Maine communities will honor the nation’s fallen service members on Monday with parades, ceremonies and other events throughout the state.
Here’s a list of some of the larger happenings lined up for Memorial Day in Maine. This list isn’t exhaustive, and be sure to check with organizers before finalizing any plans.
Greater Bangor
- Bangor: Bangor’s annual Memorial Day parade begins at 10:15 a.m. Monday on Exchange Street and ends at Davenport Park.
- Bangor: The Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor will host a picnic at 11 a.m. Monday with food available for sale by the Courageous Steps Project. Then, at noon, a short concert by the Alumni Jazz Band will fill your ears with patriotic favorites. The official ceremony will start at 12:30 PM with a Color Guard presentation by the Hermon JROTC.
- Old Town: The Old Town YMCA will host its annual 5K to fundraise for veterans. The event starts at 8 a.m. Monday. You can preregister online.
Northern Maine
- Caribou: A parade will start in front of the courthouse at 10 a.m., and will proceed to Veterans Memorial Park.
- Caribou: A ceremony will be held at the Northern Maine Veterans Cemetery, located 37 Lombard Road, at 1 p.m.
- Houlton: A ceremony will be held at Evergreen Cemetery at 49 Main St. at 9 a.m.
- Houlton: The Memorial Day Parade starts at 10 a.m. on North Street, ending at Monument Park where a service will be held.
- Mapleton: A parade will kick off at 2 p.m., proceeding from the post office to Mapleton School.
- Presque Isle: A parade will proceed from the University of Maine Presque Isle’s campus to the Veterans Memorial Park, starting at 10 a.m.
Down East and Hancock
- Bar Harbor: Bar Harbor will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at the Village Green in downtown at 10 a.m. Monday.
- Blue Hill: A parade will start at 9:30 at the Duffy-Wescott Post 85 of the American Legion on Tenney Hill. The procession will include cannon fire around 10 a.m., with the parade ending at the cemetery.
- Ellsworth: A parade will start at 10 a.m. Monday, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the City Hall.
- Ellsworth: The Down East Family YMCA will host its annual Memorial Mile starting at the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce on High St. at 9 a.m. Monday. Runners and walkers are welcome. Pre-registration is $20, and it is $25 on race day. Register online at the YMCA website.
- Gouldsboro: Gouldsboro’s Memorial Day ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Gouldsboro Veterans’ Memorial next to the town office.
- Hancock: Hancock will host a short parade that kicks off at 9:30 a.m Monday at the Women’s Club and continues to the town square. The ceremony will include a speaker, invocation and salute then the parade will march back.
- Northeast Harbor: Northeast Harbor’s Memorial Day Parade will take place at 10:30 a.m., starting at the Mount Desert Elementary School. The parade will be followed by a ceremony hosted by the American Legion Post #103.
- Southwest Harbor: A parade will start at 9:10 a.m., proceeding to the Village Green where a ceremony will start around 9:30 a.m.
Central/Midcoast Maine
- Belfast: Starting at Reny’s Plaza at 11 a.m., a parade will proceed down Main Street toward the waterfront.
- Camden: A ceremony with prayer, speeches, wreath laying and taps will be held at the public landing at 8:30 a.m. A parade will begin at 9:15 at Union Street.
- Dover-Foxcroft: Starting at 10 a.m. at the Piscataquis County Courthouse parking lot, the Memorial Day parade will travel toward the Mayo Mill Dam. A ceremony will be held at Monument Square following the parade.
- Lewiston: A Memorial Day celebration will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Park on Main Street.
- Lincolnville: A parade starts at 12:15 in front of Lincolnville Central School.
- Rockport: A parade starts near the post office at 10:45 a.m., and will proceed toward Graffam Bros.
- Wayne: Wayne’s Memorial Day parade will kick off at 11 a.m. The parade route will start at the Wayne Community Church parking lot, continuing to Memorial Park where further ceremonies will be held.
Southern Maine
- Biddeford: A ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at Waterhouse Field.
- Cumberland: A parade will start at 10 a.m. at the Mabel I. Wilson School, ending at the veterans monument in Cumberland Center. A ceremony will be held following the conclusion of the parade.
- Gorham: Gorham will hold its annual Memorial Day Parade Monday, starting at 11 a.m. A wreath laying ceremony will be held in Phinney Park.
- Portland: A memorial day procession will start at 2 p.m. on Monday, beginning on Stevens Avenue in front of Longfellow School, and ends at the Evergreen Cemetery green in front of Wilde Memorial Chapel. A commemoration ceremony will be held at the end of the parade.