Here it comes... the first traditional holiday of the summer season and many of us are beginning to make our long weekend plans. The Town of Crown Point is gearing up for their annual Memorial Day celebration held Saturday, May 26 through Monday, May 28. This community has been hosting Memorial Day celebrations for 150 years! They extend gracious hospitality for everyone to come and enjoy the activities and events planned, but also acknowledge the true meaning of this holiday.
I spoke with Jodi Gibbs, Chair of the Crown Point Memorial Day Celebration Committee. “We are proud to honor those members of our community who have fought, and continue to fight, for our freedoms, most especially those individuals who paid the ultimate sacrifice.” This committee has prepared a great slate of activities for everyone to enjoy the weekend while honoring all veterans. Most events are concentrated in the town’s park appropriately named Veterans’ Memorial Park.
Walk/Run to Honor Crown Point’s Ironville History
Dust off the walking or running shoes and choose from a 10K run, 5K run, or 1 mile fun walk. There are three options for all ages and abilities for you to Honor Crown Point’s Ironville history on Saturday, May 26. The 10K begins at the Penfield Homestead Museum in Ironville, and extends 6.6 miles along Creek Road. The 5K begins at Crown Point Center and travels 3.1 miles, and the Fun Walk will start from the Crown Point Highway Department on Creek Road.
The runs and the walk all return to the Veteran’s Memorial Park in the hamlet. Transportation will be provided to all starting points of your selected option. Three water stations and some refreshments will be offered. You can register the morning of the race from 7-8:30 a.m. at the park, but pre-registration is suggested — call 518.597.9297. Awards will be given to the top three overall male and female participants, the oldest male and female, and the top three in each age division from under-12 to 60+.
Live Music and Activities
On Sunday, May 27 at 9:30 a.m., an Ecumenical Church Service will be held at the Band Stand in Veterans’ Memorial Park. The park officially opens at noon where you will find food, vendors, and children’s rides set up. Penelope the Clown will be there to entertain the young, and the young at heart, on both Sunday and Monday afternoons.
There will be a wide variety of food and treats available from pulled pork sandwiches, sausage and peppers, and the locally famous “michigans” to blooming onions, funnel cakes, smoothies, and deep fried Oreos. The Crown Point Food Pantry will be conducting a food drive over the weekend as well as selling raffle tickets for some unique items including handmade pillows, stuffed animals, and a hanging plant. The drawing for the raffle will be at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 28.
Live music begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday with entertainment by Stone Rose, a four-piece band playing new country and classic rock and roll. Later from 6-9 p.m., North Country Travelers, a local favorite, will be playing traditional country mixed with a surprise or two.
The Grand Fireworks Display takes place over the park at dusk.
The Parade Plus
Monday’s activities start off with the Solemn Cemetery Tour from 9 a.m. until noon. The park opens at 1 p.m. and the 150th annual Memorial Day Parade begins at 2 p.m. and extends along the main street of the hamlet ending at the park.
The parade bands plan to give a demonstration in the park at 3 p.m., immediately following the parade. From 4-6 p.m. you will enjoy a high energy performance of Grit-N-Whiskey, a six-piece modern country band with a touch of classic country that provides family entertainment enjoyed by all ages.
Honoring Veterans at Fort Ticonderoga
Where better to honor our military veterans than at one site where America’s earliest veterans fought and sacrificed? Fort Ticonderoga salutes the service of the U.S. military on Memorial Day Weekend from May 26 through 28. A full line-up of activities and programs offered throughout the weekend include daily tours in the fort, King’s Garden, and museum exhibit spaces; historic trades programs; ongoing soldiers’ life programs; weapons demonstrations; the Mount Defiance experience; and the Battlefield hiking trail.
On Saturday and Sunday, enjoy boat tours aboard M/V Carillon and sail the same shores of Lake Champlain that American soldiers did in 1776. You can also rent a canoe to create your own on the water experience. Join Fort Ticonderoga on Monday as they remember the sacrifices of American Soldiers during a patriotic ceremony at 11 a.m.
A 10% general admissions discount will be given to active duty military members with proof of service for this special weekend event.
However you spend your holiday weekend we hope it’s grand. Find more exciting things to do around the region our events calendar.
