Parade, carnival, lots of history: What to know about Boalsburg’s Memorial Day weekend events
Memorial Day weekend begins in earnest Thursday with the annual Boalsburg Fire Company carnival.
The carnival will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. the first night, and visitors can buy a $20 wristband good for unlimited rides. On Friday, the carnival will again be open from 6 to 10 p.m.
The parade will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, rain or shine, and the carnival will be open after the parade until 10 p.m. Lineup for the parade starts at 3 p.m. The parade route leaves Blue Spring Park to head east on Pine Street, turn right on Boal Avenue, turn right on Main Street, head west on Main Street to Wagner Street and return to Blue Spring Park.
Sunday is another wristband day, where a $20 wristband gets the owner unlimited rides between 2 and 6 p.m. The carnival will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Memorial Day.
If you show up hungry, the fire company has you covered. They’ll be selling items including barbecue chicken dinners (except on Sunday), hamburgers, hot dogs, fries and drinks. There will be rides and games, of course, and bingo in the truck room.
The weekend also includes solemn reminders of the meaning of Memorial Day, such as the 5K Walk to Remember Our Fallen in Boalsburg.
A Soldier’s Hands and the Pennsylvania Military Museum are sponsoring this event, which will take place from 8-10 a.m. Saturday at the military museum, rain or shine. Roy Edmundson, of Williamsburg, will be there to mark the anniversary of death of his son, Spc. Chad Edmundson. He was killed in action in Iraq on May 27, 2009.
“It’s a privilege to attend this event. I try to do everything I can to honor his name.” Roy Edmundson said in a press release.
Capt. Mike Majewski, commanding officer of Penn State’s Naval ROTC, will address the crowd. Boy Scout Troop 32 and the Bellefonte VFW will also participate in the event. Representatives of veterans groups will be in attendance to provide information and support.
Sign up for the walk at runsignup.com/Race/PA/Boalsburg/ASoldiersHands. Proceeds benefit A Soldiers Hands, a local nonprofit that sends messages of thanks and care packages to deployed service members.
The military museum will also host a World War II living history encampment from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Additionally, Zion Lutheran Church will hold two Colonial Liturgy services with patriotic hymns Sunday morning.
‘A Day in Town’ schedule of events
Memorial Day events in the village begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday with the Memorial Day Run at Blue Spring Park. “A Day in Town” also includes:
9 a.m.-3 p.m.: baked goods sale outside, a soup sale inside and a quilt raffle at St. John’s Church
9 a.m.-5 p.m.: AACA Car Show at Pennsylvania Military Museum; the museum will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: more than 120 vendors on Church and Main streets
10 a.m.-4 p.m.: live demonstrations at the blacksmith shop, 224 E. Main St.
5:45 p.m.: Walk to the Cemetery
6 p.m.: Cemetery ceremony emceed by Jeff Brown
The stage on the Diamond will feature entertainment throughout the day.
10:30 a.m.: State High Jazz Band
11 a.m.: Judging the pie contest
noon: The Little German Band
12:30 p.m.: Maypole dance by Central PA Dance Workshop
1:30 p.m.: JR Mangan Band with Veronica
3 p.m.: Pure Cane Sugar
Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum
The grounds will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, and food, drink and craft vendors and artisans will be on-site. Chapel tours will be offered at the top of every hour between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and museum Armory tours at the bottom of every hour between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
There will also be horse-drawn carriage rides, a basket raffle at the visitor center, plus face painting and a bounce house for youngsters.
There will be musical performances by the Bellefonte Municipal Band at 10:30 a.m. and JT Thompson & The Denicats at 12:30 p.m.
Boalsburg Heritage Museum
Cakes by Tati and Bees Knees Coffee will be at the Boalsburg Heritage Museum starting at 9 a.m. Monday.
10-11 a.m.: Book signing featuring local authors including Leon Stout, Cathy Horner, Joan Brower, Randolph Thomas, Thomas Range, Lewis Lazerow and Elizabeth Ritter.
11 a.m.: Local group Free Range Band performs
1 p.m.: Fifth graders read essays about “What Memorial Day Means to Me”
2 p.m.: Cardinal Brass Band plays patriotic music
Memorial Day services across Centre County
Memorial Day remembrances will be held across the county this weekend.
Friday
Who: Centre County and Clinton County Veterans Affairs offices
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Sayers Dam
Saturday
Who: Haky/Georgiana Centre County Funeral Home
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Centre County Memorial Park
Details: Rev. Renee Ford, officiating; Tyler Gum, Pennsylvania Military Museum, keynote speaker; State College American Legion Post 245, military honors
Sunday
Who: Bellefonte VFW/Pleasant Gap American Legion
1 p.m., Meyer Cemetery
1:30 p.m., Jewish Cemetery
2 p.m., Zion Cemetery
2:30 p.m., Snydertown Cemetery
2:45 p.m., Hublersburg Cemetery
4 p.m., Jacksonville Cemetery
6 p.m., Lutheran Church, Pleasant Gap
Who: Pine Grove Mills VFW
9:30 a.m., Pine Grove Mills VFW Memorial
9:50 a.m., Tadpole Road Memorial
10:30 a.m., Ross Church
11 a.m., Gatesburg Church
noon, Meeks Church
Who: Port Matilda American Legion
3 p.m., Yeager Cemetery
Monday (Memorial Day)
Who: Bellefonte VFW/Pleasant Gap American Legion
9:45 a.m., Miller/Quaker Cemetery
10 a.m., Catholic Cemetery
11 a.m., Centre County Courthouse
Who: Pine Grove Mills VFW
9 a.m., Pine Grove Mills VFW Memorial
9:30 a.m., Route 45 Revolutionary War Memorial
9:40 a.m., Rock Springs Memorial
10 a.m., Pennsylvania Furnace Cemetery
10:30 a.m., Graysville Cemetery
noon, Pine Grove Mills Upper Cemetery
12:30 p.m., Pine Grove Mills Lower Cemetery
Who: Port Matilda American Legion
9 a.m., Mount Pleasant Cemetery
10 a.m., Presbyterian Cemetery
11 a.m., Memorial Park, followed by luncheon at the legion
