Memorial Day Celebrations and Parades
It’s Memorial Day weekend, and in the Greater Boston area that means somewhere within driving (or walking distance) you can watch a parade. No matter your age, it is almost impossible not to get caught up in the excitement of marching bands, colorful floats, local youth groups throwing candy, waving dignitaries and ear-shattering, siren blowing fire trucks! Whether it is a tiny town parade or a mile-long parade, New Englanders just LOVE a parade.
So grab your lawn chair and flag and head to one of these local parades in a town near you!
Bedford, MA
Bedford celebrates Memorial Day in a BIG way! The activities start at 8:00 am on Monday, May 29th at the American Legion (357 Great Rd, Bedford) with a talk from Don Corey from the Bedford Historical Society, a visit to Shawsheen Cemetery and then a walk to the Shawsheen River to honor our navy veterans.
Join other residents at the Old Burying Ground at 10:00 am for a ceremony and roll call honoring Revolutionary War veterans followed by the “Amazing Grace” musket shots and TAPS.
At 10:45 am there will be a tribute at the BHS Fallen Veterans Memorial Plaza and then at 11:00 am, the highlight of the day, the Memorial Day Parade. The parade starts at the high school, then moves up Mudge Way, along Great Road (yep, right by Suzanne & Company’s office), stopping on the Town Common and then on to Veterans Memorial Park where the BHS Band will play “God Bless America” and you can hear words from a variety of speakers including the winner of the Memorial Day Essay contest and the placement of poppies on the memorial.
Cambridge, MA
Cambridge will be celebrating Memorial Day with a cannon salute at 9:30 am on the Cambridge Common and parade through Harvard Square up Mount Auburn Street to the Cambridge Cemetery on Coolidge Avenue.
Chelmsford, MA
This year’s Memorial Day Parade will take place in North Chelmsford starting at 10:00 am. The route starts at American Legion near Freeman Lake and moves down Groton Road to Vinal Square. Local bands including the Chelmsford High School Marching Band, McCarthy and Parker Middle school bands will all perform at this traditional Memorial Day parade. Expect to see local dignitaries, Gold Star Mothers, youth groups and emergency vehicles blaring their sirens.
Concord, MA
Don't miss Concord's Memorial Day celebration. The day begins at 8:30 am at Rideout Field on Laws Brook Rd. at 8:30 AM and proceeds to Kenneth Dunn Square for the flag raising and brief ceremony at 9:00 AM. At 11:00 am the celebration continues with a traditional Memorial Day parade at Keyes Road and proceeds to Monument Square for a brief ceremony and the reading of the Roll of Honor.
Lexington, MA
While infamous for their Patriots Day celebrations, the historically spirited town of Lexington celebrates Memorial Day with several wreath laying ceremonies and a parade!
The Memorial Day Parade steps off from the Lexington Police Station at 10:00 am, it stops at Munroe Cemetery to honor Civil War veterans and then up Massachusetts Avenue to Battle Green. The parade makes several stops along the route including Munroe Cemetery, the Lexington Police Memorial, the Korean and Vietnam War Veterans Memorial, WWII Veterans Memorial, All Soldiers Memorial, Old Burying Ground/Captain John Parker Monument and culminates at approximately 11:20 for a special Memorial Day Ceremony on the Green.
The celebration is not far from one of our newest listings, a beautiful Gambrel home located at 2045 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington MA.
PARADE CANCELED!
Westford has a variety of events planned to celebrate Memorial Day. There will be a special Memorial Day service on Saturday, May 28th at St. Catherine’s Church at 107 North Main Street in Westford. The service will begin at 4:00 pm.
On Sunday, townspeople are encouraged to attend one of the many wreath laying services and honor roll calls at one of the war memorials that dot this historic town.
Freedom Park/Forge Village 9:15 am
Graniteville Monument/North Main Street 9:45 am
Nab Lake (Byrne Ave Dam) 10:45 and then on to Oak Hill Road/Jo-Jo Lane 10:45 am
On Monday, the town comes to life with bands, floats and local groups as they march from Roudenbush with stops at the Spanish American/WWI Monument, the WWII and Civil War Monuments, the Korean/Vietnam/Gulf Monument, past one of our favorite historical listings at 33 Main Street, past the Fletcher Library and ending at Westford Common.
Sudbury, MA
Sudbury has many activities to honor veterans of all wars that involved Sudbury residents, going as far back as King Philip’s War in 1676. The day’s activities begin at 7:30 am with a Revolutionary War Tribute at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The parade begins at 9:30 am at Rugged Bear Plaza where local youth groups will join veterans and members of the American Legion, the Sudbury Fife and Drum Company and the Sudbury Minuteman as they march to Grinnell/Veterans Park for a special Memorial Day program.
Enjoy the unofficial start of summer at one of these great local Memorial Day parades.