St. Joe Today is inviting everyone to the 2026 St. Joseph Memorial Day Parade, set for next Friday, May 22 downtown.
St. Joe Today’s Daniele Crevier tells us the event has been held each year since 1982 to honor those who have served and sacrificed for their country. The parade will start at 12 p.m. and travel along Lake Boulevard from Park Street to Port Street.
“We have some high school marching bands,” Crevier said. “We’ve got the St. Joe High School Marching Band plus the 7th and 8th graders. We’ve got the Michigan Lutheran Marching Band and Benton Harbor Marching Band. We’ve got Lest We Forget, who does bring their members, which are also veterans.”
The Daughters of the American Revolution, police, and Blossomtime royalty will also take part. The parade will end with a memorial ceremony held at the Howard Bandshell.
“The parade itself is probably about 20, 25 minutes, maybe, by the time everyone gets down there. And then we do that short bandshell ceremony. So we’ll have some speakers there. We have Bless We Forget that does tap. They do the flag raising, the honor guards are there. And so it’s just a nice little short ceremony.”
Crevier says the Memorial Day Parade is a yearly tradition that gives everyone a chance to thank those who have served.
Crevier also notes the downtown bluff stairs mural is set to be finished by parade day, so those who head downtown to check out the parade can take a short walk to see that patriotic display for America’s 250th.