Ghost Tour Fundraiser, Memorial Day Parade Taking Place in East Lyme

Discover East Lyme is getting ready for the summer and sharing its calendar of events. A hunt for haunts, touch-a-truck and Memorial Day events are just some of the May happenings.

Smith-Harris House - Legend Trips Ghost Tour Fundraiser

Smith-Harris House & Barn
Saturday, May 14th, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
$99 per person

Join PBS Emmy-nominated host Jeff Belanger as he returns to the Smith-Harris House to lead visitors in a late-night, light-hearted, hunt for haunts! The cost of the ticket includes dinner, lectures, a historical tour of the house, and hours of investigation into potential paranormal happenings!

Registration MUST be made through Legend Trips at www.legendtrips.com, tickets limited to 25 people. If this tour has sold out, please email director@smithharris.org to be placed on the waiting list for an upcoming second ghost tour date (TBD).

Legend Trips has raised thousands of dollars for museum preservation throughout New England. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Friends of Smith-Harris House, a 501c3 which provides funding for the continued preservation and programming efforts of the Smith-Harris House.

Touch-A-Truck

The 9th annual Touch-A-Truck will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 21, at McCook Point Park in Niantic, CT. The rain date is Sunday.

The East Lyme Auxiliary of Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut and the East Lyme Parks and Recreation Department are co-sponsoring the event.

Children can climb various vehicles, sit in the driver’s seat and discover the world of trucks. They will be able to reach the sky in a cherry picker, see, touch, and interact with big trucks and learn their functions.

This unique event will feature large trucks and heavy equipment from law enforcement, fire departments, commercial companies, industrial companies and rental companies.

There will be face painting and craft activities for the children, as well as a free photo-op. Refreshments will be available for sale.

There is a $4 per person donation (ages 3 and up) to benefit the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut. For more information call C&FA at 860-443-2896, Ext. 910 or visit the Child and Family Agency website.

Boardwalk Re-Dedication Ceremony

On Saturday, May 28, at 11 a.m., the East Lyme Public Trust Foundation, in co-operation with The East Lyme Parks and Recreation Department, will sponsor an official re-dedication of the East Lyme Boardwalk.

The general public is invited to attend and witness this historic occasion. The ELPTF would especially like to encourage the 200 people who dedicated benches and the innumerable people who sponsored plaques to also attend.

Participants should enter the Boardwalk at Hole-in-the Wall on Baptist Lane, Niantic. There will be a short walk to the area of the monument where the ceremony will take place.

At the entrance to Hole-in-the Wall, the Public Trust will have a display of historical information and memorabilia related to the construction and re-construction of the Boardwalk.

After the ceremony, participants will have the opportunity to visit “their bench” and re-visit “their plaque." During and after the dedication, music will be provided by Trust member and DJ Bill Rinoski. Bill will feature Boardwalk-related music and oldies, plus Top 40 selections.

Memorial Day Vigil

A Memorial Day Vigil to honor and remember the brave men and women who died while serving our country will be held on Sunday, May 29, at 7 p.m. on the Niantic Town Green (corner of Main St. and Pennsylvania Ave.).

Memorial Day & Parade

The East Lyme Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 30, beginning at 2 p.m. The parade will begin near St. John's Green (across from the Children's Museum of Southeastern CT.), and will proceed down Niantic's Main St. ending at the East Lyme Town Hall.

The parade celebrates all those who have served in uniform from the American Revolution to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and will reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.

Visit the Discover East Lyme website for more information on the events.

(Photo: Discover East Lyme)