Memorial Day Events 2026

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Below is a list of Memorial Day parades and ceremonies that will be updated as the information becomes available; only starred entries are confirmed. All events are on Monday, May 25, unless otherwise noted. Holiday closings can be found here. Please note that unconfirmed events are marked with a strike-through and are based on past observances. 

Williamstown's Memorial Day festivities will celebrate the most recent generation of men and women to serve the nation in uniform.

Daisy Rosalez, of Williams College's affiliate of Military Scholars, will serve as grand marshal of the town's parade and principal speaker at ceremonies at Field Park.
 
The local American Legion post has been reaching out in recent years to make connections with veterans who enrolled at the college after re-entering civilian life.
 
"They're a special group of kids who served in the military for four years — in some cases five or six years," said Roger St. Pierre of Michael Kennedy American Legion Post 152. "It's nice that they're recognized."
 
Rosalez, of California, served a decade in the Air Force, and participated in the firing party at Williamstown's Veterans Day ceremony in November while studying as a senior at Williams. She will be graduating in June with a degree in physics.
 
St. Pierre noted that the college's final exam period ends on Monday and some students already may be out of town, the local Legion is hoping that some of Rosalez's fellow Military Scholars can join her for the ceremony.
 
The town's Memorial Day parade begins at the south end of Spring Street at 10 a.m. Monday and proceeds up Spring Street and west toward the Field Park rotary.

Adams
UPDATE: PARADE CANCELED. A ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the Visitors Center.

The parade will step off at 10 a.m. from the Memorial Building and conclude with the traditional ceremony at the Maple Street Cemetery. The usual route will be followed: Columbia Street to Hoosac Street, Hoosac to Summer, Center to Park Street. Lineup begins at 8:30.

The American Legion Post 160 Honor Guard will participate. Music will be provided by the Hoosac Valley High School band. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the Visitors Center.

Becket
The parade starts at 10:30 a.m. at North Becket Cemetery, ending at Ballou Park for ceremonies at 11. Lineup begins at 10. Reception to follow at Federated Church. In case of inclement weather, ceremonies will be held in the church. 

Cheshire
Parade steps off from the School Street at 1 p.m. and concludes at the Cheshire Athenaeum (old Town Hall) for ceremonies. Children are encouraged to decorate their bikes with red, white and blue and wear a helmet. The Hoosac Valley High School band will march as will a number of other organizations and individuals. In case of rain, the ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. in the Community House. 

Clarksburg
Peter A. Cook  VFW. Post 9144 will hold its annual Memorial Day services at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 24, on the front lawn of Town Hall on River Road. Coffee and doughnuts will be served immediately following. 

Dalton
The parade steps off at 9 a.m. from First Methodist Church to the Main Street Cemetery for a ceremony at the Mound of the Unknown Dead.

Egremont
Parade begins at noon at the South Egremont fire station and marches to the village green, where a short ceremony will be conducted. Following the ceremony, ice cream will be served at the South Egremont Fire Station. If you are a veteran and wish to participate, contact Tom Gage at 413-528-0076.

Florida
The ceremonies will begin at noon at the Adrian J. Poirot War Memorial gazebo.

Great Barrington
The parade steps off at 11 a.m. from Dresser Avenue to Bridge Street with a ceremony to follow in front of Town Hall. Volunteers are needed to carry posters of deceased veterans. Housatonic parade begins at 10 at the fire station and goes from Depot to Main to the Dome, then down to the cemetery. 

Hancock
UPDATE:PARADE CANCELED. Parade begins at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 24, from 227 Main St. to Hancock Cemetery for a short ceremony. 

Lanesborough
UPDATE:PARADE CANCELED. A ceremony will be held at 11 a.m., Sunday, May 24 at Laston Park. The parade will start at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, and conclude with a ceremony at Center Cemetery. It will include greetings from town officials, a keynote address, the playing of taps and a 21-gun salute by the Dalton Rifle Team. A reception will follow. Consider making a donation to the Veterans Food Pantry, 144 Old State Road, on Fridays from 9 to 11 a.m. More information here. 

