NEWBURYPORT — Following the opening weekend of the 69th annual Yankee Homecoming, organizers shared how happy they were with the kickoff to weeklong festivities that saw them raise enough funds for this year’s fireworks show.
“A rousing success,” Yankee Homecoming Chair Carole Appleton said.
Yankee Homecoming began Saturday and is set to last through Sunday, with a theme of “Home Sweet Home.”
The fun got started Saturday with the Kickoff Party, which replaced BrewFest as a more family friendly alternative way to gather the community together while also raising funds for the fireworks show, set for this Saturday.
Held from 5 to 9 p.m. at Cashman Park, Appleton said they had a great turnout for the event.
“We had over 700 people, I don’t know the exact number, but it was definitely a great walk-up and presale,” Appleton said. “And it was the right move to turn it into a kickoff party for the whole family.”
From kids to adults, she said there was something for everyone.
“There was this huge bounce house we had for the kids, so they were occupied,” Appleton said. “You had the professional cornhole tournament going on and you had vendors, food and drink, mocktails, and people were playing cornhole on their own. Everybody really stayed the whole time.”
Yankee Homecoming President Jen LaCroix praised the new family friendly event.
“The weather was great, and people just had so much fun,” LaCroix said.
In terms of the fireworks, she said while she was nervous heading into the event waiting for last-minute ticket purchases, they wound up raising enough.
“The last couple of years we’ve cut back a little bit, but this year we’re definitely adding on a little bit more,” LaCroix said. “So whereas in the past you might have noticed a few more breaks in between the shots going off, this year we won’t have that, and it’ll probably be at least another 5 to 10 minutes longer.”
Part of the reason for the increased show was a $10,000 donation from Mark Audette, who owns Giuseppe’s restaurant on Low Street and The Deck in Salisbury. He made the donation in June with the intention that it would support a $30,000 show.
“I am happy to say that we did raise enough money that our fireworks are going to go off as planned,” LaCroix said.
On Sunday, the weather continued to cooperate as folks came out to enjoy Olde Fashioned Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Bartlet Mall, with Appleton highlighting the car show in particular.
“For Olde Fashioned Sunday, the car show was great,” Appleton said. “We had cars lined up on Pond Street, on both sides. It was the best one we’ve had in a while.”
She said a couple of the cars that stood out to her were a stretched white Rolls Royce and a Porsche Triumph.
“They had some really phenomenal cars,” Appleton said. “And a couple of the guys are actually going to be in our parade, so that’ll be nice.”
The parade is set for Sunday.
She said she really appreciates everyone who has been attending and volunteering at Yankee Homecoming.
“I was just telling everyone last night, thank you for coming out,” Appleton said. “We want to put this on for everyone and just really appreciate the participation.”
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.