the town common.
Town Coordinator David Young mentioned Old Home Days will also feature the return of the popular table read of “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” the Broadway play that was later made into a 1942 American screwball comedy film starring Bette Davis and Jimmy Durante. The table read is planned for Friday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, representing the sole Friday event for Old Home Days. It will be the Warwick Readers Theater’s third production.
Some returning events, such as the Fire Department’s cookout and the festivities on the town beach, are also planned.
“My favorite things would be the firemen’s cookout on Saturday afternoon on the common, and on Sunday, the boat parade down on the town beach,” commented Andrea Woods, who is organizing the church supper set for Saturday. “The boat parade is a lot of fun.
“And we’re expecting great weather,” Woods added. “It does really bring back a lot of people that used to live here. They love to come back, see their old home.”
The schedule of events on Saturday, Aug. 23, and Sunday, Aug. 24, includes:
Saturday
- A Guild Cafe from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., offering coffee and muffins downstairs in Town Hall.
- Open mic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the town common.
- The Fire Department’s cookout at around noon featuring burgers, hot dogs and fries.
- The sixth annual Cemetery Walk, hosted by the Warwick Historical Society, will be held at 3 p.m. Walkers will meet at the Warwick Cemetery sign. The event is an opportunity to learn about late residents, including Frank Witherell, Ralph Witherell, Betty Earle, George Shepardson Sr. and Justus Russell.
- The Trinitarian Congregational Church supper from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The meal will include steamed hot dogs, baked beans, cornbread, coleslaw, brownies and ice cream, and lemonade. Veggie dogs will be available. Meals cost $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 4 to 11, and children ages 3 and under will be admitted for free.
- Briezyjane and the Hurricane will perform at Town Hall at 7 p.m., presented by the Arts Council. The band plays folk, blues, Americana, fiddle tunes and more.
- There will also be a tai chi demonstration provided by Clyde Perkins and a tag sale on the common. It is free to set up a space, though participants must bring their own table.
Sunday
Sunday’s itinerary includes an Old Home Day Beach Party from 2 to 5 p.m. at Moore’s Pond Beach. Activities include:
- A decorated boat parade at 2 p.m.
- A sandcastle contest for adults and children at 3 p.m., with judging at 3:30 p.m.
- Live music by Boys from ’69 from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
- Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and lemonade will be available from 3 to 5 p.m. for $5.
- Swimming.
For more information, visit warwickma.org/moores-pond/old-home-days-2025.