Wishing seacoast families a meaningful Memorial Day!
Many parades and ceremonies are being held on Monday May 29, 2023 to honor past and present American Veterans. Bring your family out to one of the many Memorial Day events listed below to remember and honor the heroes that have served to protect our freedom.
Monday, May 29, 2023 – Memorial Day Ceremonies and Parades around the Seacoast
New Hampshire
Exeter, NH
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
When: 10:00am
Parade route: Parade begins at Swasey Parkway, continues up Water Street, and along Front Street to Gale Park, with guest speakers and a flag ceremony.
More information: exeternh.gov
Kingston, NH
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
When: 1:00pm
Parade route: Begins at Town Hall with parade vehicles lined up on Main Street in front of the town hall, and marchers forming in the Town Hall Parking lot. At the command of the Grand Marshall, the parade will begin and proceed up Church Street, left on North Road to the entrance of Greenwood Cemetery where the formal Memorial Day observance will commence. The Kingston Veteran’s Memorial watches over the Greenwood Cemetery and is located just behind the Kingston Veteran’s Club.
More information: kingstonnh.org
Raymond, NH
Memorial Day Parade
When: 9:30am
Parade route: Parade starts on Main Street by Harriman Road and will travel down Epping Street to the Pine Grove Cemetery and back. A short ceremony and 21 gun salute will immediately follow the parade on the Town Common at 11 a.m.
More Information: Facebook
Durham, NH
When: 10:00am
Location: There will be a Remembrance Ceremony at Memorial Park on Main Street to pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect our country. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Main Street with special guest speakers, musical tributes, laying of the wreath at Memorial Park and more. There is no parade.
More information: ci.durham.nh.us
Dover, NH
When: 11:00am
Location: Pine Hill Cemetery at the GAR Monument, 137 Central Ave., Dover.
Join us at the Civil War Veteran Ceremony Monument in Pine Hill Cemetery for a ceremony honoring all of Dover’s Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their country. The ceremony will include a presentation of colors and addresses by local Veterans and the executive director.
More information: dover.nh.gov/
Epping, NH
When: 10:00am
Location: The front lawn of the Grange Building on Main Street.
More information: townofepping.com/home/news/link-american-legion-memorial-day-parade
North Hampton, NH
Memorial Day Parade
When: 10:00am
Parade followed by a gathering at the North Hampton School.
More information: northhampton-nh.gov
Hampton, NH
Memorial Day Parade
When: 11:00am
Location: High Street cemetery, following a parade
*Hampton Beach, NH
Ceremony at 8am at the Hampton Beach Marine Memorial.
Special Memorial Day fireworks display. Fireworks are best seen between B and C streets on Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 9:30pm More information: hamptonbeach.org
Hampton Falls, NH
When: 9:00am
Location: Town Weare Common
More information: hamptonfalls.org
Portsmouth, NH
Memorial Day Weekend Ceremonies
On Friday, May 26, 2023, at 11 am the American Legion/VFW conducts the annual Burial at Sea Ceremony by the anchor sculpture in Prescott Park. The ceremony includes a performance of patriotic music by the Portsmouth Middle School Ensemble and a wreath-laying on the Piscataqua River.
On Monday, May 29 at 2 pm the City and American Legion Post #168 host a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Plains Field. Reverend Chris Dunaway will preside as Chaplain and the Portsmouth High School Clipper Band will perform. Recognizing that Operation Iraqi Freedom launched twenty years ago, in March 2003, City Councilor Kate Cook, who worked in the US State Department with Secretary of State Colin Powell will be the keynote speaker for the ceremony.
In the event of rain both ceremonies will be held at the American Legion at 96 Islington Street.
Also on Monday, May 29, 2023, the USS Albacore Submarine Memorial Park hosts its annual Memorial Day ceremony at 10 am.
Instead of a Memorial Day Parade, the City will celebrate its 400th Anniversary with the Portsmouth NH 400 Grand Parade on Saturday, June 3. All veterans are invited to participate in that parade. Post #168 is coordinating a convoy of DeLoreans to transport veterans who are unable to walk in the parade.
