ANDOVER — Andover Olde Home Day is a go for 2021 after being cancelled last year due to COVID-19. Those interested in seeing it happen in 2021 began meeting a few months ago. After considering restrictions and vaccination requirements that were state-wide in January, some participating town groups opted out.

These included the Andover Service Circle, who ordinarily take care of vendors on the common and the Andover Historical Society, host of the annual flower show which takes place in their small building and would not allow for social distancing. Since restrictions have been lifted, the Service Circle members are aiding the committee. So on to Plan B, which includes the following activities for August 6,7, and 8:

Marshall Meisner’s band will provide music on the Common on Friday evening, a long standing tradition. On that night, t-shirts and buttons will be on sale and Service Circle members will be selling chances on their 50-50. A lobster feast will be held at Mills Market from 2-5 p.m. T-shirts and buttons feature a moose on a lawn mower – so get yours early, as they promise to be quite popular.

On Saturday, August 7, festivities will be kicked off with a parade at 10 a.m. The theme for this years event is ”Andover, Home of Motah Speedway” and yes, there will be the ever popular lawn mower races in the afternoon at the Grimaldi Field. The annual Fire Department Chicken Barbecue will happen around noon.

The annual photography contest will take place in the Town Hall. There are two groups of entrants, those ’15 and under’ and those ’16 and older’. Contestants may submit up to 28 photos, 4 in each category. The categories include black and white, portrait, landscape, flowers, birds, animal and unique. They may be submitted at the Town Hall on Wednesday, August 4 and Thursday August 5 from 5-7 p.m., and Friday August 6 from 4-6 p.m.

Other events for Saturday and Sunday are not yet “set in stone”, but should be shortly. As usual, there will be something for everyone to enjoy, so plan to come on up to the head of the Ellis River Valley.