Memorial Day Parades And Events Around The Southcoast

It's Memorial Day! Time to head out on this beautiful Monday and check out some special parades and events!

According to Southcoast Today,here's a list of what's going on today.

FAIRHAVEN PARADE: Fairhaven Memorial Day Parade from Main and Center streets north to Riverside Cemetery, 8:30 a.m., with flag-raising and National Anthem performed by Fairhaven High School students. Ceremony at Civil War Monument followed by cannon salute at cemetery. (508) 979-4085. www.fairhaventours.com.

PUPPET BAND: Buttonwood Park Zoo, 425 Hawthorn St., New Bedford, presents Toe Jam Puppet Band today and every Monday, 10:30 and 11:30. Sing, dance and play with the band. Zoo admission plus $5/family. (508) 991-6178. www.bpzoo.org.

FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL SERVICE: Sponsored by New Bedford Port Society, 10 a.m. Procession begins outside Seamen's Bethel at 9:30 a.m. Officiant is Rev. Paul Wheeler, Frank Medeiros the organist, and Caroline Blais is the soloist and hymn leader.

DARTMOUTH PARADE: Steps off at 9:30 a.m. May 26, Apponagansett Park. Parade proceeds up Elm Street to the Dartmouth Police Station on Russells Mills Road with stops on the Padanaram Bridge, South Dartmouth Cemetery and the police station.

BATTLESHIP COVE: To host special Memorial Day Events, 11:30 a.m. May 26. Raising of the flag, wreath laying, gun salute from the USS Massachusetts' 5-inch guns and more. Battleship Cove features the world's largest collection of historic naval ships; five National Historic Landmarks; and Massachusetts' official veterans memorials for World War II and the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars. www.battleshipcove.org. Fall River.

MATTAPOISETT MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY: To be held 1:30 p.m. on the Mattapoisett Library grounds, sponsored by the Florence Eastman Post 280 American Legion. Participants will include JROTC Battalion from New Bedford High School; Rep. William Straus; Paul Silva, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen; and Elise Parker, student at ORR Jr. High, delivering the Gettysburg address. The Old Hammondtown Concert Band will also be there to provide patriotic music. For more information call the Veterans Office at (508) 758-4100, Ext. 212. 3 Depot St., Mattapoisett.

MATTAPOISETT RIVER RACE: Starts at 8:30 a.m. at Grandma Hartley's Reservoir, Snipatuit Road, Rochester, and finishes at the Herring Weir, River Road at Route 6, in Mattapoisett. Two-paddler teams compete in various categories. Trophies and prizes will be awarded at 7:30 p.m. Memorial Day at the school. For further information contact Chairman Arthur F. Benner at (508) 763-2024.

WESTPORT EVENTS: Memorial Day Parade stepoff is 10 a.m. May 26. Wreath laying services taking place May 26: 8 a.m. VFW W.A.&R. Ouellette Post #8502, 843 State Road; 8:20 a.m. AL James Morris Post No. 145, 489 Sanford Road; 8:35 a.m. Latessa Square, Tickle Road; 9:10 a.m. Fontaine Bridge — Route 88; 9:20 a.m. Westport Point, Main Road; 10:15-11:30 a.m. Beech Grove Cemetery; 11:40-11:55 a.m. Town Hall, 816 Main Road. A wreath is also to be placed sometime during early morning at Maple Grove Cemetery. For information contact the town Veterans' Services Department @ (508) 636-1028 phone or by email at veterans@westport-ma.gov. Westport.

NEW BEDFORD SERVICES: 8:15 a.m. at Rural Cemetery, New Bedford Post 1, The American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day Exercise at the Veterans' Plot; 8:30 a.m. at St. John's Cemetery, The Cape Verdean-American and the Portuguese-American War Veterans' Associations will conduct their Joint Annual Memorial Day Ceremonies. The members of both associations will assemble at the entrance of the cemetery on the Allen Street side and will march with members of the Senhor da Pedra Band to the Veterans' Memorial Plot; 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Cemetery, New Bedford Post 1, The American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day Exercise at the Veterans' Plot in St. Mary's Cemetery; 10 a.m. at Pier 3. Annual Memorial Day Parade and Services begin at 11:30 a.m. (forming up at 11), Parker Street and Hathaway Boulevard. The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Day Committee and the New Bedford Veterans' Advisory Board will conduct the parade. Route is east on Parker Street to County Street, north on County Street to Pope Street, and east on Pope Street into Clasky-Common Park where a Memorial Day Ceremony will be held. Immediately following the conclusion of the Memorial Day Parade at Clasky Common Park. A Memorial Day Exercise will be conducted at the Korean War Monument in Clasky Common Park.