More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.
Natick’s Memorial Day observances were held on Mon., May 29, and included a parade that started at Moran Park and ended at the Town Common, making stops along Pond Street to pay respects to veterans buried in Old Dell and St. Patrick’s cemeteries, and the Indian Burial Ground.
More:
Natick has a number of observances and activities on Memorial Day, which falls on Monday, May 29. Memorial Day is a national holiday and honors those who lost their lives while defending their country.
Monday, May 29
8:15am—Flag raising at Moran Park (near the downtown MBTA station)
8:30am—Parade forms at Moran Park
8:40am—Parade marches to Town Common
9am—Ceremonies at the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Monument
10am—Parade resumes and marches from East Central to West Central and onto Pond Street for memorial services at Old Dell and St. Patrick’s cemeteries.
11am—Parade resumes, marches to Indian Burial Ground on Pond Street for ceremonies at 11:15 a.m.
11:30am—Parade disbands.
Parking meters in Natick will be free on Monday, May 29.
Natick’s Recycling Center, located on West Street at the corner of Route 27, is closed on Mon., May 29 (as well as every other Monday).
Natick Town offices will be closed Monday, May 29.
Memorial Day is an official holiday for the US Postal Service, so Post Offices will be closed on Monday, May 29 and there will be no home delivery of mail. It is also an official holiday for UPS, but scheduled UPS Critical Express and UPS Holiday packages should still arrive.
Massachusetts law states that liquor stores may not open until noon.
Morse Institute Library will be closed Saturday, May 27; Sunday, May 28; and Monday, May 29, in observance of the holiday.
The Bacon Free Library will be closed Saturday, May 27 (and all Saturdays Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend; and Sunday, May 28 (and all Sundays).
More: Natick military veterans and war memorial tour
Ask about Advertising on Natick Report.
We’d been reaching out to the Natick Friends of the 4th in recent weeks to see if a parade might be in the offing this summer, and didn’t take the lack of response or dead email links as good signs. Indeed, the group has now broken its silence on social media and confirmed there will be no parade in 2023.
This makes four straight years without the parade.
“After a lot of thought, community polling, and discussion, the Board of Directors of the Friends of the 4th will not be fundraising or organizing a parade or other activities in 2023. We encourage everyone to attend any 4th of July event that another committee or group organizes to celebrate the holiday,” according to the Friends of the 4th.
The group conducted a survey in November to gauge community interest in July 4th events. We inquired about the results, but didn’t hear back.
Natick will be holding a parade on May 29, Memorial Day.
Nearby, Wellesley holds its Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend events this weekend, May 20-21, including the 54th Wellesley Veterans’ Parade on Sunday, followed by a big picnic, carnival, and fireworks at Hunnewell Field.
Please send news tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com
If you’d like to contribute $ to support our independent journalism venture, please do….
Natick has a number of observances and activities slated leading up to Memorial Day and on the May 29 holiday itself.
Monday, May 22
8 a.m. – Decorate veterans’ memorials and graves with
wreaths
Wednesday, May 24
7 p.m. – 99th Transfer of Flags, Kennedy Middle School
Thursday, May 25
6 p.m. – Decorate veterans’ graves with flags (rain date
May 26)
Saturday, May 27
8:30 a.m. – Final walk-through, cemeteries at Pond Street
Monday, May 29
8:15 a.m. – Flag raising at Moran Park
8:30 a.m. – Parade forms at Moran Park
8:40 a.m. – Parade marches to Town Common
9 a.m. – Ceremonies at the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Monument
10 a.m. – Parade resumes and marches from East Central to West Central and onto Pond Street
for memorial services at Old Dell and St. Patrick’s cemeteries.
11 a.m. – Parade resumes, marches to Indian Burial Ground on Pond Street for ceremonies at
11:15 a.m.
11:30 a.m. – Parade disbands.
Volunteers needed: Contact the town’s Veterans Services Office at 508-647-6545, or Rosa at 508-647-6400, ext. 1900, for more information.
Natick Center Cultural District’s Holi Festival
When: May 20 from 2-4 pm with a rain date of May 21 from 2-4:00 pm.
Where: Middlesex Savings Bank Parking Lot along Rt. 135 & Washington St.
What: Celebrate the spirit of multiculturalism in our town during our Holi Festival
Holi (/holi/;Sanskrit: हो ली Holi) is a spring festival celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, also known as the “festival of colors” or the “festival of love.”
There will be dry powdered color available for all, Bollywood music, dancing, drinks and snacks for purchase.
Hosted by the Natick Center Cultural District and sponsored by Rumble Boxing and a Massachusetts Cultural Council grant.
