Boalsburg celebrates Memorial Day with tours, events (2024)

by: Olivia Bosar

Posted: May 24, 2024 / 03:51 PM EDT

Updated: May 24, 2024 / 05:35 PM EDT

BOALSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The birthplace of Memorial Day is gearing up for a weekend of food, fun and to honor the soldiers of the past and present.

The community of Boalsburg in Centre County kicked off its Memorial Day weekend festivities with the fire company’s annual carnival Thursday night starting at 6 p.m.

Events throughout the weekend include the 3.8 mile Boalsburg Memorial Day Run through historic Boalsburg, an AACA Car show at the Pennsylvania Military Museum, history reenactments and special museum tours at Columbus Chapel every hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Boal Museum Armory every hour from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

A full schedule of events is as follows:

Thursday, May 23

• 2 p.m. — Drop in tour at Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum
• 6 to 10 p.m. — Boalsburg Fireman’s Carnival
  • Wrist band night, unlimited rides for $25

Friday, May 24

• 2 p.m. — Drop in tour at Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum
• 6:30 p.m. — John Homan, B-24 Pilot at The Columbus Chapel
• 6 to 10 p.m. — Boalsburg Fireman’s Carnival

Saturday, May 25

• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Preregistration and t-shirt pick up for Memorial Day Run at Blue Spring Park
• 8 to 9:45 a.m. — A Walk to Remember our Fallen at the Pennsylvania Military Museum
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Pennsylvania Military Museum displays WWII Living History Encampment
• 1:30 p.m. — Firing and static demonstrations at the Pennsylvania Military Museum
• 2 p.m. — Drop in tour at Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum
• 3:30 p.m. — Parade line up begins
• 5 p.m. — Boalsburg Fireman’s Parade
• Following the parade until 10 p.m. — Boalsburg Fireman’s Carnival

Sunday, May 26

• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Pennsylvania Military Museum displays WWII Living History Encampment
• 1:30 p.m. — Firing and static demonstrations at the Pennsylvania Military Museum
• 12 to 2 p.m. — Preregistration Memorial Day Run at Blue spring Park
• 2 p.m. — Lecture by local historian at the Pennsylvania Military Museum
• 2 p.m. — Drop in tour at Columbus Chapel and Boal Mansion Museum
• 2 to 4 p.m. — Boalsburg Heritage Museum tours
• 2 to 6 p.m. — Boalsburg Fireman’s Carnival
  • Wrist band night, unlimited rides for $25
• 4 to 7 p.m. — Civil War Ball at the Boal Museum Ballroom

Monday, May 27 — Memorial Day

• 7:15 to 8:15 a.m. — Registration for Memorial Day Run at Blue Spring Park
• 8 a.m. — Start delivering pies for pie contest
• 8:30 a.m. Memorial Day run
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — St. John’s Church baked goods sale, soup sale and quilt showing
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Over 120 vendors on Church & Main Street
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Memorial Day stage entertainment
  • 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. — SCAHS Jazz Band
  • 12 to 1 p.m. — Little German Band
  • 12:30 p.m. — Maypole Dance, Central PA Dance Workshop
  • 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. — Screaming Ducks
  • 3 to 4 p.m. — JR Mangan Band with Veronica
• 11 a.m. — Judging to the pie contest
• 5:45 p.m. — Walk to the cemetery
• 6 p.m. — Cemetery ceremony emceed by Jeff Brown

Information on all-day events happening throughout the weekend can be found on Boalsburg’s Memorial Day webpage.