Lee
The parade steps off from Main Street at 10 a.m., proceeds to Fuller Street and concludes with ceremonies at Fairmont Cemetery. Residents are encouraged to line the route.

Lenox
UPDATE: PARADE CANCELED.  Ceremonies will be held in the Town Hall auditorium at noon on Monday. 

The parade will begin at noon on Monday at the Church on the Hill and then proceed to the War Monument for a ceremony. Any veterans wishing to march should be at the Church on the Hill by 11:45. For veterans needing parade rides, call Lou Fortune at 413-637-1530. In case of rain, remarks will be in the Town Hall auditorium at noon. 

Lenox Dale
The parade sponsored by the Lenox Dale Fire Company will begin at 8 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park on Walker Street and will proceed to St. Vincent de Paul Church for a Mass conducted by the Rev. Msgr. John Bonzagni, pastor, for deceased and living veterans at 8:30. The parade will then continue through the village back to the park, where concluding services will be held. 

North Adams
UPDATE: PARADE CANCELED. Observances to be held at the American Legion at 9:30 a.m.

Parade starts promptly at 9:30 at the American Legion and marches to the Veterans Memorial, where the ceremony will take place. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be moved to the American Legion.

The keynote speaker is Anthony Dias, past commander of the American Legion Massachusetts Department; also speaking are Mayor Jennifer Macksey, and the Rev. David Anderson of First Baptist Church. Grade 8 students Gabby Packard and Paige Burdick will give the Gettysburg Address and be presented with the George Angeli Award by Officer Jon Beaudreau

Parade participants include city officials, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 996, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 54, American Veterans Post 100, American Legion Post 125, Sons of the American Legion Post 125, U.S. Navy Armed Guard Association, Drury High School band, Boy and Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and Brownies, the VFW, American Legion and AMVETS auxiliaries, and North Adams Ambulance Service and any member of the military past or present who wishes.

Participants are asked to be at the American Legion at 9; coffee and doughnuts will be available beginning at 8:30. 

Pittsfield
The parade begins at 9, proceeding from City Hall to Fenn to North and Wahconah streets, then to Pittsfield Cemetery for the ceremony and will include veterans organizations, the Pittsfield High marching band and the Taconic High drum line, local and state officials, the Police Department honor guard, Fire Department, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and Pittsfield elementary children. 

Mayor Peter Marchetti will give opening remarks, followed by keynote speaker William Bateson, director of veterans’ services. The master of ceremonies is James Clark, a veteran and director of the Council on Aging, and the officer of the day is Woody Vaspra, Berkshire Veterans Coalition Commander. The names of Pittsfield veterans who passed away over the past year will be read.
 
Pittsfield Community Television (PCTV) will televise the ceremony on CityLink 1303 and PCTV Select available at PCTV.org. The ceremony will also be available on Roku and Apple devices, and the PCTV Facebook page.

Monterey
A ceremony will be held at Veterans Memorial Park at 10:30 a.m.; the parade begins at 1 p.m. at Sandisfield Road and proceeds down Main Road to the firehouse for hot dogs. 

Otis
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 26, at noon at the Veterans Memorial at the town library with Scott Stone as speaker. Prior to the ceremony, a small group of veterans will visit each cemetery in Otis and Sandisfield to pay respects. 

Richmond
Marchers will assemble at the Richmond Firehouse at 7:30 a.m. and begin the march up Route 41 to Richmond School at 8. Select Board Chair Alan Hanson will be the master of ceremonies and will also give remarks; the invocation will be by the Rev. Joel Huntington. Julian Fletcher and William Quinto will raise the flag and Georgette Cormier will lead the pledge; the third grade will sing a medley of patriotic songs. Adelaide Sinay will do the drum rolls and Kayleigh Demassimo and Julian Winters will play taps and echo. 
 
Parade will include local leaders, the school's third grade and band, and fire trucks and ambulances. 
 
