Patch's Guide to Fairfield County's Memorial Day Parades

After four long years, the guns fell silent and Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. And as the nation worked to bind its wounds, it began decorating the graves of all those who died during the Civil War. And thus Decoration Day was born. In time it became Memorial Day, to honor all those who died wearing the uniform.

Now, 150 years after that war tore a rent through our nation’s fabric, two wars continue to claim the lives of those who serve. This Memorial Day, parades and ceremonies across the region honor these men and women who, as President Abraham Lincoln said, gave their lives so that our nation might live.

Darien

The parade starts at 10 a.m. at the Goodwives Shopping Center on Old Kings Highway and ends at at Hecker Avenue and Boston Post Road. A ceremony at the immediately follows the parade where a flagpole will be rededicated to honor the 150th anniversary of the Civil War’s start.

Fairfield

The parade starts at 10 a.m. on South Pine Creek Road. It will go south along the Post Road past the library and South Benson Road. From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. there will be a picnic on the grounds of the . Look for antique automobiles in the parade!

Greenwich

The parade is on Sunday, May 29 from 5 to 6 p.m. It starts at Glenville Street. The Department of Parks and Recreation hosts one of Connecticut’s oldest foot races on Monday, May 30: the Jim and the Kid's half-mile Fun Run The Five Mile Run starts at 8:15 a.m. in front of the . The kids run starts at 9:15 a.m. on the Havemeyer Track behind .

New Canaan

The parade begins 9:30 a.m. on Mon. May 30 at and heads down Main Street to . A memorial ceremony follows the parade.

Norwalk

Norwalk will have .

The annual Memorial Day parade will start at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 30, marshaling in on Seaview Avenue. The parade route runs along Fort Point Street, Van Zant Street then North on East Avenue from the East Norwalk Cemetary to the dispersal at the Town Green.

The Rowayton Memorial Day Parade will take place Sunday, May 29, at noon. Afterwards stop by the Fire House for hot dogs and soda, and visit the Rowayton Arts Center’s Annual Art Show at Pinkney Park.

A Cemetery Tour of the Civil War soldiers' plot at Riverside Cemetery, along with a wreath-laying ceremony featuring CivilWar re-enactors will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, at the Riverside Cemetery, 81 Riverside Ave. (The rain date is Sunday, also at 2 p.m.)

Redding

The parade starts at 12 p.m. at the and ends at 1 p.m. at the Memorial Green on Cross Highway. Highlights include fire engines, a fife and drum corps. A ceremony follows the parade’s end.

Ridgefield

Monday’s parade starts at 11:30 a.m. and marches down Main Street to before returning to the church.  

Shelton

The parade begins promptly at 9 a.m. on Elizabeth Street in Derby and then crosses into Shelton.

Stamford

The city’s parade is on Sunday at 12 p.m. It starts on North Street and goes to . There will be a service at Veterans Park at the end of the parade.

Trumbull

On Monday, fallen servicepeople will be honored in a ceremony starting at 12:30 pm at the . The parade then begins at 2 p.m. in front of on Route 111.

Weston

There will be a Memorial 5K Road Race on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. The Memorial Day Fair opens 2pm Saturday and goes through Monday.

Veterans and their families are invited to an 8:30 a.m. breakfast Monday at parish hall.

The parade begins at 10:45 am at Weston High School and ends at the Town Hall Gazebo. The ceremony includes a flag raising, playing of taps, and wreath laying.

Westport

The parade steps off at 9am in front of the and heads up Riverside Avenue to .

Wilton

The annual Memorial Day Parade is Mon. May 30. It starts at 21 River Road, passes Wilton Center’s Veterans Memorial Green and . The parade ends at the . Look for floats that show support for all U.S. service branches, all U.S. and Wilton veterans, and all those now serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the world.