Memorial Day weekend events in Richland Center

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis (WRCO / WRCE) – Are you looking for something to do this weekend, including Memorial Day Monday? We have you covered!

Friday, May 23

Team Booneytunes for GRACE will be having their 15th Annual Booneytunes Art and Garage Sale Friday and Saturday, May 23 & 24, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. both days, in downtown Gillingham. The Art Barn will be open with 100 paintings to choose from. The War Dog Memorial, “Dog Patch” will be open to honor Military Working Dogs this Memorial Day as well.

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13 will be at area businesses for Poppy Day Friday, May 23. Help support your veterans and families by donating.

The River Valley School Fair will be hosting a brat stand at Prem Meats in Spring Green Friday, May 23, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 24, from 9 am. to 6 p.m.

Bower-Gunnill-Dalton VFW Post 2267 is seeking parade participation for the upcoming Memorial Day Parade. Parade participation is encouraged, with veterans leading with the Colors, school marching bands, or patriotic displays. The parade kickoff is 10 a.m. Monday, May 26, at Park and Third Street. It will proceed down Church Street to the Richland Center Cemetery, with a route of about seven blocks. The Memorial Day ceremony will take place at the Richland Center Cemetery starting at 10:45 a.m. For more information, call 608-647-4884.

Saturday, May 24

The Brewer Public Library will be closed in observance of Memorial Day on Saturday, May 24, and Monday, May 26.

The Pleasant Ridge Church Association will hold an open house on Saturday, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Kinship will host a brat stand at Walsh’s Ace Hardware Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 25

The Kickapoo Valley Rescue Squad will host its annual pancake breakfast Sunday, May 25, from 7 a.m. to noon at the squad building in Viola. The event is free to the public. Free will donations are accepted.

Monday, May 26

The Highground will host its 15th Annual Honor Ride on Memorial Day, May 26. This year’s routes will start at seven different locations including: Eau Claire, Appleton, Onalaska, Wausau, Minocqua, Watertown and Neillsville. Motorcyclists are invited to join any route at one of the scheduled stops featured on the Honor Ride website. As the riders start arriving at the park around 11:30 AM, they can enjoy a meal of burgers and brats. They can also participate in an onsite basket raffle.

All funds raised by the Honor Ride will help The Highground continue its mission to support veterans and their families by providing a place for peace and reflection, while offering programs designed to nurture post-traumatic growth. At 2:15 p.m., riders will line up and depart The Highground to take the last ride of the day through Neillsville and back out to the park in commemoration of Memorial Day.

The community is invited to wave if they see them ride by in town. As Memorial Day guests welcome the riders back to The Highground, the Liberty Bell will ring to signal their arrival. Guests are invited to gather on the Plaza at 3 p.m. as the Liberty Bell rings once more for the National Moment of Remembrance and the beginning of the ceremony.

Memorial Day Mass at St. Kilian’s Catholic Church in Bear Valley will be held Monday, May 26, at 9 a.m. Following the service, there will be refreshments and fellowship in the church basement hall. This year, there will also be a small sale of St. Kilian’s church items, which can be purchased with a freewill donation.

Miss Purdy and Nestor will be out and about for several weeks, accompanied by their donkey crew, members of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 13, and American legion Post 13. Those times and places are as follows:

• Monday, May 26, at the Memorial Day Parade

• Friday, May 30, at the Harvest Guest Home

• Friday, June 6, at the Sauk County Health Care Center – Reedsburg
• Friday, June 13, at Schmitt Woodland Hills
• Friday, June 20, at the Pine Valley Community Village
• Friday, June 27, at Our House.

All visits will start at 10 a.m. depending on weather and military funerals. Visit with the residents, staff, and of course Miss Purdy and Nestor at any of the stops.

The American Legion Post 383 and Legion Auxiliary will host two events on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. The first will be at Battery Park in Lone Rock starting at 10:00a. The second will be at the St. Malachy Church cemetery at 11:00a.

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