Memorial Day Events: Cape Cod, South Shore and Martha's Vineyard

Let's give a special shout out to America's Hometown Plymouth! This year the Memorial Day parade is bigger and better.

Plymouth Memorial Day parade

The town’s Memorial Day parade will step off at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 28, in Shirley Square. Participants form up on North Street at 9 a.m. There will be free parking only until noon. The parade marshal will be Dale Whitbeck and the emcee will be Roxanne Whitbeck. Honored guests include the Royal Canadian Legionnaires of Georgetown, Ontario, and the guest speakers will be the Gutowski family.

The parade will proceed north on Route 3A and stop at the Korean/Vietnam Memorial on the lawn of the Courthouse. After a wreath-laying ceremony, the parade will proceed to Memorial Hall for another wreath ceremony at the World War II Memorial, then west on Samoset Street and into the Vine Hills/Oak Grove cemetery for a wreath ceremony. The parade continues east on Summer Street to the Town Brook Bridge World War I Memorial for a wreath ceremony, then to the Training Green for a ceremony. In case of inclement weather, the ceremonies will take place indoors at Memorial Hall at 10:30 a.m. Call the Veterans’ Services office at 508-747-1620, ext. 173, with questions.

Want to travel a bit further down Cape this weekend? Visit Falmouth, where small town America still carries on in the 21st century.

Come on out for the Falmouth Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on Monday, May 28 starting at 9:45am. The parade will leave the Village Green off Main Street at 9:45am, and the ceremony will commence when parade reaches Memorial Lane. Afterwards, a light lunch will be served at the . Any questions, please contact Crystal Knowlton at 508-495-7453.

If you made it to Plymouth, you might as well catch the boat at Woods Hole and day trip to Martha's Vineyard. This weekend, celebrate with the Islanders and tour some estates.

Saturday, May 26

Enjoy a tour of five exclusive properties in West Tisbury and Chilmark as part of the  Up Island Property Tour Fundraiser. Proceeds benefit ongoing preservation of historic church. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, Heather Gardens, Vineyard Gardens, and Middletown Nursery. 11 am - 4 pm. For more information, call 508-693-2842.

Back on the mainland in Hyannis, there is a good chance you might catch a glimpse of a member of the Kennedy clan, or you might not and take time to enjoy the rich maritime history of Barnstable.

Especially if you participate in the , all weekend at the  on the Hyannis Waterfront. The cost is free.

The annual Cape-wide celebration features nearly 60 events and activities throughout the month, including lighthouse tours, nautical art exhibits, lectures on maritime lore, boat-building, guided kayak excursions and the 8^th Annual Highland Light Ocean to the Bay Run/Walk on May 26, and more.