Memorial Day weekend across SE Connecticut and SW Rhode Island brings more than the unofficial start of summer. Town greens, village streets, and shoreline downtowns fill with marching bands, veterans groups, local organizations, and families gathering to honor those who lost their lives in military service. From quiet village ceremonies to larger community processions, these parades remain some of the region’s most meaningful annual traditions, blending remembrance with the unmistakable atmosphere of a New England holiday weekend.
1. Bozrah
The Bozrah Memorial Day Parade returns Saturday, May 23, beginning with an 11 a.m. service at Memorial Park before the 1 p.m. parade steps off from Schwartz Road toward the Bozrah Moose Lodge. The afternoon procession features marching bands including the Deep River Drum Corps, antique and classic vehicles, horses and carriages, local businesses, and community groups, blending small-town Memorial Day tradition with remembrance for those who lost their lives in military service.
2. East Lyme
The annual Niantic Memorial Day Parade returns to East Lyme on Memorial Day at 2 p.m., beginning near St. John’s Green across from the Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut before proceeding down Main Street and ending at East Lyme Town Hall. Spectators typically gather throughout downtown Niantic as marching groups, veterans organizations, and community participants move through the shoreline village beneath rows of American flags and late-spring sunshine. The parade balances the relaxed energy of a holiday weekend with the deeper purpose of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service.
3. Griswold
The Griswold Memorial Day Parade takes place Monday, May 25, at 9 a.m. at Fanning Park on Main Street in Jewett City. The annual community observance brings together veterans groups, local organizations, and residents for a morning centered on remembrance, patriotism, and honoring those who lost their lives in military service.
4. Lebanon
The Lebanon Memorial Day Parade takes place Saturday, May 23, with this year’s theme centered around “America 250.” The parade begins at 10 a.m. as the community gathers to honor and remember the nation’s fallen heroes while also reflecting on the country’s approaching 250th anniversary. Memorial Day celebrations in Lebanon carry a classic small-town New England atmosphere, bringing together local families, veterans groups, and community organizations for a morning rooted in patriotism, remembrance, and community pride.
5. Moodus
Moodus Memorial Day Parade begins Monday, May 25 at 10 a.m. at the Municipal Office Complex on Plains Road before proceeding to the American Legion on Neptune Avenue. The community observance brings residents, veterans groups, and local families together for a traditional Memorial Day procession honoring those who lost their lives in military service.
6. Mystic
Mystic Memorial Day Parade 2026 returns to downtown Mystic on Monday, May 25, beginning at1 p.m. at Bank Square before making its way through the historic village and ending at the Mystic VFW on Route 1. The waterfront streets fill with spectators, local families, and veterans groups as one of the shoreline’s most recognizable Memorial Day traditions moves through town. The parade combines the charm and energy of downtown Mystic with the reflective spirit of the holiday, honoring those who lost their lives in military service while bringing the community together at the start of the summer season.
7. New London
Instead of a traditional Memorial Day parade, New London will hold its annual Memorial Day Candlelight Vigil on Sunday, May 24, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., honoring military members who lost their lives in service to the country. The ceremony, which includes luminaries, remarks from local leaders, and a presentation of colors by the New London High School NJROTC Color Guard, will more than likely take place indoors at Union Train Station due to the current rain forecast for Sunday evening. This year’s vigil also honors U.S. Navy veteran and peace activist Cal Robertson, who passed away earlier this year.
8. Noank
The Noank Memorial Day Parade returns Monday, May 25, beginning at 10 a.m. on Main Street before looping through the village and concluding with a ceremony at Noank Valley Cemetery. This year’s observance will feature retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mike Hewitt as guest speaker, bringing added focus to the region’s deep submarine and naval history while honoring fallen service members and the sacrifices made by military families throughout generations.
9. North Stonington
North Stonington’s Memorial Day Parade steps off Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m., winding through North Stonington Village before concluding with a Memorial Ceremony at Memorial Park. The event brings a quieter small-town atmosphere to the holiday, with residents and visitors gathering throughout the village for the annual observance. Road closures begin around 9:45 a.m., including Route 2 between the rotary and Kady’s Farm Stand during the parade route.
10. Norwich
The Norwich Memorial Day Parade returns Monday, May 25, stepping off at noon from St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Broadway before proceeding downtown to Chelsea Parade. Following the parade, the public is invited to remain for a Memorial Day ceremony near the war monuments, where wreaths will be replaced in honor of fallen service members and the meaning of the holiday will be remembered through reflection and tribute.
11. Old Saybrook
Old Saybrook’s Memorial Day Parade assembles at 9:30 a.m. at the Stop & Shop parking lot off Elm Street before stepping off promptly at10 a.m. The procession travels across Route 1 to Main Street and continues toward the Veterans Memorial Monuments on the Town Green, where a memorial program will follow the parade. This year’s ceremony features Gil Simmons, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and chief meteorologist for WTNH, serving as master of ceremonies. In the event of rain, the memorial program will instead take place inside Old Saybrook Fire Department headquarters on Main Street.
12. Plainfield
The Plainfield Memorial Day Parade takes place Sunday, May 24, beginning at 1 p.m. after forming at Plainfield Public Schools on Canterbury Road. The parade route travels along Canterbury Road, Railroad Avenue, and Babcock Avenue before concluding at Veterans Park on Community Avenue, bringing residents and community groups together for an afternoon of remembrance honoring those who lost their lives in military service.
13. Sprague
The Sprague Memorial Day Parade returns Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m., winding through the village of Baltic before concluding at War Memorial Park at the intersection of Main Street and West Main Street. Sponsored by American Legion Post 85, the Baltic Fire Department, and the Town of Sprague, the annual parade brings together veterans groups, local organizations, and residents for a morning focused on remembrance, patriotism, and honoring fallen service members.
14. Taftville
The Taftville Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony takes place Monday, May 25, at 10 a.m. at American Legion Memorial Field on South 2nd Avenue. Hosted by American Legion Post #104 and VFW Post #2212, the annual observance honors fallen service members while paying special tribute this year to Korean War veteran Herman A. Duhaime, who was declared Missing In Action in 1950. Family members of Duhaime are expected to attend the ceremony as the community gathers in remembrance and reflection.
15. Westerly & Pawcatuck
The Westerly Pawcatuck Memorial Day Parade returns Monday, May 25, beginning at 9:30 a.m. behind the Pawcatuck Shopping Center before traveling through both communities with several memorial stops and ceremonies along the route. The morning includes gatherings at the War Memorial near Route 1 and Pequot Trail, as well as at the bridge over the Pawcatuck River connecting Connecticut and Rhode Island. The parade concludes with a final ceremony at the gazebo in Wilcox Park, continuing one of the region’s longest-running Memorial Day traditions focused on remembrance, reflection, and honoring fallen service members.
As Memorial Day weekend unfolds across the region, these parades serve as reminders that the holiday is rooted in remembrance as much as tradition. Whether gathered along a village street, downtown sidewalk, or town green, communities throughout SE Connecticut and SW Rhode Island pause to honor the service and sacrifice of those who never returned home.
Last modified: May 21, 2026
