08/21/2026
We’ve spent a lot of this summer surrounded by paint, pool noodles, signs, tie-dye supplies, ridiculous ideas, and more “Do you think this will work?” conversations than we could possibly count.
And then, somehow, all of those little pieces turned into the very first **Grafton Games.**
From the Riddle Hill Homestead side of things, this was so much more than showing up with a tent on Saturday. We got to help dream it up, build it, test some very questionable ideas, make signs, haul supplies, set up the field, tie-dye shirts, cheer on racers, clean everything back up again, and watch something that had existed mostly in our heads suddenly become real.
And the best part?
**The kids actually came and played.**
We had **28 little racers** take on the course, and we estimate around **60 people joined us for our inaugural event.** Together, we also raised **$140 for the Grafton Recreation Committee.**
They crawled through webs of string. Climbed through tires. Duck-walked, hopped, limboed, bounced, squeezed, splashed, slid, threw things at targets, met giant bears and bees and foxes, earned medals, got their faces painted, tie-dyed shirts...
…and then we covered two Selectmen in Silly String.
Because apparently that is what civic engagement looks like in Grafton now. 😂
Was every single thing perfect? Of course not. It was the first time any of us had ever built the Grafton Games. We learned a LOT about what worked, what needs tweaking, and just how important planning and communication are when a whole bunch of small businesses are combining their ideas into one giant event.
But when we look at these photos, what we see are kids laughing, adults helping little racers through obstacles, neighbors talking, businesses working side by side, and a field full of things that simply did not exist until people decided to make them happen.
That feels pretty darn successful to us.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who raced, volunteered, donated, built, hauled, painted, filled buckets, manned obstacles, helped a kid who needed a hand, stayed to clean up, or simply came out to see what on earth we had gotten ourselves into.
The first Grafton Games are officially in the books.
And judging by these photos, this one might just make the list of our best days. ❤️
📷 Professional photos by All Hours Photography
