The Ellington Town Picnic begins at 6 p.m. Friday and runs through noon Sunday. Events include live music, a chicken barbecue, baby show, petting zoo, parade and fireworks display, among others.

Arriving by horse and buggy and with a dish to pass, members of the Ellington community gathered for the first official picnic in 1905. Out of respect for the servicemen and women, picnics were not held during the years the United States was involved in wars.

“It hasn’t been consecutive because they didn’t have one during the war years and also, of course, during COVID,” said Mat Pickup, president of the Ellington Town Picnic Association.

“We’ve had a few years without it, but it is the longest running town picnic in the United States.”

The Ellington Town Picnic is considered the longest running town picnic in the United States and brings families back to the area every year.

What was once a mid-afternoon picnic has turned into a three-day event while keeping the importance of community at the forefront.

Most events will take place in the town park and fire hall. On Friday, there will be music by Casey Cannon Willis along with music from the “Happy Days” band. Most of the events occur on Saturday, starting with the baby show at 10 a.m. that includes babies ranging from newborns to 18 months old. There will also be a pet show, woodcutting contest, more music and a bounce house.

Pickup said the picnic is an important event for the town because it brings the community together.

“If I had to sum it up in one word, it would be family,” Pickup said. “So many families plan their vacations around this weekend and they come back to town to be with their family. The entire weekend is free except for the contests. There’s no charge for the music or shows, and there are plenty of kid activities. It’s very family friendly.”

Another part of the picnic tradition that Pickup said people always look forward to is that of the smorgasbord at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at the fire hall.

“It’s all homemade dishes,” Pickup said. “It’s $4 for adults and $5 for children. And it’s right before the parade at 6 p.m., so people can just bring their chairs outside and watch the parade after because it goes right past the fire hall.”

Pickup added that Rainbow the Clown will also be around during the weekend, doing face painting for the kids. He also asked that everyone bring a chair along and if families want to stay for the night activities, he advised them to also bring a sweatshirt.

Sunday wraps up the weekend with morning church services and a mini tractor pull at the town ballfield put on by Southern Tier Mini Tractor Pullers.

A complete list of events can be found on the Ellington Town Picnic Facebook page.