Memorial Day Weekend Events in Boalsburg

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and that means five days of events in Boalsburg to celebrate and remember.

The village’s ties to the founding of the national day honoring those who lost their lives in service to the United States date back to 1864, in the midst of the Civil War when three women decorated the graves of soldiers buried in the Boalsburg cemetery. That gesture by Emma Hunter, Sophie Keller and Elizabeth Myers was the start of a tradition, one which stakes Boalsburg’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 celebration 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 23

• 6-10 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival,113 E. Pine St. Wristband Night – $25 for unlimited rides.

FRIDAY, MAY 24

• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pennsylvania Military Museum, 51 Boal Avenue, open.

• 2 p.m., Drop-in tour of the Boal Mansion & Columbus Chapel, 162 Boal Estate Drive.

• 6-10 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival.

• 6:30 p.m., “Into the Cold Blue: My World War II Journeys with the Mighty Eighth Air Force,” talk by John Homan, Pennsylvania Military Museum.

SATURDAY, MAY 25

• 8 to 9:45 a.m., A Walk to Remember Our Fallen, 5k walk hosted by A Soldier’s Hands with keynote speaker Adam Hartswick, Pennsylvania Military Museum.

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pennsylvania Military Museum open with “Life at the Front: War II” living encampment until 3 p.m.

• 2 to 3:15 p.m., “Finding My Father’s Footsteps” talk with author Karen Marshall, Pennsylvania Military Museum.

• 2 p.m., Drop-in tour of the Boal Mansion & Columbus Chapel.

• 5 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Parade (lineup begins at 3:30 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

SUNDAY, MAY 26

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pennsylvania Military Museum open with “Life at the Front: War II” living encampment until 3 p.m.

• 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 27

• 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., Baked goods sale, soup sale and quilt showing, 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., Pennsylvania Military Museum Open.

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Boalsburg Heritage Museum Open

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Boalsburg Fire Company Carnival.

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Blacksmith 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; food, drink and craft vendors; miniature horses. Bellefonte Community Band at 10:30 a.m. and JT Thompson & The Denicats at 12:30 p.m.

• 10 to 11 a.m., Book signing with local authors Elizabeth Ritter, Joan Brower, Cathy Horner, Mary Stuckey, Tom Bernerh and Jackie Esposito, Heritage Museum.

• 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 a.m to 1 p.m.., Boalsburg Local Free-Range Band, Heritage Museum.

• 1:30 to 2 p.m. State College High School Brass Rats Band, Heritage Museum.

• 5:45 p.m., Walk to the cemetery.

• 6 p.m., Memorial Day service with master of ceremonies Jeff Brown.