Memorial Day weekend 2023: Things to do in Greater Lansing
Greater Lansing communities are set to honor those who gave their lives in wartime this week as part of Memorial Day remembrances.
The final Monday of May is designated as a day to honor and remember Americans who have given their lives serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
East Lansing's wreath-laying ceremony Wednesday led off remembrances heading into a weekend filled with tributes and parades.
Banks, government offices and some businesses will be closed May 29 for the legal holiday.
Below is information on several the events scheduled for this week and the weekend.
Weekend Celebrations
Friday through Sunday — Memorial Day weekend will get into full swing with the Cristo Rey Fiesta 2023, hosted by the Cristo Rey Catholic Church in Lansing.
The three-day celebration will begin at 5 p.m. Friday and include live music and dance performances until 7 p.m. Sunday. The bands in the fiesta lineup will perform familiar Tejano, Latino, country and mariachi music with a new addition of the regional Mexicana sound.
The festival takes place on the Cristo Rey Church grounds, 201 W. Miller Road, and includes vendors and authentic Mexican food such as street tacos, pozole and pambazos. The event will offer activities for children and families. Each day will have a special guest sing the national anthem and a memorial ceremony will take place Sunday. For more information, visit the Cristo Rey Fiesta website.
Friday through Monday — Dansville will celebrate Memorial Day all weekend.
Each evening will feature live entertainment at the Nickel Tent. Saturday will be Kids Day with events such as a bicycle parade, theater performances at the village hall, a kids' cornhole contest and more.
The community will host a complimentary breakfast for veterans from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday at the Wooden Nickel II restaurant, 1029 Jackson Street.
The Big Foot Challenge 5k and Memorial Day parade will take place Monday, in addition to several more activities. Visit the Village of Dansville Facebook page for more information.
Monday
Leslie: The Memorial Day parade will take place at 10 a.m. along Woodworth Street.
Fowlerville: The village will honor veterans in a new way this year, hosting a Memorial Day service at 10:30 a.m. at Greenwood Cemetery, 4350 Cemetery Road. Veterans will place a wreath at the cemetery, and the Fowlerville High School band will perform.
Meridian Township: A Memorial Day tribute will take place at 11 a.m. at the Glendale Cemeter, 2500 Mt. Hope Road. The Meridian Community Band will perform a musical tribute and Boy Scouts troops 164G and 125 will lead the color guard. A special presentation will be provided by local pastor Trevor Sutton and Army veteran Dennis Carpenter. For more information, visit the Meridian Township website.
Dimondale: A parade will start at 11 a.m. at the parking lot of Carl's Supermarket, 142 East Road, and end with a brief ceremony at the Dimondale Cemetery, 5520 N. Canal Road.
Delhi Township: The Holt Memorial Day parade will take place at 2 p.m., beginning at Legg Lumber, 4000 Holt Road, and heading toward the Delhi Veterans Memorial Gardens, 2074 N. Aurelius Road.
Eaton Rapids: The annual Eaton Rapids Memorial Day parade will start at 11 a.m. Monday.
Mason: American Legion Post 148 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7309 will host a name-reading ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in downtown, at the corner of Ash and Jefferson streets, to remember those from Ingham County who gave their lives in wartime. The ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. The parade lines up at Bond Park, at the corner of Columbia and Rogers streets, and steps off at 9 a.m. The parade will end with another ceremony at Maple Grove Cemetery, 213 N. Jefferson St.
Tuesday
St Johns: The St. Johns Memorial Day parade will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Flags will be placed at the Mount Rest Cemetery, 701 E. Steel St., on Monday and Tuesday.
Did we miss anything? How are you planning to celebrate Memorial Day in Greater Lansing? Share your thoughts by emailing LSJ-EAs@lsj.com.
Jack Moreland is a news assistant at the Lansing State Journal. Contact him at jmoreland@lsj.com or 517.267.0479.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Memorial Day 2023: Things to do in Greater Lansing
