The Fourth of July Jamboree

Celebrate American Independence with Us!

The Jamboree is Back!

Please join us on the East Woodstock Common for our 67th annual Fourth of July Jamboree. 

The Jamboree is a much-anticipated community event and the biggest fundraiser for the East Woodstock Congregational Church.

Our Jamboree is an old-fashioned celebration of our country’s birth.  Activities include hay rides, a cake walk, frog jumping contest, Attic Treasures and book sales, pipe organ sing-a-long, parade and so much more!  Stay tuned for a Schedule of Events.

Years We've Hosted the Jamboree

Hours of Activies

%

Amount of Fun

The Fourth of July Jamboree has been held on East Woodstock Common since July 4, 1957.

This old-fashioned celebration reminds us of a simpler time. So come with us and step back in time as we celebrate the brave people who have gone before us.

The public is invited to come and enjoy live entertainment, children’s games, contests, food, and much more. The Jamboree is a major fundraiser for the church; all the money raised supports our programs of Christian education, music, and community outreach.

It all began in 1957 with the Village Circle. This group was made up of working people who could meet in the evenings. The members were divided into 4 groups; each group was responsible for a seasonal fundraiser. The Jamboree was to be the summer fundraiser for 1957 and was started by Barbara Barrett, Nancy Lyons and Betty Wells. They decided to hold a Chicken BBQ with a few booths, including a craft table, on July 4th. The money raised was given to the church to use as the congregation saw fit. It was initially supposed to be a one-time event!

The conditions were quite different from today – Fellowship Hall had not yet been built and the church had no running water, so a hose was run from a neighboring house to the brick schoolhouse building. Various homes around the common were opened so people could use the bathrooms.  The Jamboree was such a huge success, that it became an annual event which has grown and evolved over the years into our biggest and most well attended fundraiser. Hundreds of people from local communities attend each year to enjoy a good old-fashioned 4th of July.

Volunteers Needed!

Our Jamboree relies on many volunteers to run smoothly.  Please consider volunteering your time and talents before, during or after the Jamboree.  Even an hour helps!  There is a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall or you can contact any committee member. Thank you!!

NEW ATTIC TREASURES DONATION POLICIES

We welcome your clean and gently used items for the Jamboree’s Attic Treasures sale. In response to today’s times, we kindly request your understanding about our new donation policies:
• We are not accepting any drop off donations. No exceptions.
• We will review all donations for salability.
• There are certain items we will no longer sell. Please see the list of excluded items posted outside Fellowship Hall.
• Donations will be accepted only during the following attended days and hours outside of Fellowship Hall:
o Sunday: June 11, June 18, June 25: 2 PM – 4 PM
o Tuesday: June 13, June 20, June 27: 10 AM – 2 PM
o Thursday: June 15, June 22, June 29: 10 AM – 2 PM
o Friday: June 16, June 23, June 30: 10 AM – 2 PM
o Saturday: June 17, July 1: 10 AM – 2 PM

Note:  no donations will be accepted on June 24 due to a memorial reception in Fellowship Hall.
• Thank you in advance for your support. See you on July 4th!

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Food Concessions

We invite you to enjoy your lunch under our dining tent! 

  • 9:00 am Coffee & Baked Goods
  • Hot Dogs & Sausages
  • Pulled Pork & Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
  • Walking Tacos
  • Strawberry Shortcake
  • Snow Cones
  • We-Li-Kit Homemade Ice Cream
  • Water, Lemonade

Special Activities

  • Commemorative Totes for sale!
  • Attic Treasures in Fellowship Hall
  • Book Sale
  • Silent Auction
    Musical Entertainment
  • Patriotic Dedication
  • Fireman’s Water Polo
  • Cake Walk

Entertainment & Games

  • Parade
  • Hay Rides
  • Children’s Games
  • Bounce House
  • Bella the Clown
  • Corn Hole Game

Organizations Supported

The money you spend at the Jamboree helps to support those in need in our local communities and globally and enables us to share the Good News of our loving God. Here are a few of the programs which our church supports:

  • Bible Study
  • Center of Hope
  • Choirs
  • Community Kitchens of NE CT
  • Covenant to Care through DCF
  • TEEG (Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group)
  • Day Kimball Hospital Homemakers
  • Emergency Relief
  • First Friday Food Fair
  • Gender & Sexualities Alliance (Woodstock Academy)
  • Heifer International
  • Holiday dinners (Thanksgiving, Christmas)
  • Holy Joe’s Café 
  • Hospital & Nursing Home Visitation
  • Meeting space for Al-anon & MOMs
  • Prayer Shawl Ministry
  • Quiet Corner Cares (sober house)
  • Scholarships (summer camps & college)
  • Vacation Bible School
  • World Vision
  • Woodstock Cares Food Program

Order of the Day 

9:00 Coffee and Baked Goods
9:00 Attic Treasures & Book Sale open!
10:00 Patriotic Dedication                                 Ringing of the Church Bells                    National Anthem 
10:00 – 3:00 Children’s Games & Bella the Clown     
10:15 – 11:15 Music by Sarah Jo Burke        
11:15 – 12:15 Music by the East Woodstock Cornet Band
12:15 – 1:00 Music by Glenn Boies
1:00 Parade with Emcee Rev. Dr. Sue Foster
1:15 – 2:00 Music by Stattic
2:00 Firemen’s Water Polo                       Muddy Brook Fire Department                 Bungay Fire Brigade
Woodstock Volunteer Fire Association
2:00 – 2:45 Music by Rick & Abby LaMarre
2:45 – 3:00 Patriotic Sing-a-Long with Rick & Abby LaMarre
3:30 Cake Walk with music courtesy of Rich Gaudette, R&R Sound
4:00 Flag Ceremony 

Come Join Us!

Fourth of July Jamboree!