Memorial Day Parades, Services and Events

By: Jonathan Jones 05/13/2014

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer and it brings with it plenty of celebrations around Lake County.  Whether you're looking forward to a Helicopter flyover and landing in Winthrop Harbor, excited for the fireworks at Six Flags Great America, or want to experience the historical setting of Downtown Waukegan, here are some ways to celebrate this patriotic holiday.

Lake County has parades, celebrations and so much more!  Looking for a family fun weekend?  Or maybe you're looking for ways to celebrate Spring before it's over?  Check out our full calendar of events here!

Barrington Memorial Day Parade and Services Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. Parade Route:  The parade kicks off in Downtown Barrington at Cook and Main Streets and will end at Evergreen Cemetery. Join Barrington residents and members of the Barrington VFW at 10 a.m. for this annual Memorial Day Parade that ends with a short service to commemorate U.S. men and women who died while in military service to their country. Unite with friends and neighbors to honor our veterans. See website Insider Tip:  Memorial Day Weekend is also Barrington's Art Fest!  For more information click here

Deerfield's Memorial Day Service and Parade Monday, May 27, 10 a.m. Parade Route:  Start at Veteran's Memorial and finish at Deerfield Cemetery. Join with friends and neighbors at The Veteran's Memorial (located at the intersection of Jewett Park Drive and Park Avenue behind the Deerfield Park District Community Center at 836 Jewett Drive) for a service and parade honoring our service members.  At the completion of the service, a parade will travel from the Veteran's Memorial to the Deerfield Cemetery.

Grayslake's Memorial Day Parade and Service Monday, May 26, 9:30 a.m. Parade Route: Start at Grayslake's Central High School parking lot on Lake Street at 9:30 a.m. and travel south on Lake Street to Junior and east on Junior Avenue to Memorial Park. The service will be held at Memorial Park immediately following the parade. For further information or to register to participate in this year's parade, please contact Jennifer at the Village Hall at 847.223.8515 and see website.

Gurnee's Memorial Day Ceremony Monday May 26, 12 p.m. The Gurnee American Legion Post 771 will be holding the Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Gurnee Memorial (located in front of the Police Station at the intersection on Washington & O'Plaine Road). The ceremony will feature the guest speaker and patriotic music. Website Gurnee Memorial - Police Station, 100 No. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee

Gurnee's Six Flags' Memorial Day  "Rock the Block" Weekend Saturday May 24- Monday May 26 Times:  Saturday – Sunday: 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.,  Monday:  10:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Celebrate the unofficial start of summer with family and friends at Six Flags Great America. Hurricane Harbor also opens this weekend, along with the welcome back of the end of the day parade!  Celebrate right with live music and fireworks on both Saturday and Sunday nights. See Additional Six Flags Ticket info Here

Highland Park Memorial Day Ceremony Monday, May 26, 11 a.m. Mayor Nancy Rotering invites all to attend this year's Highland Park Memorial Day Ceremony, near the bandstand at Memorial Park, 405 Prospect Avenue (the park is just east of the Highland Park Public Library at the intersection of Laurel, Prospect and Linden Avenues).

Lake Villa's Memorial Day Parade Monday May 26, 1 p.m. Parade Route:  Parade begins at Palombi School on McKinley and ends in Lehmann Park. Lake Villa VFW Post 4308 and Boy Scout Troop 323 will host the Annual Memorial Day Parade followed by Memorial Services at Lehmann Park. Come out and enjoy this annual event. For more information,  call 847.356.6100 and visit website.

Lake Zurich's Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 26,10 a.m. Parade Route:  Start at Legion Hall (51 Lions Drive) and proceed to the Veterans Monument (200 Mohawk Trail) Get your mini American flags ready and head out to this annual Memorial Day Parade that begins just steps from the Legion Hall and finish at the Veterans Monument, where a brief service will commemorate all veterans. See website

Libertyville Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony Monday, May 26, 9:30 a.m. A parade led by the American Legion and VFW will start from the commuter train station at 9:30 a.m. to Cook Park for the annual Memorial Day ceremony at 9:45 a.m.  See website

Lindenhurst Memorial Day Ceremony Monday, May 26, 10 - 11:30 a.m. 2301 E. Sand Lake Rd., Lindenhurst Meet at the veteran's memorial in Lindenhurst to pay tribute to our veterans and their service to our country. Call (847) 356-8252 for more. See website

Mundelein's Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. Parade Route: The parade starts at the Village Hall and proceeds west on Hawley Street to Greenview Avenue to Memorial Park, where the American Legion will conduct its annual Memorial Day ceremony. Veterans are encouraged to participate in the parade, and a trolley is available for Veterans to ride in. Veterans may wear uniforms or hats indicating their branch of service. Scout groups and other groups can also participate in the parade too.  Get there early to get a good spot! See website

Round Lake Memorial Day Parade and Celebration Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. Wearing your best red, white and blue colors, meet at the Metra train station at 10 a.m. for the parade start!  Looking for a fun place to watch the parade go by?  Check out the website for more information and a new parade route.

Wauconda's Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. Parade Route:  Parade starts at Cook Memorial Park on Main Street between N. Garland and North Ave., and the parade ends at Memorial Park, where there is an American Legion ceremony honoring the veterans. For over 60 years the Wauconda Memorial Day Parade has traveled along Main Street where families line the street hours before the parade begins. Come join in the fun! The Wauconda Memorial Day Parade is the largest in Lake County! See Website

Waukegan's Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. Parade:  Starts at Corners of Genesee and Grand Ave., in Downtown Waukegan. Come out and enjoy the annual Memorial Day Parade in the beautiful and historic streets of Downtown Waukegan. Call 847.599.2949 for info and see the facebook  event page.

Winthrop Harbor Memorial Day Parade and Helicopter Landing! Monday, May 26, 11 a.m. Parade Route:  Parade starts at Sheridan Rd. & State Line Rd. and end at the Village Park. Help honor those who have given their lives to protect our freedoms, and be there as AIR-ONE will does a fly-over of the Memorial Day Parade in their Vietnam era UH-1V "Huey" helicopter!   The flight crew will do a slow fly-over of the parade route, and then land on the baseball ball diamond adjacent to the Memorial park at 38-Acres. The helicopter will remain available on display for one hour after the VFW Memorial Service concludes. Come over and take a look at this historic aircraft, inside and out!  See flyer

Don't forget to check out our website when you're looking for something to do around Lake County!