Decoration Day + Historic Baseball

Saturday, May 23

Procession begins at the Gazebo at 1 p.m.
Ceremony at New Hope Cemetery follows immediately

Town buildings will be closed during procession and ceremony

All activities included with general admission

TICKETS

Memorial Day began in 1868 as a day called Decoration Day. More than 600,000 soldiers had died during the American Civil War, and their families did not want anyone to forget their sacrifice. On Decoration Day, these families went to the graveyard with flowers and flags to decorate the graves of their soldiers who had died.

Today, we honor all fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, not just those who died in the Civil War. Families still go to cemeteries to remember family members who are gone.

You can see what Decoration Day might have looked like over 100 years ago.

Historic Baseball demonstration
Starting at 3:30 p.m. • FREE • Front lawn

Learn about the history of this most American of pastimes! Our players in period uniforms will explain 1876 rules (no cussing or spitting, for starters). You can even try your own turn at bat.