ROCKINGHAM, Vt. – Rockingham Old Home Days 2025 has officially come to a close, and what a celebration it was. Held Aug. 2, the 48th annual event brought together families, neighbors, and visitors for a full day of vibrant activities, exciting contests, incredible local talent, and a strong sense of community pride in the heart of Bellows Falls.
From the bustling Main Street to the rocking Waypoint Center, attendees were treated to live music from local favorites Milkhouse Heaters, Intercept, and MV19; battling knights in armor; strolling circus performers; and numerous food and craft vendors who filled the air with delicious aromas and creative artistry. A dazzling fireworks display over the Connecticut River was the grand finale of the festivities on Saturday night.
This year marked the inaugural Athens Pizza Hoops Contest, where young sharpshooters took center stage. We’re thrilled to announce our winners. Brady, 9, and Xander, 11, both wowed the crowd by sinking 10 out of 10 shots in their age divisions, and each took home a brand-new HP laptop.
Runners-up Scout (under 10s) and Max (11 and up) hit nine shots each and earned AirPods for their stellar performance.
Third place winners Marcel (under 10s), and a tie between Kaitlin and Riley (11 and up), each received an Athens Pizza gift certificate and an Athens Pizza T-shirt. Huge thanks to Athens Pizza for sponsoring this exciting new tradition.
We also introduced the People’s Choice Awards, where festivalgoers voted for their favorite experiences, and the results are in.
2025 People’s Choice Award Winners: Best Food Vendor, Bumble’s Birria, for bold, unforgettable flavor that had lines all day; Best Craft Vendor, Bob Patterson Woodworking, whose gorgeous handcrafted creations were true crowd-pleasers; and Best Activity, Parks Place Dunk Tank, where the community came together to make a splash for a good cause.
A heartfelt thank-you to all our incredible vendors for making Rockingham Old Home Days 2025 one to remember.
And congratulations to Benjamin Hewitt, winner of the 2025 Exit Survey Raffle Basket, filled with generous donations from Dari Joy, Donovan’s Bellows Falls, Jim’s Arcade, Village Square Booksellers, The Rock and Hammer, Flat Iron Cooperative, The Little Art Supply Store, Bellows Beats, and Vermont Vines.
We encourage everyone to support all the amazing local businesses that help make this event so special. None of this would be possible without the support of our incredible sponsors. Thank you to Best Septic, Bellows Falls Moose Lodge, Great River Hydro, Athens Pizza, Springfield Hospital, James Plumbing and Heating, Halladay’s Harvest Barn, WOOL FM, FACT TV, 802 Credit Union, The Vermont Journal, Springfield Area Parent Child Center, and Berkley & Veller. Your commitment to community shines bright each year.
Festival attendees overwhelmingly praised Rockingham Old Home Days, with 99% of respondents saying that they would recommend it to a friend, and a 4.2 rating out of 5 stars. Highlights included the delicious food, live music, family-friendly activities like bounce houses and games, and the sense of community spirit and togetherness that filled the day. Many also appreciated the fireworks finale as a standout moment. Suggestions for improvement included more ongoing activities for kids, clearer event scheduling, and greater food variety – especially options for different dietary needs. These valuable observations will help shape an even stronger event in 2026.
Lastly, the Great Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce would like to extend a big thank-you to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, and participated in Rockingham Old Home Days 2025. Your presence and feedback help us grow and improve every year. We’re already looking forward to our 50th annual celebration in 2026.
Stay connected with us at www.gfrcc.org for photos, updates, and future events.