Memorial Day weekend: Here's what's planned in Carlsbad and Eddy County

Mike Smith, Carlsbad Current-Argus
Updated ·2 min read

For nearly 155 years Americans have honored military service people who died during wars through Memorial Day remembrances.

More than 1.3 million Americans died in military conflicts ranging from the Civil War in the 1860’s to today's War on Terror, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Three years after the Civil War ended in 1868 the head of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) an organization of Union Army veterans established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers, the VA reported.

More: City of Carlsbad approves land transfer to State for new veterans' cemetery

Decoration Day ceremonies evolved over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1971 Decoration Day was changed to Memorial Day as Congress declared the last Monday in May as the national holiday, per the VA.

Here is a look at how Memorial Day happenings in Carlsbad.

Concert planned at Carlsbad beach area

At 11 a.m. May 28 at the Carlsbad Beach Bandshell, the “Honor the Fallen” concert will feature Gil Karson and the Karson City Rebels as the headline group.

Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard prepares to fire honorary rounds during the Memorial Day ceremony, May 30, 2022 at Carlsbad Veterans Memorial Park.
Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard prepares to fire honorary rounds during the Memorial Day ceremony, May 30, 2022 at Carlsbad Veterans Memorial Park.

Karson, a California native, has opened for iconic rock groups like the Byrds, Jefferson Airplane and Steppenwolf, read his band’s website.

Beer Cousins and the Groove are scheduled to perform during the free concert.

Parade and ceremony honors fallen Carlsbad service members

At 9 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 29, the parade starts at Mesa and Church streets and concludes at the Carlsbad Cemetery. A brief ceremony is set to take place in front of the Adan Rodriguez Honor Guard building.

Line up for the parade begins at 8 a.m.

Along with the concert, parade and remembrance ceremony the City of Carlsbad’s Water Park opens for the warmer months May 27.

More: Planning begins for Memorial Day celebrations in Carlsbad

The park opened in 2016 and operates Memorial Day through late September, read the City of Carlsbad website.

Offices closed

City of Carlsbad offices will be closed Memorial Day along with Eddy County offices.

City of Carlsbad Spokesperson Kyle Marksteiner said trash pickup will have a normal schedule on Memorial Day in the city limits.

Federal offices are also closed, including the U.S. Postal Service along with banks on Memorial Day.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad honors war dead with concert parade, remembrance services