A scene from a previous performance at Smith’s Marketplace. The popular community band will be back at the grocery store at 5 p.m. Friday as part of its 25th anniversary pub crawl. Post file photo

COMMUNITY News:

The Hillstompers are celebrating their 25th anniversary and will host a pub crawl starting at 5 p.m. Friday, at Smith’s Marketplace, before heading over to Bathtub Row Brewing at 6:30 p.m. to open for Igor and the Red Elvises. Afterward, the HIllstompers will hit the streets to continue to provide live music.

In honor of the anniversary, one of the members wrote the following poem:

Anniversary Waltz

But hark! What sound through yonder window quakes?
Be it thunder or only musicians, taking breaks?
It’s a parade, with high school and community bands,
A whole community in the stands.
One such group is called Hill Stompers,
Playing for benefits, playing for chompers.
Holiday Lights are in their plans,
With no presumption intended, fans.
The Stompers celebrate, this week,
A twenty-five-year winning streak.
Jeff and Kandice Favorite’s deed
To emulate the Seed & Feed.
Twirler and dancers for the dangerous stuff
(With stunt doubles if the going gets rough).
Thirty-nine musicians and a cowbell player;
Drummer/conductor sometimes in prayer.
Friday night, from Smith’s to the Tub
They’ll crawl to join an upbeat club.
DK, from Santa Fe, and the Red Elvises are the stars,
But the Stompers will be happy to contribute 12 bars.
Trumpeting marches for community rites,
Jingling bells ‘mid the holiday lights.
Downbeats and sound bites and all that jive,
Still making music at age twenty-five.
— write for the occasion by a drooping member