Mill Valley Celebrates Memorial Day With Weekend Of Events

MILL VALLEY, CA — Mill Valley is in for quite a weekend. After two years of virtual parades, the Mill Valley Memorial Parade will be in-person on Monday, May 30, following a weekend of festive events.

Monday will begin with a Veterans Ceremony, which will start at 9:45 at Lytton Square. In addition to honoring veterans of past wars, the crowd will hear winning essays from the student K-8 essay contest “What does Memorial Day mean to me?”

At 10:30, the famous parade will begin. It will feature a Color Guard, a dog march (with trophies given for Best Dog), the Redwood Drum Corps, a veteran float, and more.

This year, the parade will also focus on the war in Ukraine, and honor those who lost their lives fighting for freedom around the world. A portion of the parade registration and sponsorship proceeds will go to humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

Parade applications can be found here. Each year boasts more than 60 entries, and trophies are awarded for Best Car, Best Float, Best Dog, Best Music, Best Novelty, Best Business, Best Community Spirit and Best Overall.

Monday will also feature the return of Mill Valley Volunteer Firefighters Association's Pancake Breakfast, which raises about $10,000 to $15,000 a year each year for the Mill Valley volunteer firefighting program. It will take place from 7 to 11 a.m. on traffic-free Corte Madera Avenue in front of City Hall and outside the fire station, and offer pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice, and coffee. Event organizers said they are preparing more tables to allow for appropriate social distancing in light of rising COVID-19 cases.

From Friday, May 27 to Monday, May 30, the Kiddo! Carnival will feature rides, food and games in front of Mill Valley Middle School. Advance discounted ticket vouchers cost $30 and can be turned in at the carnival for a ticket book, or for a one-day wristband for unlimited rides. Advance tickets can be purchased at the carnival office at the rear parking lot at Mill Valley Middle School on 409 Sycamore Avenue at the yellow door from Monday, May 23 through Thursday, May 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and on Friday, May 27 from 8:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. Vouchers will also be sold at the Mill Valley Community Center on Thursday May 26 from 3:00pm-6:00pm and Friday May 27 from 2:00pm-3:30pm.

Wristbands cost $40 once the carnival begins.

Proceeds benefit the Kiddo! Endowment for the Arts and the arts programming at Mill Valley’s K-8 schools.

On Sunday, the Mill Valley Historical Society is sponsoring a “Walk Into History” guided tour following the route of Mt. Tam and the Muir Woods Scenic Railway to the trailhead at the northern end of Blithedale Canyon. The walk is designed to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of old Engine No. 9, an event that had to be postponed in 2020 and 2021. Tickets costs $15 for MVHS members and $20 for non-members. See here for more information and to buy tickets.