Grand Marshall!

The Gilmanton 4th of July Committee is pleased to announce the Grand Marshall for the 2025 Parade. This year, the Committee has nominated Thomas William Smithers IV

Tom has been a resident of Gilmanton since the age of two after his parents, Elizabeth “Betty” and Tom Smithers III moved their family to Gilmanton. Tom IV has fond memories of growing up in Gilmanton and attending Gilmanton School at the Academy Building. He is a member of the first eighth grade graduating class of the “new” school building. In 1976, Tom married his wife Dodie and two years later they built the log home on “Poverty Corner” where they have lived ever since.

Tom’s Gilmanton pride runs deep. He raised three children in Gilmanton and now enjoys watching his grandchildren grow up in his beloved hometown. Over the years Tom and his family have served many boards and volunteered countless hours for the Town of Gilmanton. His volunteer work includes serving as the Gilmanton Snowmobile Club’s Trailmaster in his younger years, a passion that has carried as he continues to help improve the trails each summer and fall during the “off season”. He also volunteered countless hours improving the playing fields for the youth of Gilmanton. He served as a volunteer coach and volunteered time at the Gilmanton Fourth of July and Labor Day Festivities throughout the years.

It is very difficult to find a time that Tom has not attended a Gilmanton Fourth of July. As a kid, he and his siblings would ride anything that they could in a parade: horse, buggy, truck, race car etc. If you have attended a parade, you have likely seen the TWS convoy of antique trucks. During Covid when the parade could not be held, Tom made sure that those trucks still made it to the Academy building. In December of 2023, Tom had a traumatic brain injury that led to a stroke and heart attack. Tom did not quit, because as he puts it, he “still had things to do.” After two successful brain surgeries and lots of hard work in physical and occupational therapy, Tom was back in the parade with his trucks by July 4, 2024, never skipping a beat.

Tom will have the honor of being in the lead truck of the 2025 parade. Please join us in celebrating Thomas William Smithers IV at the parade, which will start promptly at 10 am on July 4, 2025.

We’re a Go!!

First off, thank you to the taxpayers of Gilmanton for supporting our warrant article for the fireworks this year. We cannot do this without your support! Unfortunately, it was not simple in all areas as the town received another default budget. This will impact what the town can/cannot do. After lots of discussions with the BOS, we were granted approval to use Crystal Lake Park for the fireworks. The events are:

6/28 – Fireworks at Crystal Lake Park – Gates open at 5:30pm

7/4 – Parade at 10am

Don’t forget that we need a Grand Marshall so click here to nominate someone from our community.

Want to help?

Have Questions?

Email the Association at info@gilmanton4th.com