PENNSYLVANIA, USA — Memorial Day is observed annually in the United States on the last Monday of May. It honors people who died while serving in the military, according to HISTORY.
In 2024, Memorial Day falls on May 27. Here is a list of events to recognize the occasion in central Pennsylvania.
If you do not see your organization's event on this list and would like it added, please email the details to news@fox43.com.
Adams County
Aspers
You can take a one-hour horse and carriage ride through the Adams County countryside, passing two working farms as narrators provide information about the Shire horses, the orchards and the surrounding landscape during the Civil War Battle at Gettysburg. Silvershire Farm Horse Carriage and Wagon Rides. Memorial Day weekend rides are being offered at a 10% discount with code “Memorial2024.” Click here to purchase tickets.
Gettysburg
The 157th Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade will step off from Lefever Street at 2 p.m. on May 27. It will head northeast to East Middle Street, turn west on East Middle Street and then south on Baltimore Street to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. A ceremony will follow at 3 p.m. in the Rostrum in the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.
Guests at Gettysburg National Cemetery can explore the stories of some of the lesser-known people buried there. The tour will begin at 10 a.m. on May 25 at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. Park Rangers will lead a free 90-minute guided walking tour.
The annual Memorial Day Car Show will be held at The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg, located at 1863 Gettysburg Village Drive, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on May 27. Admission is free.
People of all ages are invited to participate in a free 5k through the Wyndham Hotel Gateway Gettysburg Complex, located at 95 Presidential Circle off Routes 30 and 15 on May 27. Participants may run or walk, and medals will be given to all children who finish the 5k. The event starts at 8 a.m., but organizers recommend arriving 15 minutes early in order to register.
Memorial Day will mark the beginning of the eighth year of One Hundred Nights of Taps at the Gettysburg National Cemetery. At 7 p.m. every night until Sept. 2, volunteers will play "Taps" to ring out over the cemetery. Volunteer buglers include active-duty military musicians, military veterans, Civil War living historians and musicians, community band members, high school and college students, and music teachers.
Boiling Springs
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8851 will hold their annual Memorial Day Parade and Picnic on Sunday, May 26 at 1 p.m. The parade will begin at the Boiling Springs High School and end at the Memorial Clock Tower at Children's Lake, where a ceremony will be held. A picnic will follow the ceremony.
Camp Hill
American Legion Post 43 will hold a Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. and the route is as follows: begin at 19th and Market Street, turn west to 24th Street, turn north to Walnut Street, then turn east and end at the Camp Hill Fire Station. A ceremony will follow in the cemetery at 11:30 a.m. directly behind the station. Keith Beebe, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Retired/Commander Post 43, will be the guest speaker. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Camp Hill Borough Building, located at 2145 Walnut St.
Carlisle
The Joint Council of Carlisle will host a Memorial Day Parade beginning at 9 a.m. on May 27 at North Hanover and North Street. It will proceed south on Hanover Street, past the Square, and turn right on West Pomfret Street. The parade will continue west, then turn right onto South Pitt Street. A memorial service will be held at Veterans Memorial Courtyard in the Carlisle Square following the parade.
The U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center will host a ceremony for Memorial Day at the Education Center at 11:20 a.m. on May 27. There will be salute artillery provided by the 1-108th FA, PAARNG and the Carlisle Town Band will provide a musical selection for the event. Vietnam veteran Robert Noonan will be the guest speaker.
Mechanicsburg
The Mechanicsburg Area Veterans Council will hold a Memorial Day Parade and Service. The parade will form at 9:15 a.m. on May 27 and proceed from Filbert and Simpson Streets at 10 a.m. It will continue to the Mechanicsburg Cemetery GAR monument on Marble Street. A service will follow in front of the monument at 11 a.m. Lunch will be served immediately after the parade at the Legion Post 109.
Vietnam Veterans of Mechanicsburg will hold a Memorial Day service at Lincoln Colored Cemetery. Services are planned for 2 p.m. on May 27, rain or shine.
Shippensburg
The Joint Veterans Council of Shippensburg will hold Memorial Day ceremonies on May 27 beginning at 10 a.m. at Locust Grove Cemetery. There will be a memorial service at Spring Hill Cemetery at 11 a.m., a flag-raising ceremony at Shippensburg Veterans Memorial Park at noon, and at 1:15 p.m., the Navy and Marine Memorial Services will be conducted at Branch Bridge on King Street. The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 2 p.m. from the corner of King and Prince Streets.
Dauphin County
Harrisburg
The 56th annual Artsfest will take place over Memorial Day weekend. Over 150 craftspeople will fill Riverfront Park for three days, selling everything from handmade jewelry to photography. There will also be food and entertainment. The Fest will be open from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. on May 25 and 26 and from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on May 27.
