0
0
In North Central Mass and looking for a way to honor veterans this Memorial Day? If so, here’s a complete list of all the parades and observances taking place in the area:
Ashburnham
Ashburnham’s parade kicks off Monday, May 29, at 8:45 a.m. at the Meetinghouse Hill Common. The full itinerary can be found here.
From 1-3 p.m., the Ashburnham American Legion, Thomas P. Sweeney Post #142 is hosting a Memorial Day Chicken BBQ at their headquarters on 132 Williams Road. For more information go to their Facebook event page here.
Ashby
Ashby’s Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 29, 2023, at 2 p.m. For more, here’s a link to the town’s website.
Athol
According to the Greenfield Recorder, Athol will be hosting a Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29, at approximately 10 a.m. The parade will start on Silver Lake Street and end at Crescent Street. The parade will take place after flag raising and wreath laying ceremonies, that take place in the following order: at 8:45 a.m. there will be a ceremony at VVA Park on Starrett Avenue; at 9 a.m., there will be a ceremony at Phillips Park; at 9:15 a.m. there will be a ceremony at VFW Park; at 9:45 a.m. the parade participants will assemble around the flagpole at the Silver Lake Cemetery; at 10 a.m., a final ceremony will be held at Silver Lake Ceremony, which includes a wreath laying by American Legion Auxiliary members followed by a performance of taps by the Athol Middle & High School band and a salute to the flag.
If there’s inclement weather tomorrow, the parade will be cancelled and the ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. will take place inside Memorial Hall.
Ayer
The American Legion Post 139 in Ayer held the Annual Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, May 27, 2023.
Clinton
According to the town clerk, the parade starts after the ceremony, which takes place at Central Park at 9:00 a.m.
The parade begins on Union Street and then head down High Street and Water Street, it finishes at St. John’s Cemetery and stops at the Woodlawn Cemetery along the way.
Fitchburg
On Sunday, May 28, at 10 a.m., the Fitchburg Veterans Council hosted a service at Saint Anthony’s Church, followed by brunch. At 6 p.m. a White Cross Ceremony will be held at Monument Park.
On Monday, May 29, 2023, an opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at 7:45 a.m. at Monument Park.
At 8 a.m., a flag raising ceremony will be held at the Eastwood Monument, (located at the intersection of Townsend & Pearl Street).
Following the flag raising ceremony, there will be visitations to cemeteries and monuments in the city until 10 a.m. and an official ceremony at the gazebo on the Upper Common.
According to allevents.in, during the visits, the mayor “usually says some words, taps are played,” and then they continue to the next location:
Cemetery & Monument Visit Schedule:
8:45 a.m.: St. Bernard’s Cemetery – 96 Goodrich St
9:00 a.m.: Spanish American War Monument, Moran Square
9:15 a.m.: Laurel Hill Cemetery – 167 Laurel St
9:30 a.m.: Jewish Cemetery – 320 Rollstone Rd
9:45 a.m.: St. Joseph’s Cemetery – 474 Clarendon St
10:00 a.m.: Forest Hill Cemetery – 167 Laurel St
10:30 a.m. Memorial Day Ceremony: it’s usually held at the gazebo on the Upper Common. If there’s inclement weather, the ceremony is usually held at the Fitchburg Armory/Senior Center on Wallace Ave.
Gardner
Gardner’s Memorial Day Parade starts Monday, May 29, at 9:30 a.m. at the American Legion hall on 22 Elm Street. From the legion hall, the marchers will head down Central Street to Monument Park. For more: https://www.gardner-ma.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=5235&month=5&year=2023&day=28&calType=0
Groton
Groton’s Memorial Day Parade kicks off at 9 a.m. from American Legion Post #55, located at 75 Hollis Street. After a wreath laying at the Old Burying Ground, the parade will proceed down School Street, turn left onto Main Street, then pause for a wreath laying at Charles Gordon Square; from there, the parade will turn onto Hollis Street and continue to Veteran’s Common for remarks by state representatives. The parade will then proceed to Groton Cemetery for a Remembrance Ceremony.
Harvard
Harvard’s parade kicks off at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29. For the full itinerary go here.
Hubbardston
On Monday, May 29, 2023, Hubbardston will have a parade that kicks off at 11:15 a.m. at Curtis Recreation Field on Route 68 and heads to the Town Common, where a ceremony will be held at noon.
Lancaster
Lancaster’s Memorial Day program begins at 9 a.m. at the Town Green.
The parade will begin at the Town Green after the program, proceed to North Cemetery for a wreath laying ceremony and taps, then return to the Town Green.
Leominster
According to the Telegram & Gazette, on Monday, May 29, 2023, Leominster will have a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at St. Leo’s Cemetery, another ceremony at St. Cecilia’s Cemetery at 9 a.m., at 9:30 a.m., there will be a ceremony at Johnny Ro Memorial Park, observances will be held at 10 a.m. at Franco American War Veterans Hall and then at 10:30 a.m. at the GAR Lot of the Veterans Cemetery.
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Plot, continue through Pine Grove Cemetery and end at Memorial Circle at Carter Park.
Orange
According to The Greenfield Recorder, on Monday, May 29, 2023, Orange will be having graveside services at Jones Cemetery at 8 a.m. and the North Orange Cemetery at 8:20 a.m. There will be two ceremonies, one at 9 a.m. at Tully Cemetery and another at 11 a.m. at Veterans Park. If you have any questions, call Deb Barber at (978) 939-3396.
Petersham
For Petersham’s Memorial Day official program go here: https://townofpetersham.weebly.com/uploads/2/7/5/3/27531945/memorial_day_2023.pdf
Phillipston
According to The Gardner News, Phillipston held its annual Memorial Day parade Sunday after a ceremony that was held at 9 a.m. on The Common.
Princeton
Princeton’s Memorial Day Parade and observances were held on Sunday, May 28, at 1 p.m. For more: https://www.town.princeton.ma.us/home/news/princeton-memorial-day-parade-observances-will-be-held-sunday-may-28th-1pm
Royalston
Royalston’s Memorial Day observances will take place on Monday, May 29 at 2 p.m. at Royalson On the Common. For more: https://www.royalston-ma.gov/home/events/41851
Shirley
Shirley had it’s Memorial Day Parade on Sunday, May 28. It kicked off at 2 p.m. at the War Memorial Building on Church Street and headed to Whiteley Park for a celebration.
Sterling
Sterling will be holding a Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
According to the town’s website, the parade will begin at the Hillside Cemetery, proceed through the Oak Hill Cemetery, the Chocksett Cemetery, down Maple Street, ending at the Town Common.
The program will be held in the Memorial Area, on Cross Street (behind the Fire Station).
In case of rain, the program will be held in the Parish Hall of the First Church.
Templeton
According to The Gardner News, Templeton will have a Memorial Day parade followed by a ceremony on Monday, May 29. The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Baldwinville Road and ends at Baldwinville Center where the ceremony will take place.
Townsend
Townsend held two Memorial Day parades on the afternoon of Sunday, May 28. For more, go here.
Westminster
Westminster’s Memorial Day Parade kicks off from the Westminster Parade on Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m. For more, go the parade’s event page on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2298668053670227?active_tab=about
Disclaimer: The product links on this page are Amazon Affiliate links. Prices have not been inflated for my benefit, but if you do purchase any of these products, I may receive a commission.
About Author