More information; cityofportsmouth.com/city/press-releases/memorial-day-observances-planned-portsmouth
Rochester, NH
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
When: 9:30am
Location: Rochester Commons
The Rochester Veterans Council is proud to announce that it will be hosting a Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29, 2023, to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country. The parade will step off at 9:30 am sharp from Holy Rosary Church, on North Main Street, and make its way to the Arched Bridge over the Cocheco River. There will be a short stoppage of the parade to conduct a Wreath Memorial Service at the bridge, after which the parade will continue down North Main Street through downtown onto South Main Street, concluding just past the Rochester Common in time for ceremonies at the Field of Honor.
More information: news.rochesternh.gov/memorial-day-parade-scheduled-for-monday-may-29-2023/
Somersworth, NH
Memorial Day Ceremonies & Parade
When: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Locations: Forest Glade Cemetery (9:10am), Greek Orthodox Cemetery (9:30am), Mt. Calvary Cemetery (9:45am), Holy Trinity Cemetery (10:15am), and Tri-City Christian Cemetery (10:40am). The parade will step off from the American Legion parking lot at 11:30am.
More information and the full schedule is here: somersworth.com
Stratham, NH
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
When: 1:30pm
Location: Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Garden at Stratham Hill Park.
Begining at 12 p.m., the SVFD will have a Memorial Service outside the Fire Station at the flagpole. At 1 p.m., the parade will start forming at the Jack Rabbit Lane entrance to StrathamHill Park under direction of Parade Marshall, Dave Emanuel. The Parade will include the CMS Band, Color Guards, Fire Department, Scout groups, antique vehicles, and any others who wish to participate. At 1:30 p.m., the Stratham Memorial Day Parade will march from Jack Rabbit Lane, east onto Portsmouth Avenue to Stratham Hill Park. At 1:45 p.m. there will be a Memorial Day Program that will begin at the Veterans Memorial Garden at Stratham Hill Park.
More information: strathamnh.gov
Rye, NH
Memorial Day Parade
When: 9:30am
Parade Route: The Rye American Legion Post Auxiliary is organizing the parade down Purchase Street which will feature Legionnaires, marching bands, cyclists, classic cars, Rye’s Boys and Girls Scouts, and local government officials. The parade through town begins at 9:30 am.
More information: https://ryenylegionpost128.org/2022/05/10/rye-to-honor-its-war-dead-on-memorial-day-2022/
Maine
Kittery, ME
When: 9:30am
Location: small ceremony featuring local speakers at the Orchard Grove Cemetery.
More information: kitteryme.gov
Eliot, ME
When: 10:00am
Location: Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Marshwood High School band will play a few patriotic tunes. Eliot Police Department and the Eliot Fire Department will provide honor guard. There is no parade this year.
More information: eliotmaine.org/home/news/eliot-memorial-day-services
South Berwick, ME
Memorial Day Parade
When: 11:00am
Parade route: parade starting at 11:00 AM on Sullivan Street at the Berwick Town Hall. The public is invited to view the parade and attend the observance ceremonies. The parade will proceed to Lord’s Cemetery via Wilson Street and Allen Street. Following a memorial service at Lord’s Cemetery, the parade will proceed down Saw Mill Hill Street and pause at the Somersworth-Berwick Bridge for a brief memorial service for those lost at sea. The parade will conclude where it started, at Sullivan Square, with a memorial service honoring area veterans who lost their lives in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I and II, Korea and Vietnam.
More information: southberwickmaine.org
York, ME
Memorial Day Parade
When: 10:00am – 1:00pm
Parade route: The parade consists of marching bands, a contingent of York’s veterans, military vehicles, public service organizations, and more. Invited participants will gather at St. Christopher’s Church on Route 1A in York, and march south through the village at 10am. The parade will culminate in the green behind the Town Hall. There will be a brief ceremony in the green to honor the Nation’s war dead. Bands from York High School and York Middle School, as well as the Piscataqua Junior Rangers Fife & Drum Corps will perform. Major General Tom Spencer, United States Army, will give remarks. The ceremony will conclude with a rifle salute and the playing of Taps. All citizens are invited to attend. Veterans that are able to walk the approximately one mile route are encouraged to march in the parade.
More information: yorkmaine.org
Ogunquit, ME
Memorial Day Parade
When: 11:00am
Parade starts at 11am on Bourne Lane, followed by a ceremony.
Wells, ME
Memorial Day Parade
When: 9:00am - 10:30am
Parade route: From Wells High School along Route 109 and then to Route One and end at Ocean View Cemetery.
More information: wellstown.org
For more Holiday weekend events, see the SKC Calendar!