Linglestown
The Linglestown Area Civic Association will sponsor a Memorial Day Mile to benefit the Dauphin County Heroes Grove Memorial located in Brightbill Park and the Linglestown Area Civic Association. Participants are invited to run or walk the mile. Those who wish to time themselves are welcome to do so and can choose to upload their results here. Participants must register online by 11:59 p.m. on May 25; there will be no walk-up registration. Racers are asked to arrive at noon, and the event begins at 12:15 p.m. on Memorial Day.
Franklin County
Chambersburg
Gateway Gallery Auction will host an Outstanding Memorial Day Auction on May 27 at 9 a.m. Those who would like to preview the items available for auction can do so from 1 - 3 p.m. on May 26.
Lancaster County
Bird-in-Hand
The Hand-in-Hand Fire Company will host a Memorial Day chicken barbeque on May 25 from 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., or until sold out. Those who wish to pick up their orders for takeout can do so beginning at 9:30 a.m. Organizers will also offer complimentary delivery within a four-mile radius at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Elizabethtown
Stone Gables Estate is offering a Memorial Day Train Ride for families to enjoy. The ride will be superhero-themed, with photo opportunities for children. There will also be a Superhero Training Camp obstacle course, themed crafts and more. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.
Lancaster
Tanger Outlets invites the community to a Memorial Day Weekend kick-off from noon to 3 p.m. on May 25. There will be local food trucks, a DJ, free face painting, a free bounce house, games, a kid's art station and a chance to meet and greet patriotic superheroes. Admission is free. The Outlets are located at 311 Stanley K Tanger Dr. in Lancaster.
Lebanon County
Lebanon
A Memorial Day parade will step off from Eighth and Cumberland Streets at 8 a.m. From there, the parade will travel east on Cumberland Street to Fourth Street, north on Fourth Street to Lehman Street, and west on Lehman Street to Eighth Street. The parade is sponsored by the Veterans Advisory Council, which will also host a memorial ceremony at Monument Park following the parade.
Palmyra
The Palmyra community will honor fallen veterans with a parade at 10 a.m. on May 27. Attendees are invited to bring flags and their patriotic spirit to the event. The parade will start at the Palmyra Area Middle School before heading east on West Cherry Street, turning at South Franklin Street, marching back up 422 and returning to the middle school.
Fort Indiantown Gap
The Department of Veterans Affairs Indiantown Gap National Cemetery will host its 42nd annual Memorial Day program, a solemn Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony, accompanied by speeches, an Armed Forces Medley, a moment of silence, a rifle volley, and the playing of Taps.
The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 26 at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
Perry County
Duncannon
The County's Chamber of Commerce will offer free dinner for veterans on Memorial Day. Those interested in attending the dinner can call 717-834-4777 or 717-250-9797 to place their order. Meals will have roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and a vegetable. The dinners can be picked up from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Babs Curran Senior Center, located at 403 N. Market St. in Duncannon.
Newport
The 137th Eshcol Memorial Day Parade will be held on Saturday, May 25 at 1 p.m. The parade will begin at Eshcol Memorial Cemetery in Millerstown and will end at 12755 Buffalo Trace in Newport. Everyone is welcome to participate in the parade and to decorate the graves of veterans. Those interested in participating in the parade should contact Scott Foster at 717-438-3954.
York County
East Prospect
East Prospect's Memorial Day Parade will take place on Sunday, May 26 at 4 p.m. The Emigsville Band and others will provide musical entertainment.
Hanover
Strength United Gym - Home Strength United CrossFit offers anyone interested the chance to participate in the Murph challenge on Memorial Day. The Murph was inspired by fallen veteran Lt. Michael P. Murphy and is a series of workouts typically done while wearing a weighted vest. There will be four time slots, a heat for kids and a social to follow with barbeque. Those interested can sign up at the link above.
York
Consider stopping by the William C. Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum, located at 123 E. Philadelphia St., to see its current exhibit: "Faces of Freedom." The exhibit features high-quality prints of 37 wartime portraits of Black soldiers who served in the U.S. Army and Navy during the Civil War. Admission is free; the exhibit is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of July.
Runners are invited to recognize Memorial Day with a run through York's Gold Star Garden and the city on May 27. There are several options for all skill levels, including a 5k race, a 5k walk, a nine-mile walk/run/bike ride that passes every war memorial in the city and a virtual participant option for runners who prefer to remain socially distant. The timed 5k run and nine-mile memorial course will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the York Gold Star Garden, located at 1000 Vander Ave. Registration and packet pick-up will be open at 6:30 a.m. Those interested can register at the link above.