Updated 7:51 p.m. May 23.
Boalsburg will once again play host to five days of events to celebrate and remember on Memorial Day weekend.
The village’s ties to the founding of the national day to mourn and honor those who lost their lives in service to the United States date back to 1864, when in the midst of the Civil War three women decorated the graves of soldiers buried in the Boalsburg cemetery. That tribute by Emma Hunter, Sophie Keller and Elizabeth Myers was the start of a tradition that stakes the village’s claim as the birthplace of Memorial Day.
Though other towns lay claim to being the founding place of Memorial Day, there is no arguing the draw that Boalsburg’s annual commemoration has become.
This year’s events kick off on Thursday with the start of the Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival.
Here’s a look at the full schedule.
THURSDAY, MAY 22
• 2 p.m., Drop-in tour of the Boal Mansion & Columbus Chapel, 162 Boal Estate Drive. ($15/person)
• 6-10 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival,113 E. Pine St. Wristband Night – $25 for unlimited rides.
FRIDAY, MAY 23
• 2 p.m., Drop-in tour of the Boal Mansion & Columbus Chapel, 162 Boal Estate Drive. ($15)
• 6-10 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival
SATURDAY, MAY 24
• 8-9:30 a.m., A Walk to Remember Our Fallen, a 5k walk hosted by A Soldier’s Hands at the Pennsylvania Military Museum grounds, will also include an opening prayer, recognition of Gold Star families, remarks by Army veteran and Patton Township supervisor Pam Robb, remembrance activities, the Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus and more. Registration ($25 per person, $20 for veterans) is online.
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Battle Cry of Freedom: A Civil War Experience at the Pennsylvania Military Museum. The living history exhibition also includes the History Mystery Kid’s Program at 11 a.m. and a historic weapons display at 1 p.m. The museum building is closed for renovations, but its information and merchandise booth will be open throughout the day.
• 10 a.m.-noon, Registration and bib pickup for Memorial Day Run
• 2 p.m., Drop-in tour of the Boal Mansion & Columbus Chapel, 162 Boal Estate Drive. ($15)
• 5 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Parade (lineup begins at 3 p.m.). The parade will leave from Blue Spring Park then travel east on Pine Street, right on to Boal Avenue, right on to Main Street to Wagner Street and returning to Blue Spring Park.
• After the parade-10 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival
• 7 p.m., Civil War Remembered: A Cemetery Lantern Tour presented by the Pennsylvania Military Museum and Local Historia, will offer guided tours led by history professor Jared Frederick through the Boalsburg Cemetery, highlighting stories of veterans and their families. Tours begin at the “Honors to the Fallen”monument (the Three Ladies statue) located near 305 N. Church St. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online only.
SUNDAY, MAY 25
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Battle Cry of Freedom: A Civil War Experience at the Pennsylvania Military Museum. The living history exhibition also includes the History Mystery Kid’s Program at 11 a.m. and a historic weapons display at 1 p.m. The museum building is closed for renovations, but its information and merchandise booth will be open throughout the day.
• 10:15 a.m., Colonial service, Zion Lutheran Church, 105 Old Boalsburg Road
•12-2 p.m, Registration and bib pickup for Memorial Day Run
• 2 p.m., Drop-in tour of the Boal Mansion & Columbus Chapel.
• 2 to 4 p.m., Boalsburg Heritage Museum, 304 E. Main St., open
• 2 to 6 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival, Wristband Day – $25 for unlimited rides.
MONDAY, MAY 26
• 8:30 a.m., Memorial Day Run at Blue Spring Park (Registration starts at 7:15 a.m.)
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Children’s carnival an bounce house, pie and soup sale, St. John’s UCC, 218 N. Church St.
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 120+ vendors on Church and Main streets
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., AACA Car Show, Pennsylvania Military Museum
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ten Thousand Villages shop, soup mix sale, T-shirts on sale, bottled water, nursing and changing room, Zion Lutheran Church
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Boalsburg Heritage Museum open with exhibits, demonstrations and light food.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Live blacksmithing demonstrations, Boalsburg Blacksmith Shop, 224 E. Main St.
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum tours; historical re-enactors; horse-drawn carriage rides ($5); food, drink and craft vendors; basket raffle, face painting, live music
• 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Live entertainment on the Diamond. (10:30 a.m. SCAHS Jazz Band, Noon Little German Band, 12:30 p.m. Central PA Dance Workshop, 1:30 p.m. Screaming Ducks, 3 p.m. JR Mangan Band with Veronica)
• 11:30 a.m to 2:30 p.m.., Free Range band performs at the Heritage Museum.
• 5:45 p.m., Walk to the cemetery.
• 6 p.m., Memorial Day service with master of ceremonies Jeff Brown.
Correction: The colonial service at Zion Lutheran Church takes place at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, not Monday as stated in a previous edition of this report.
