Waterloo’s annual Celebrate Commemorate festivities will return this weekend with a packed schedule of parades, fireworks, Civil War reenactments, concerts, museum exhibits, and family activities honoring the village’s longstanding connection to Memorial Day.
The multi-day event begins Friday, May 22, and runs through Memorial Day ceremonies on Sunday, May 31. Organizers have scheduled events throughout Waterloo, including Lafayette Park, Oak Island, Main Street, and the National Memorial Day Museum.
Friday’s opening events include a Henry C. Welles Award reception at the Waterloo Library and Historical Society, an American Civil War memorial illumination ceremony, and live music by Night Train in Lafayette Park.
Saturday features one of the busiest schedules of the celebration, beginning with the Tribute to the Fallen 5K race and continuing with the annual parade down Main Street at 11 a.m. Organizers have also planned a Civil War living history encampment on Oak Island, arts and crafts vendors, live music throughout the day, horse and wagon rides, ranger-led discussions, and a fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.
Entertainment Saturday includes performances by the Jesse Novak Band, Jorge T Cuevas Caribe Jazz Allstars, Shelly Major and Phoenix Phive, and WhorlWood with the Henrie Brothers. Living history programming will feature Civil War demonstrations, musket firing exhibitions, and appearances by President Abraham Lincoln reenactor Fritz Klein.
Sunday’s schedule includes the Wheels on Main Street car show, additional living history programming, arts and crafts events, boat tours, and more live music in Lafayette Park.
Memorial Day events continue Monday with a veterans bike rally and activities at the National Memorial Day Museum before concluding the following weekend with military cemetery services on May 30 and Waterloo’s traditional Memorial Day parade and ceremonies on May 31.
Family-oriented programming throughout the weekend includes a Kids Korner with petting zoos, body art, acrylic pours, bike safety activities, and food demonstrations at the Culinary Tent featuring local agriculture, nutrition, and food preservation workshops.
Organizers said the celebration remains focused on honoring veterans while bringing the community together around Waterloo’s historic role as the Birthplace of Memorial Day.
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