Parades, ceremonies, concerts: Things to do for Memorial Day 2023 in North Jersey
Sometimes with all the cookouts, beach weekends and pool parties, we forget the reason for Memorial Day is to honor those in the military who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.
Here is a sampling of local parades and events where you can wave a flag and pay homage to those who died in service of our country.
Bergen County
Allendale
On May 29, the parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. at Myrtle and Pittis avenues. It will proceed through downtown, with a right on DeMercurio Drive, a right on W. Orchard St., and a left on Park Avenue to Memorial Park. The ceremony at the park is at 10:15. There will be hot dogs and refreshments at the Allendale Fire House.
Closter
The USA Patriots Amputee Softball team will play two fundraising charitable games against Closter's First Responders on May 27 at 7:05 p.m. and against the Closter Elks Past and Present players on May 28 at 12:30 p.m. Both games will be held at Closter Memorial Park's George Potterton Little League Field on Harrington Avenue. Prior to the game on May 28, the Closter Lions Club will host a pancake breakfast at the Closter Elks, from 8 to 11 a.m., at 148 Railroad Ave. All proceeds for this event, along with all other events and donations, will be used for the USA Patriots Kids Camp which sponsors LikeBodied children from around the country.
On May 29, the Borough will honor and pay tribute to its and the nation's fallen heroes. The annual parade will kick off at 10 a.m. from Vervalen Street in front of the Closter Plaza and proceed through the center of town to Memorial Park for services. The grand marshal is U.S. Army veteran Jim Gordon, who served in Vietnam. All are invited to watch the parade and attend the ceremony following.
Demarest
The parade will be held on May 29, from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
Dumont
Honor veterans at the annual Memorial Day parade on May 29. The lineup will begin in Dumont on Pershing Street, between Blanche Court and Delaware Avenue, at 8:30 a.m.
Emerson
Join American Legion Post 269 and the Emerson Mayor and Council on May 29 at 9 a.m. for the Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Monument Park, across from Villano School, to honor and remember those members of our Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice. Light refreshments, donated by Dunkin’ and Starbucks, will be served.
Fort Lee
Parade starts at 10 a.m. on May 29 and begins at the Jack Alter Community Center located on Inwood Terrace, then proceeds north on Center Avenue to Main Street, west on Main Street to Anderson Avenue, and south on Anderson Avenue where it ends back at the Jack Alter Community Center. A ceremony will follow at the community center.
Glen Rock
The commemoration on May 29 begins with short opening remarks at the Rock at 10 a.m. then proceeds up Rock Road to the memorial at Borough Hall for the ceremony. Any groups wishing to march should form up on Concord beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Haworth
On May 29 at 8:30 a.m., the parade forms at the Hardenburgh Avenue Firehouse. At 9, the parade marches to Borough Hall for a memorial service. All are invited to the parade and the service. Complimentary hot dogs.
Ho-Ho-Kus
On May 29, the parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. and ceremonies will follow.
Mahwah
The Memorial Day parade and youth sports parade will be on May 29 at 10 a.m.
Montvale, Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake
Beginning at 9 a.m. on May 29, the annual memorial services will be held in all three boroughs. Members of American Legion Post 153, Park Ridge are planning for this event and encourage every one to come out and support our veterans. Mayors will deliver remarks, members of the clergy will participate and several memorial wreathes will be presented. Parade assembly will be at the Montvale Firehouse and will kick off rain or shine at 10:30 a.m., proceed to Kinderkamack Road, transit Park Ridge and conclude in Woodcliff Lake at the firehouse. This year's grand marshal will be Montvale resident Leigh Hopper.
Vice Commander Thomas Madru of Post 153, will be the master of ceremonies at Veterans' Park in Park Ridge. Among those marching will be the elected officials from the three boroughs preceded by the Post 153 color guard. Each town will have their police and fire departments, and the Park Ridge High School and Pascack Hills marching bands will provide music.
Northvale
The Memorial Day parade and observances — hosted by the Borough of Northvale and Northvale American Legion Post 366 — will take place on May 29. The parade leaves the Northvale Public School at 11 a.m., to Paris Avenue, ending at the American Legion hall. Following the conclusion of parade, there will be performances by the Northvale Public School band, the Northvale Public School choir and the NVOT marching band; followed by hot dogs and cold drinks. In event of rain, there will be a ceremony only at 11 a.m. inside the American Legion Hall.
Oakland
Oakland’s Memorial Day Parade, followed by the American Legion ceremony in Veterans Park, will be May 28 starting at 1 p.m. After the ceremony, everyone is invited for free hot dogs and refreshments at the Legion building, 65 Oak St.
Oradell
A wreath laying ceremony will take place on May 29. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the WWI Monument (near the post office/train tracks). There will be stops at the Private Hoffman Memorial, Major Marie Rossi Memorial, Oradell Fire Department, and Memorial Field World War II Monument (corner of Prospect and Park) at approximately 9:30 a.m. The proceedings will include Massing of the Colors by Boy Scout Troop 36 Oradell; master of ceremonies Pat Schuber; invocation and benediction by Father Christian Scalo of St. Joseph Church; welcome by Mayor Dianne C. Didio, with council members Tracy Schoenberg, Steve Carnevale, Rob Jannicelli, Jon Kern and Michael Staff also present; the national anthem performed by Hawkapella, the RDHS choral group; a veteran’s reflection and presentation by Major Eric Shuler (ret.); and "Taps" by Ted Erdos, RDHS student.
Ramsey
The Memorial Day parade will be held on May 29, from 11 a.m. to noon.
