Homecoming shows town pride

By Kathy Sciacca

Staff Writer

Kathy Heywood loves her hometown. And, this year, as chairman of 47th annual Yankee Homecoming, she gets to share that love with the entire city.

“This is a great place to live. So many people come to live here,” said Heywood.

This is a bit of transition year for Homecoming, which will take place from July 31 through Aug. 8.

“We have lost a lot of our volunteers from past years,” she said

To build the event back up, Heywood is counting on a growing legion of volunteers who are acting as chairmen for the many varied events, from the waterfront musical events to the giant parade which will mark the end of Homecoming days.

Heywood is a native of Newburyport and is now raising her own family in the town she loves. She is also a music teacher.

Throughout her life, she has either worked at or attended all the Homecoming Days events.

For the past three years, she was in charge of the waterfront music stage.

One of this year’s new events is a reenactment of the funeral of Lord Timothy Dexter, who died 200 years ago. His philanthropy is legendary in town. “We have an actor who will appear as Lord Timothy at all our events,” she said. That man is Paul Jancewicz of Amesbury.

At one point, Lord Timothy staged his own mock funeral to see how the living would react to his death. He watched the procession from upstairs of his home and story has it, he was displeased by his wife’s apparent lack of grief.

Other actors and volunteers will join in as the funeral procession makes its way from Market Square.

Also new to Homecoming Days this year is a juried craft show, which will feature talented artists selling their wares in Market Square.

The service clubs are also getting in on the fun. The Lions Club will once again host both a 10 mile and a 5 kilometer road race. “It is a big fundraiser for them. Last year, they raised $25,000,” Heywood said.

Rotary Club will be serving up chicken barbeque. The Elks Club will be cooking up an Italian Night and Kiwanis will again be offering a pancake breakfast.

The whole event wraps up with the giant parade on Sunday, Aug. 8 at 12:30 p.m., complete with floats and marching bands. The parade steps off from High Street, beginning at Three Roads. Float judging starts at 10 a.m. in DeMoulas parking lot.

Of course, another highlight is the fireworks on Aug. 7, which will feature the music of the Air Force Liberty Band on the Waterfront Stage.

Homecoming is the oldest continuous civic celebration in Massachusetts, and many Newburyport natives who have moved away arrange their vacation time so they can be back in town for the fun.

The celebration began in 1958 as a way to inject a little spark into the moribund economy of Newburyport.. The event is known for offering continuous entertainment and food all day in Market Square, the heart of Newburyport’s downtown, and free waterfront concerts every night in Market Landing Park overlooking the Merrimack River.

Each day of the festival has a theme or major signature event, but there are also lots of smaller events, each with their own loyal following. Admission to many of the events is free.

For more information, visit www.yankeehomecoming.com.

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