Water Over the Dam Days set for this weekend in Nashua

By Bob Fenske, editor@nhtrib.com

As Nashua’s Water Over the Dam Days get closer, coordinator Tori Ulrichs knows she’ll be losing sleep making sure everything is ready to go.

“Seriously, I get nervous every year,” Ulrichs said. “It’s a huge weekend for Nashua, and I want it to go well so I worry. I over-worry, my boys tell me, but that’s just me.”

The annual celebration kicks off its four-day run on Thursday, and if the past is any indication, all the work by Ulrichs and the other members of her family will pay off.

Say this about Nashua; it knows how to throw a “dam fine party.”

This year’s Water Over the Dam Days (WODD) format remains much the same as past years.

Activities will begin Wednesday with “Music on Main” from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Vanessa Ellsbury and Chad Elliott with his band The Redemptions will provide the music.

WODD officially begins Thursday with family fun night. The Bradford Eager Beavers 4-H club will put on a fundraising meal, Scratch Cupcakery will be in town, the “Superhero Costume Contest” winner will be announced and royalty will be crowned.

“That Thursday night has been a huge hit,” Ulrichs said, “and I think some of it is that for the most part it is free, save for the fundraising mea. Let’s face it, it can get a little more spendy at the park over the weekend, so it’s nice to have a night of free music and games.”

Friday’s park activities kick off at 6 p.m. with the “Dam Mud Run.” The Farmer’s Daughters Band will take the main stage at 8 .m.

“We heard about them kind of word of mouth and that’s what we really like,” she said. “Someone came back from Minnesota and said, ‘Man, they’re really good.’ It’s nice to have something new.”

But Ulrichs knows not to mess with a good thing, and that’s why Endless Summer will perform Saturday afternoon and the Standing Hampton Band will take the stage Saturday evening.

“I think (Endless Summer) wants to retire, but we won’t let them,” she said. “Seriously, if we didn’t bring them back, we’d probably have a riot.”

Saturday’s parade, with the theme “Superheroes! Protect This Dam Town” and led by Grand Marshals Craig and Howard Campbell, will begin at 10:30 a.m., and there are a host of activities set for the park that afternoon and evening, including a performance by the Waterhawks Ski Team at 6:30 p.m. and the band “Standing Hampton.”

Schedule highlights include:

Thursday

5-7:30 p.m. – Family games and activities.

5-7 p.m. – Bradford Eager Beavers Fundraiser Meal.

6 p.m. – Superhero costume winners and prince and princess contest.

6:30 p.m. – 2018 WODD Queen Contest.

Friday

9 a.m. – Four-Person Best Shot Golf Tournament.

Noon – Vendors open.

5-8 p.m. – St. John’s United Church of Christ fundraiser meal (beverage tent area).

5 p.m.-midnight – Beverage tent open.

6 p.m. – The Dam Mud Run.

8 p.m. – Nub’s Catfish Tournament; register at Nub’s Bait and Tackle Shop.

​8 p.m.-midnight – The Farmer’s Daughters Band.

Saturday

7:30 a.m. – Alex Potratz Memorial 5K Run/Walk.

7:30-9 a.m. – Chamber of Commerce breakfast at Cedar View Park.

10:30 a.m. – Parade, theme “Superheros! Protect This Dam Town!”; grand marshals Craig and Howard Campbell.

Noon – Women of Today fundraiser meal in beverage tent area, Nashua Fire Department 3rd Annual Car Show on Main St., vendors open and other activities through the afternoon.

12:30-4:30 p.m. – Endless Summer band.

4:30-7 p.m. – Lion’s Club fish fry in beverage tent area.

5 p.m.-midnight – Beverage tent open.

6:30 p.m. – Waterhawks Ski Show.

​8 p.m.-midnight – Standing Hampton band.

10 p.m. – Fireworks.

Sunday

9 a.m. – Community church service in Cedar View Park.

​9 a.m.-noon – Breakfast at Nashua United Methodist Church.