Memorial Day weekend is here, and in the Centre Region that means four days of commemoration, festivities and historical experiences in the holiday’s birthplace.
Boalsburg’s Memorial Day events kick off on Thursday with the start of the Fireman’s Carnival and continue through Monday, with several activities planned this year to recognize the 250th anniversary of the United States.
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, when in the midst of the Civil War 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.
Here’s a look at the full schedule.
THURSDAY
• 2 p.m., Drop-in tour at The Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum, 162 Boal Estate Drive ($15 per person)
• 6-10 p.m., Boalsburg Fireman’s Carnival,113 E. Pine St. Wristband Night – $25 for unlimited rides.
FRIDAY
• 2 p.m., Drop-in tour at the Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum ($15 per person)
• 6-10 p.m., Boalsburg Fireman’s Carnival
• 6:30 p.m., Talk by John Homan, B-24 Pilot with 34 combat missions, at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, 51 Boal Avenue.
SATURDAY
• 9-10:30 a.m., A Walk to Remember Our Fallen, hosted by A Soldier’s Hands at the PA Military Museum. Registration available online. ($25 for general public, $20 for veterans)
• 10 a.m.-noon, Preregistration and T-shirt pick-up for Memorial Day Run at Blue Spring Park
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Battle Cry of Freedom: A Civil War Experience at the PA Military Museum.
- 10-4 – Outdoor Living History Displays
- 10-4 – Museum info and merchandise booth
- 11 – The Camp Kitchen: Civil War Recipes
- Noon – History Mystery Guest: Kid’s Program
- 1 – Authentic Games: Civil War Pastimes
- 2 – A Call to Arms: Historic Weapons Demonstration
- 3 – The Surgeon’s Tent: Civil War Medicine
• Noon and 3 p.m., “The Keeping of Liberty” at Boal Mansion. ($5 admission)
• 3:30 p.m., Parade lineup begins.
• 5 p.m. Boalsburg Fire Company Parade
• 5 p.m., The Sutler’s Supper: A Civil War Tavern Experience hosted by PA Military Museum at Duffy’s Tavern. Tickets required.
• After the parade-10 p.m., Boalsburg Fireman’s Carnival
• 7 p.m., The Civil War Remembered – Guided Lantern Tour at the Boalsburg Cemetery. Hosted by PA Military Museum and Local Historia. Tickets ($15) required.
• 8 p.m., The Union Remembered: A Toast to Service, hosted by PA Military Museum at Boal City Brewing, 281 Old Boalsburg Road
SUNDAY
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Battle Cry of Freedom: A Civil War Experience at the PA Military Museum.
- 10-4 – Outdoor Living History Displays
- 10-4 – Museum info and merchandise booth
- 11 – The Camp Kitchen: Civil War Recipes
- Noon – History Mystery Guest: Kid’s Program
- 1 – Authentic Games: Civil War Pastimes
- 2 – A Call to Arms: Historic Weapons Demonstration
- 3 – The Surgeon’s Tent: Civil War Medicine
• Noon-2 p.m., Preregistration and T-shirt pick-up for Memorial Day Run at Blue Spring Park
• Noon, Stars & Stripes Tea and Tour at Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum ($50 per person, advance registration)
• 2-4 p.m. – Boalsburg Heritage Museum Tours, 304 E. Main St.
• 2-6 p.m., Boalsburg Fireman’s Carnival,113 E. Pine St. Wristband Day – $25 for unlimited rides.
MONDAY
Day in Town
• 8:30 a.m., Memorial Day Run at Blue Spring Park (registration starts at 7:15 a.m. at Blue Spring Park)
• 9 a.m.-4 p.m. – 140+ vendors on Church and Main Streets
• 9:30-10:30 a.m., America 250th birthday cake on display on the Diamond
• 10:45 a.m., Cutting and serving of the 250th Birthday Cake.
• 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Boalsburg Fireman’s Carnival
• 10:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Memorial Day Stage Entertainment on the Diamond
- 10:30-11:30 —SCAHS Jazz Band
- Noon-1`— Little German Band
- 12:30 — Maypole Dance, Central PA Dance Workshop
- 1:30-2:30 — Screaming Ducks
- 3-4 — A ROCK SHOW
• 5:45 p.m., Walk to the cemetery
• 6 p.m. Memorial Day service at the cemetery
St. John’s United Church of Christ (218 N. Church St.)
• 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. (or when sold out), Pie and drink sale booth in front of church
• 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. (or when sold out), Chicken & corn soup and pie sale inside Church
• 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. – Quilt Show, Centre Pieces Quilt Guild, upstairs in sanctuary
• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Free Children’s Festival on east lawn, including bounce house, children’s games and craft activity
• 11 a.m.– Magic show by Mark Weidhaas, Inspector Magic from Colorado, on east lawn
Zion Lutheran Church (105 Old Boalsburg Road)
• 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., Church tours
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Church open for restrooms and baby needs
Columbus Chapel & Boal Mansion Museum
$5 Parking
• Special Museum Tours ($5 per Person)
- Columbus Chapel Tours – 10, 11, 12, 1 & 2
- Boal Museum Armory Tours – 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 1:30 & 2:30
• All Day Events (10 a.m.-5 p.m.)
- Historical Reenactors
- Dr. Ralph Aitkin, 19th Century Embalmer
- Tom Melville, 19th Century Pick-Up Cricket Games
- Basket Raffle at the Visitor Center
- Face painting for kids
- Food, drink, craft vendors & artisans
• 10 a.m.-4: p.m., – Boal Barn Snack Shop open
• 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Entertainment and remarks on Boal Mansion Porch
- 10:30-11:30 a.m., Bellefonte Municipal Band
- 11:30 a.m., State Rep. Paul Takac: “America 250 & Honoring Our Local Fallen Heroes”
- Noon, Nittany Knights
• 11:a.m. & 2 p.m., Performance of “For You: The Keeping of Liberty” at Boal Barn Playhouse ($5 Admission)
• 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., PA 250 Mobile Experiential Unit
Pennsylvania Military Museum
• 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., AACA Car Show
• 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., Information and merchandise Booth
• 1:30 p.m., Wheels of War: A Guided Armor Tour (Starts at the Sherman Tank)
Boalsburg Heritage Museum (304 E. Main St.)
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Barn, Museum, Light House and Summer Kitchen open for tours (refreshments by Sweet Temptations start at noon)
• 10:30 a.m., DAR historian Karen Hazel presents “Henry Dale, Boalsburg Patriot,” followed by a reading of the Gettysburg Address.
• Noon-2 p.m., Free Range performs on the porch
Blacksmith Shop (224 E. Main St.)
• 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Live blacksmithing demonstrations
