West Hartford will observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, 2026, with a parade followed by a Memorial Service, and residents should note that trash and recycling pickup will be delayed by one day all week. [Updated, May 24]

By Ronni Newton

Parade canceled due to forecast of rain. 

The Town of West Hartford’s traditional Memorial Day parade will nor take place in 2026, due to the forecast of rain. Town officials made the announcement on Sunday afternoon.

There is no rain date. A notice has been posted on the town’s website.

Memorial Day ceremony

“Immediately following the parade each year, a brief Memorial Day ceremony is held to give the holiday special meaning,” Renée McCue, parade coordinator and public relations specialist for the Town of West Hartford said in a news release.

The event is held at the Veterans Memorial, located at the corner of North Main Street and Farmington Avenue, beginning at about 11 a.m. Because of rain, the ceremony will still be held, but will be inside the Town Hall Auditorium, 50 South Main Street, at 11 a.m.

Conor Tracy will serve as keynote speaker.

If you can’t attend in person

Coverage of the parade and ceremony will also be available for viewing by West Hartford Community Interactive via Comcast channel 5, Frontier channel 6098 and on the WHCi YouTube channel. Click on the links to watch the parade and ceremony – and be sure to subscribe!

Parking and traffic flow will not be impacted because the parade is canceled.

Parking is free all day on Monday, May 25 at all municipal parking sites, including garages.

On-street parking, however, is prohibited beginning at 12:01 a.m. on May 25 until the parade is completed on the following parade route streets:

• Pleasant Street, west side, from Whitman Avenue to Farmington Avenue
• Farmington Avenue, both sides, from Walden Street to Raymond Road
• North and South Main streets, both sides, from Brace Road to Burr Street

Several of the streets surrounding the parade route that provide access to South Main Street and Farmington Avenue will also be closed beginning at 9 a.m. Through traffic is advised to seek alternate routes.

The parking ban is expected to be lifted by 11 a.m., and roads are expected to clear by 1 p.m.

Municipal parking will resume normal operation on Tuesday, May 26 at 6 a.m.

Trash Delay

Trash, recycling, and bulky collections during the week of May 25 through May 39 will be one day late following Monday’s Memorial Day holiday. Monday’s collection will be done on Tuesday and all other collections will also be moved ahead one day.

For more information call All American Waste at 860-289-7850.

Holiday closings

In recognition of the Memorial Day holiday, West Hartford Town Hall will be closed all day. The Yard Waste and Recycling Center, Elmwood Community Center, both senior centers, all library branches, and schools will closed on Monday, May 25, 2026.

Most retail businesses are open on Memorial Day, but it is a federal holiday and banks are closed and there is no U.S. Postal Service mail delivery.

Additional information about West Hartford’s Memorial Day Parade can be found online. Questions about the parade may also be directed to Renée McCue at 860-561-7521, [email protected].

We-Ha.com schedule change

There will not be a newsletter on Monday, May 25, 2026, unless there is critical breaking news. Email newsletter delivery will resume on Wednesday, May 27.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.