During the third weekend of September, the Hollis community gathers to celebrate their most cherished annual event, Old Home Days.
Old Home Days is Hollis’s oldest and most popular event, drawing attractions from surrounding towns in the area. A flood of people gather at Nichol’s Field and Lawrence Barn, where Old Home Days is hosted every year.
Almost 100 organizations promote themselves over two days through fundraising tents. Food trucks, bands, local police, firemen, sports clubs, student council and other groups make up the whole event and create an exciting market for the Hollis community to invest in.
Old Home Days organization committee Chairman Corinne Beaubien has been head of the committee for six years. As chairman, she believes that what makes Old Home Days so special is its ability to bring Hollis’ community together and maintain that small-town feel. When asked what the most challenging part of organizing the event was, she said, “making sure that all youth and community organizations that wish to participate are able to be represented in the best way possible.”
Her efforts are greatly appreciated, and the event was wonderfully put together this year with attractions and fundraisers covering every part of Nichol’s field. “For most of the youth organizations, it is one of their only fundraisers for the year; for local businesses, it helps to bring awareness to what they are providing and attracts thousands of people to the town for the weekend,” said Beaubien.
Participating in the Class of 2025 and Girls Volleyball fundraising booths, Hollis Brookline High School (HBHS) student body president Maggie Noble was very involved in this year’s Old Home Days. When asked about the importance of the event’s contribution towards clubs and organizations, Noble said, “We have been participating in Old Home Days since I was a freshman. It is a crucial part of the fundraising for the student council.”
Noble is a prominent part of HBHS’s student community, and her work with the booths at this year’s Old Home Days is well-acknowledged. “It really is a time where people come together regardless of age or anything else. I think it’s an amazing event for everyone,” she said.
Bringing the perspective of an excited local and student at HBHS is Anika Carlson ‘25. Carlson was at Old Home Days for many purposes.“Mainly just running booths for different sports teams, but also just going there to hang out with friends and have a good time,” she said.
When asked about how the event benefited the local community, Carlson said, “It just raises awareness for different organizations and different athletic high school and club teams, who put themselves out there.” Carlson had a great time hanging out with friends, running booths and eating food from the various food trucks Old Home Days had to offer.
This year’s Old Home Days was a success, and the Hollis community is already looking forward to the next one.