Sandisfield
Parade will be step off at 10 a.m. from Old Town Hall on Sunday, May 24, with bike decorating beginning at 9. It will include the Lee High band, fire trucks and floats, with ceremonies at New Boston Cemetery and then a stop at the Berkshire Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center. The event concludes with a wreath laying at the American Legion and a town barbecue.

Sheffield
March begins from the village green in Ashley Falls at 8 a.m. with observances at the Clayton Road cemetery; refreshments to follow at Trinity United Methodist Church. In case of rain, the ceremony will be inside the church.

Stockbridge
Benediction, taps, firearms salute for veterans at the town and St. Joseph's cemeteries begin at 11; transportation available. The parade steps off at 12:15 from Town Hall with ceremonies at Congregational Church at 12:45 with guest and student speakers and music by the Berkshire Hillsmen. 

All veterans and residents with pictures of their loved ones are encouraged to march, and children are encouraged to decorate their bikes and scooters. Refreshments and activities will follow at 1:45. More information here.

West Stockbridge
Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at the War Memorial; parade steps off at 9:15 a.m. at Town Hall and concludes across from Congregational Church. Bike decorating begins at 8 at Town Hall with Parks & Recreation and decorated cars, trucks and floats welcome. Please arrive before the ceremony. 

Bennington, Vt.
Parade steps off from the Scott Street at noon and proceeds west to the four corners and right on North Street, pauses at the VFW Post for a salute, and ends at the Vermont Veterans Home for a wreath-laying ceremony. Information: American Legion Post 13 at 802-442-8028 or post13@comcast.net.
 
New Lebanon, N.Y.
Parade line-up at 8:30 a.m. at Shatford Park, with step off at 9, going past the high school to the Cemetery of the Evergreens for a memorial service and special presentation at about 10:30.

Is your town having a parade or event not listed here? Let us know at info@iberkshires.com or post on our Facebook page.

Williamstown

The parade begins at 10 a.m. at the bottom of Spring Street and marches to Field Park (intersection of Routes 2 and 7), for ceremonies, with Peter Dolan as grand marshal. Local participants in the American Legion's Boys State and Girls State citizenship programs will carry banners along with various community groups.

Longtime iBerkshires.com contributor Wayne Soares will be the principal speaker. The host and producer of the Vietnam veterans documentary "Silent Dignity — The Chapter That Never Ends" will be accompanied by a violinist from the Mount Greylock Regional School. The middle-high school's chorus will perform "I Remember" and two student buglers will play taps and echo. 


Tags: Memorial Day,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

North Adams Council Looks to AG for Assurances on Federal Grant

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — City officials want to know if the attorney general will defend them if they refuse to abide by certain provisions in a federal grant for the Police Department. 
 
The City Council on Tuesday voted to postpone action until Nov. 10 on a fiscal year 2025 Edward Bernard Memorial Justice Assistant Grant after an hour of debate and hearing from more than a half-dozen audience members in opposition.  
 
"Let's take all the time that we have. Let's wait for them to actually do their due diligence and fight these provisions and, hopefully, win, and then it's not a problem at all, and everybody's happy, and we take care of it," said Council President Ashley Shade. "And if they don't get the provisions out, let's make sure that they're willing to defend us if we accept it. And if they are, let's fight them. Let's fight them on this."
 
The U.S. Department of Justice grant for $14,231 is to update the department's overstuffed evidence room to aid its accreditation process. But new requirements within the contract about active or passive cooperation with federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, have raised fears within the council and community. 
 
Mayor Jennifer Macksey and Police Chief Mark Bailey had explained the need for an evidence room two weeks ago and assured that Police Department didn't deal with civil matters like immigration, but the council rejected the grant. Shade motioned for it be reconsidered for discussion, which passed. 
 
Audience members spoke out in opposition to accepting the grant, often to applause. 
 
"We cannot trust that they aren't attaching strings that we think, in good faith, could not happen," said Sarah Farnsworth from North Adams. "That they could not make us do things that we are protected from in the Constitution. And we have seen over and over that somehow that manages to happen."
 
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