Freedom Parade at Celebrate Commemorate

The whole family is invited to Waterloo for a family-friendly, alcohol-free celebration of our freedom during Celebrate Commemorate, May 23-26.Children’s entertainment is always a major feature of the weekend.Children’s entertainer Nels Ross Cremean will bring his popular In Jest! to the Lafayette Park stage on Saturday following the parade at about 12:45. Cremean’s gravity-defying arts-in-education programs promote character education, wellness, math, science,, reading, and fun!   Cremean provides several popular performances that blend physical theater, variety arts, humor, music, and a theme.He will be followed at 1:30 by Tom Sieling’ “Howl at the Moon. Sieling will perform his humorous and VERY participatory songs that engage the whole family – many about animals, some are even a bit athletic! Every show consists of the best, most fun, most participatory kids’ songs he knows, and he knows a lot of them! He accompanies himself on guitar, banjo, and harmonica, and he uses a drum machine to keep things nice and upbeat.Also in Lafayette Park, KIDS’ KORNER is a favorite place for children (and their parents, too)!! Kids Korner is open from 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The first 100 kids who stop by the KIDS Korner after the parade on Saturday will be given a FREE goodie bag!Meet Daffy Dill the Clown at Kids Korner from 2:30 to 4:30 Saturday and 2 to 4 Sunday.This year community groups have been invited to staff Kids’ Korner and help visitors play a variety of fun games and win prizes. The games are planned for children up to age 12. There is a Sports Center with football, basketball, bowling, fishing and golf, as well as a bear toss, duck game, egg-hunt, tic-tac-toe, Uncle Sam game and more! Games are only $.25 each. In addition to prizes that can be won while playing the games, the child will be given a FREE raffle ticket along with game tickets purchased. The drawing for the “kid-friendly” basket will be Sunday at the end of the day at the Kids’ Korner, of course!Families also should not miss the Wegman’s Zoomobile, where you can see the Seneca Park Zoo exhibit. It’s parked at the north end of Lafayette Park.At Oak Island, enjoy Civil War children’s games and crafts beginning at 3:30 Saturday and 1:30 Sunday.The 15th annual Celebrate Commemorate event will be held May 23-26 in Waterloo, the Birthplace of Memorial Day. For more information about the events, go to www.waterloony.com.The 148th consecutive commemoration of Memorial Day will be on Friday, May 30. It will include prayer services, and the official Memorial Day parade at 6 pm, followed by ceremonies in Lafayette Park. Col. Mike Plummer of Fort Drum, a Vietnam Vet, will be the guest speaker.