Memorial Day weekend in Gettysburg and Adams County will offer residents and visitors a mix of remembrance ceremonies, patriotic music, historic tours, and community celebration.
The weekend begins Saturday, May 23, with the 2nd annual SummerFest at Gettysburg Rec Park, where live music, food vendors, and family activities will kick off the holiday weekend beginning at 2 p.m. This event has been rescheduled due to inclement weather.
Also on Saturday May 23, the Gettysburg Choral Society will present its “Celebrate America” patriotic concert at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hanover, honoring military service and the nation’s 250th anniversary.
On Sunday, May 24, Gettysburg’s Lincoln Cemetery will host its annual Memorial Day Program at 3 p.m., continuing a tradition that dates back to the late 19th century. The event honors veterans and includes music, speakers, and ceremonial tributes.
Memorial Day itself will begin with a chance to explore Gettysburg’s Civil War history at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, which will open its collection of more than 150 Civil War memorials from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church’s memorial collection includes plaques, tablets, and battlefield artifacts connected to those who served in the war.
Visitors can also take part in special Memorial Day programming at Gettysburg-area historic sites, including the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
The centerpiece of the weekend will be Gettysburg’s annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday afternoon. The parade begins at 2 p.m. in downtown Gettysburg and proceeds to Soldiers’ National Cemetery, where a remembrance ceremony will honor those who died in military service.
A longstanding Gettysburg tradition also begins on Memorial Day with the start of One Hundred Nights of Taps. Beginning May 25 and continuing nightly through the summer, volunteer buglers will perform Taps at 7 p.m. in Soldiers’ National Cemetery to honor fallen veterans.