On May 29, the Noank Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m., winding through the village area of Noank, stopping for a ceremony at the Noank Cemetery and then another at the Veterans Memorial Triangle. A picnic lunch will be served in the village starting at 11 a.m.

The Noank parade is considered to be one of the oldest in the country and features band music, fire and military apparatus, marchers, antique vehicles and floats.

The route starts on Main Street, goes south on Pearl Street, right on Chester Street, right on High Street, right on Sylvan Street, across Main Street again onto Ward Avenue past the firehouse, left on Mosher Avenue and west to Elm Street.

The parade stops at the Noank Cemetery for services of remembrance, led by guest speaker Capt. James Willis (USCG retired). Then, led by Parade Marshall Charles Abate, the parade moves north on Elm Street onto the Military Memorial at Brook Street for the final services.

Following the parade and services, there is a luncheon cookout at the village park next to the Noank Firehouse. Donations can be made to the Noank Parade Committee, American Legion Post 115, P.O.Box 451, Noank, CT 06340, payable to “HMV Post 115.”

During that Saturday morning, there are traffic delays in the village, especially from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Visitors or deliveries should arrive early or later during that period. Vehicles participating in the parade should arrive between 9 and 9:30 a.m. as Main Street gets closed by 9:30.

If the weather is cloudy, visitors should bring an umbrella anyway to enjoy the parade, as it is rare for these events to be canceled.