Memorial Day Arts Ahead Procession Concord

The Penacook Village Association is adding a new stop of remembrance to its Memorial Day parade in Concord’s Penacook village on Sunday, May 24. The fifth annual parade is set to step off at 9 a.m. from the Merrimack Valley High School parking lot, according to the association and the City of Concord. Organizers said the route will pause at Woodlawn Cemetery, where Taps will be played, before continuing to Boudreau Square and ending at Washington Street School. The event is part of a broader Memorial Day weekend schedule in Concord and Penacook that also includes the city’s downtown parade on Monday, May 25. ### Where does the Penacook procession start and where does it end? Merrimack Valley High School is the starting point for the Penacook Memorial Day parade at 9 a.m. Sunday, according to the Penacook Village Association. The route then moves through the village, with planned pauses at Woodlawn Cemetery and Boudreau Square, before finishing at Washington Street School. (penacook.org) The Penacook Village Association said the 2026 event is its fifth annual Memorial Day parade. The group’s event posting said volunteers are still needed and directed people to contact Cindi Jacques for more information. ### What is new in this year’s route? Woodlawn Cemetery is the new addition to the procession this year. The City of Concord’s holiday notice said, “This year, we have added a stop of remembrance at Woodlawn Cemetery where taps will be played,” before the parade continues to the monument at Boudreau Square and then to Washington Street School. (penacook.org) The Concord Monitor’s Arts Ahead listing also described the cemetery stop as part of the weekend’s local arts and community calendar. (penacook.org) That listing matched the route details published by the city and by the Penacook Village Association. ### What should residents know about street closures? Village Street is scheduled to close from Washington Street at the rotary to Beede Drive from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. (concordnh.gov) Sunday, the city said. Concord’s calendar and holiday notices list the closure in connection with the Penacook parade. (concordmonitor.com) The City of Concord also posted a separate closure notice for the downtown Concord Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 25. Streets affected from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. include North Main Street from Pleasant Street to Storrs Street, Park Street from North Main Street to North State Street, North State Street from Park Street to Capital Street, and Capital Street from North State Street to North Main Street. (concordnh.gov) ### What else is scheduled in Concord for Memorial Day weekend? Monday, May 25, is the date of Concord’s downtown Memorial Day parade, organized by the Concord Veterans Council, according to the city. The parade begins at Christ the King Parish at 9 a.m. and continues down Main Street. Concord’s Memorial Day holiday notice also said city offices, including Concord Public Library and its branches, will be closed on Monday, May 25, and the Concord Transfer Station will also be closed. (concordnh.gov) Trash and recycling collection scheduled for Monday will move to Tuesday, with pickup delayed by one day for the rest of the week. ### Where can people check details before going? (concordnh.gov) The Penacook Village Association has published route details and volunteer information on its website. The City of Concord has posted the parade schedule, street closures and holiday service changes in its NewsFlash and calendar listings, and the Concord Monitor included the procession in its May 20 Arts Ahead roundup. (concordnh.gov) Sunday’s Penacook parade is scheduled for May 24 at 9 a.m., and Monday’s Concord Veterans Council parade is scheduled for May 25 at 9 a.m., according to the city’s notices. (concordnh.gov) (penacook.org)