Official West Virginia Memorial Day Parade

Grafton, West Virginia, is widely cited as a claimant to the birthplace of Memorial Day, and its Official West Virginia Memorial Day Parade has continued for more than 150 years. You will join locals and visitors for a morning of remembrance as veterans, marching bands, and community groups move through Taylor County’s historic streets. Expect a strongly patriotic tone and large crowds drawn to what organizers describe as the nation’s longest continuously running Memorial Day parade.

You will want to position yourself early along the downtown route for the best sightlines and easiest access to restrooms, shops, and sidewalks that suit families. The procession steps off at 10:00 AM from the intersection of Beech Street and Yates Avenue near Grafton High School, then continues through downtown, crosses the Memorial Bridge, and finishes at Grafton National Cemetery. A formal memorial service and wreath-laying follows at 12:00 PM, often with speakers from the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance and local military leadership.

Plan for a multi-division lineup that can include more than 60 participating organizations, from the Taylor County Honor Guard to school performers such as the Grafton High School Band, Taylor County Middle School Band, and the Grafton High School Entertainers. One of the longest-standing local practices is the involvement of schoolchildren helping decorate graves with flowers, a tradition with roots in the 19th century. If heavy rain moves in, the parade commonly proceeds, while the memorial service may shift indoors, sometimes to a venue such as the International Mother’s Day Shrine.

You should arrive by about 9:00 AM if you want nearby street parking, since downtown spaces fill quickly; many attendees park in residential areas and walk. Dress for variable late-spring conditions with a light rain jacket and comfortable shoes for the cemetery portion, and plan on several hours for the full program. The event is free and open to the public; pets are typically allowed on sidewalks, but crowds and band music can be hard on some animals. For a full weekend, we suggest booking lodging near Tygart Lake State Park for trails and water access after the ceremonies, or choosing a regional rental as a quiet base for exploring north-central West Virginia.