Saddle Brook
Honor the service of military heroes at the Hometown Heroes banner unveiling ceremony on May 27, from 10 a.m. to noon, at 55 Mayhill St.
The Memorial Day parade will be held on May 28.
Saddle River
The Saddle River Borough Council presents the Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony on May 29. The parade procession begins at 10:30 a.m. on East Allendale Road in front of the Police and Fire departments.
Tenafly
Tenafly’s 2023 Memorial Day parade will kick off from George Street at 10 a.m. on May 29. The parade will conclude at Huyler Park across from the historic Tenafly Railroad Station. A ceremony will be held at this time honoring Tenafly’s war veterans. The Tenafly Elks Lodge #2271 invites you for refreshments and hot dogs after the ceremonies at their location at 20 Franklin St.
Wallington
On May 29, the parade will assemble on Hathaway Street in front of the Church of Transfiguration at 9 a.m. and proceed down Union Boulevard at 9:30 to the monument. The service will begin around 10 a.m.
Township of Washington
Instead of a Grand Marshal for the 2023 Washington Township Memorial Day Parade on May 27, VFW Post 6192 is honoring four of its members - William J. Quinn, Edward Fehmian, Steve Kohlreiter and Heather Castronova - who have died since last Memorial Day. The parade will be led by four vehicles with banners representing the late veterans. The parade will start at 10 a.m. and will process from Clinton Avenue and Washington Avenue to Memorial Park at Town Hall where the Memorial Day ceremony will take place immediately after the parade.
Morris and Passaic counties
Bloomingdale and Butler
There will be a parade on May 29, starting at 9 a.m. in Butler Park, marching to Sloan Park in Bloomingdale. Lineup is at 8:30 a.m.
Clifton
The Fire Department Memorial Day Ceremony will be on May 29, from 8:05 to 9:05 a.m., at Fire Station 5, 51 Brighton Road.
The Memorial Day Parade will be on May 29, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., from Clifton Avenue Extension, down Allwood Road, and ending at Chelsea Park.
A Memorial Day Service will be held on May 29, from 11 to 11:30 a.m., at Main Memorial Park, 1395 Main Ave.
Little Falls
A concert will be held on May 26 at 5:30 p.m. at Wilmore Road Memorial Park, corner of First Avenue.
The annual parade will be held on May 27 at 10 a.m., presented by American Legion Singac Post 108 and the Township, immediately followed by the Memorial Ceremony at Memorial Park to honor the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. For information, write to Chris Vancheri at cvancheri@lfnj.com).
Riverdale
The parade will be on May 29 at 10 a.m. along Newark-Pompton Turnpike. There will be a short ceremony at the conclusion of the parade at Borough Hall, 91 Newark-Pompton Turnpike.
Wanaque
The American Legion Post 246 and VFW Post 6765 Memorial Day parade will be on May 29, rain or shine. The American Legion and VFW will honor as grand marshal, the VFW Auxiliary, 75 years of community outreach service and support to local veterans. All veterans are welcome to march or ride in the transport trailer. The ceremony will be at Midvale Cemetery, on the corner of Bill Van Wilpe Way (a.k.a. Conklintown Road) and Ringwood Avenue, at 9 a.m. sharp. The parade lineup is at 9:30 a.m. in the Arrow Metal parking lot, between Third and Fourth avenues. The parade begins at 10 sharp. Contact the lineup/parade organizer, Paul Johannemann, at 201-424-6048. For information, call John Kaminski at 201-248-7991 or Robert Tennant at 973-650-0838.
Wayne
The parade on May 29, from 10 a.m. to noon, will run along Valley Road, starting at Hamburg Turnpike and ending at the Municipal Complex, 475 Valley Road.
West Milford
The Memorial Day parade will be May 29 at Veterans Memorial Park. Music will begin at 10 a.m. and the ceremony/parade will follow.
Essex County
Belleville
A ceremony will be held on May 29 at 11 a.m. at the Dutch Reform Church and noon at Veterans Memorial Park (Union and Tiona avenues).
Glen Ridge
On May 29, Glen Ridge will observe Memorial Day with a parade, service of remembrance, and picnic. Participants are encouraged to go "all out" in designing costumes and floats. All non-political community groups, decorated bicycles, pets, and of course, antique automobiles are encouraged to participate. The parade will assemble at the intersection of Sherman Avenue and Baldwin Street at 10:30 a.m. and at 11 a.m. will march to the memorial in front of the Ridgewood Avenue School where the traditional service of remembrance will be held. In the event of rain, the service will be held in the auditorium. Following the service, weather permitting, all residents are invited to the town picnic at the train station for food and amusements. Ridgewood Avenue will be closed between Woodland and Bloomfield avenues until 2 .pm.
Millburn
The annual Millburn Memorial Day parade will be on May 29 at 11 a.m. The route will go from Millburn High School to Taylor Park and the grand marshal for is Gary Walz. Stick around Taylor Park after the parade for the Memorial Day ceremonies. Write to administrator@millburntwp.org with any questions.
Nutley
The parade will be held on May 29. The Nutley War Memorial Remembrance Ceremony will start at 7:30 a.m. at the VFW Post 493. Following the Remembrance Ceremony, the Township will gather to honor Nutley’s fallen firefighters at the Public Safety Building at 10:30 a.m. The Memorial Day Parade opening ceremonies and welcome will begin at 11 a.m. at the Park Oval. Rev. Pamela Bakal will offer the prayer at the opening ceremonies and this year’s Grand Marshal is Daniel Jacoby.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Memorial Day 2023: Events, things to do in North Jersey
