BURRILLVILLE – With the state slowly lessening restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19, the parades, memorials and other events that normally take place during the upcoming weekend – known largely as the unofficial start to summer – will not happen in 2020.
But that doesn’t mean residents in Burrillville and the surrounding towns can’t mark the occasion.
Two events this weekend will allow residents to acknowledge the holiday safely, while maintaining social distancing guidelines.
The first, a distance-conscious traveling classic car and truck show dubbed “Outlaw Run,” is set to take off from Broncos Plaza at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 24.
The event, organized by Burrillville resident Jim Weicherding, will raise funds for town-based organization Between the Cracks, which aims to provide aid to families in the community who need help, but don’t necessarily qualify for government assistance.
Participants in the car cruise have been asked to stay inside their vehicles, and wear old Western-style face coverings
Cars will travel along Route 102 into Burrillville and onto East Avenue. The parade will then roll onto Harrisville Main Street, then onto Chapel Street, followed by Union Avenue.
The parade will then head along Centennial Street, then Grove Street, before merging right onto North Main Street. It will turn right onto Pascoag Main Street and onto the Bridgeway, and left onto Sayles Avenue.
Finally, vehicles will head up South Main Street onto Route 100 , ending the route in the parking lot of the former Purple Cat in Chepachet.
On Monday, Burrillville Allied Veterans Council American Legion Posts 17 & 88, and VFW Post 1023, will hold their annual Memorial Day services. But unlike past years, when residents have gathered at Freedom Park to honor and remember the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice, there will be no live audience in 2020.
Instead, the event will be streamed online, and published on the Post 88 page.
Commander Raymond Trinque said that as of Thursday, May 21, 1,200 people had signed up for the Facebook Live event.
“We may be one of only a handful of ceremonies,” Trinque said.
To watch the services in Burrillville live, visit the event page at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 25.
Meanwhile, the US Army Field Band has announced a special Memorial Day weekend performances of “We Stand Ready,” a virtual concert series by the soldier musicians. The concerts can be found on the band’s YouTube page and will be held on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday and Monday at 1 p.m.
Editor’s note: This article originally stated that the car cruise would take place on Saturday, May 23. Weicherding has since announced that the event will be held on the rain date, Sunday, May 24.
