LANCASTER, NH — For generations, Colonel Town’s Community Camp has been a place for families to gather, celebrate and make memories. This fall, the Town is inviting the community to come back together at the historic property for Fiddles & Foliage, a free afternoon of live music, local history and conversation on Saturday, October 10, from noon to 3:00 p.m.

Presented with support from Passumpsic Bank, the event comes during a milestone year for the property. In 2026, the community celebrates the 100th anniversary of Colonel Town Recreation’s addition of the camp, making Fiddles & Foliage an opportunity to look back at the camp’s rich history and begin imagining what its next chapter could look like. 

An afternoon of music, memories and fall foliage

The Patrick Ross Band and other local performers will take the stage on the Catamount Arts Mobile Stage, with the beautiful fall landscape providing the backdrop. 

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome. Guests are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket, enjoy the music and explore the camp grounds. 

But the afternoon is about more than music. 

The Town hopes Fiddles & Foliage will bring people back to a place that has been a part of Lancaster life for nearly a century, and give longtime residents an opportunity to share their memories with those who may be discovering the camp for the first time. 

A century of community

The story of the camp began in the 1920s, when Lancaster Town Meeting voters authorized a search for land for a boys’ and girls’ camp. The town eventually purchased the former Forrest Heath Farm, creating a gathering place that would grow over the decades. 

Picnic shelter, grills and playground equipment were added over the years. By 1964, the property welcomed more than 4,000 visitors each summer for school field trips, birthday parties, family reunions, bridal showers and other community events. 

Many local organizations have also helped shape and care for the property, including the John W. Weeks VFW Post 3041, local Boy and Girl Scout troops and the Lancaster Rotary Club. 

“Many groups beyond Colonel Town Recreation have had a hand in the development and upkeep of the Community Camp over the years,” said Jessica Cyr, Lancaster Town Manager. “We know the Community Camp has started to fall off many people’s radar. We want to understand what it means to people today, and what they’d like to see it become. Fiddles & Foliage is really the start of that conversation.”

Help shape the camp’s next chapter

During the event, Town officials and community groups will share photographs and memories from the camp’s past while inviting residents to help shape its future. Anyone who has a story about the camp, old photographs to share or ideas for future programming is encouraged to bring them along. 

“We hope people will come out, enjoy the music and the beautiful fall setting, and maybe remember a time they spent here or create a new memory with their family,” said Cyr. 

Passumpsic Bank is proud to support an event that brings the community together around a place that has been part of Lancaster’s story for generations. 

“As a community bank, we believe some of the most meaningful investments are the ones that bring people together,” said Barbara Hatch, Chief Marketing Officer of Passumpsic Bank. “Colonel Town’s Community Camp has been doing that for nearly 100 years. We’re excited to help Lancaster celebrate its history while coming together to imagine what the next 100 years might look like.”

Event Details

• What: Fiddles & Foliage — free concert and community history event
• When: Saturday, October 10, noon to 3:00 p.m. Grounds open at 11:00 a.m.
• Where: Colonel Town’s Community Camp, 42 Community Camp Rd., Lancaster, NH
• Cost: Free and open to the public
• Featuring: Live music by the Patrick Ross Band and others
• Community Partner: Passumpsic Bank

The Town of Lancaster thanks Passumpsic Bank for its generous support of Fiddles & Foliage and invites residents, former residents, families and visitors to join in celebrating this special place. 

For more information, contact the Town of Lancaster at (603) 788-3391 or townmanager@lancasternh.org, or visit lancasternh.org.

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About Passumpsic Bank

Passumpsic Bank is a mutual, community-focused financial institution headquartered in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Serving individuals, families, and businesses across Northern and Central Vermont and Northern New Hampshire, the Bank provides personal and business banking services designed to help customers grow and achieve their goals. Through its commitment to building trust, empowering growth and enriching the communities it serves, Passumpsic Bank remains deeply rooted in the region and the people who call it home. To learn more, visit www.passumpsicbank.com.