Category Archives: Musical Entertainment
Celebrate Commemorate Parade Saturday May 23rd
Waterloo Remembers
Click here for Some Suggested Parade Etiquette for those attending the 2026 Parade
Parade Co-Chair – Sarah Smolinski 315.745.9928 sarahemcmaster@yahoo.com
The parade will line up at 10:30 a.m. and step out promptly at 11 a.m. for the march down Main Street.
Parade Line up
Printable – Celebrate Commemorate Parade Route
Freedom Parade
Bring your chair and wave a flag to honor our vets and community stars!
17th Annual Memorial Day Veteran’s Biker Rally
MONDAY MAY 25th, 2026
17th Annual Memorial Day Veteran’s Biker Rally
Ride with us through the beautiful Finger Lakes Region this Memorial Day and show your support for those who served to protect our freedoms! Return to the Waterloo VFW for a Chicken BBQ Lunch!
Sponsored by:
Waterloo Container and Sessler Companies
Lead by the Patriot Guard Riders of NY
and
The Waterloo Legion Riders
2026 Bike Rally Registration Form
One of the most popular features of Celebrate Commemorate is our annual Biker Rally. The rally will be held on Monday, May 25, and is expected to attract 300 riders. Entry forms are available here, or participants may register at the VFW, 29 West Elisha St., from 8 to 10 a.m. the morning of the ride. Led by riders of the New York Patriot Guard and Waterloo Legion Riders, bikers from throughout the area are invited to join the “Ride for Respect” to pay tribute to our troops. Riders will leave the VFW at 10 a.m. under the direction of ride captain Nigel Heaton of the New York Patriot Guard Riders. They will return to the VFW by about 2 p.m. where a buffet luncheon will be available.
Friends and families are welcome to attend. A merchandise table will offer souvenirs for sale.
ALL PROCEEDS SUPPORT New York Patriot Guard Riders, Waterloo VFW, Waterloo American Legion and Celebrate Commemorate Event
The Cornell Cooperative Extension Culinary Tent
“The Culinary tent is a great resource to learn about foods grown and produced locally in Seneca County and the surrounding Finger Lakes area,” said CCE Executive Director Ave Bauder. “The public is invited to taste delicious samples, while getting new recipes and nutrition tips.
Saturday will feature a variety of presenters offering tasty samples.
Sunday will offer a Jr. Iron Chef Competition. Check it out.
The Cornell Cooperative Extension Culinary Tent Schedule
The Cornell Cooperative Extension Culinary tent will have lots of great information about food and nutrition throughout the weekend, plus gardening, agriculture, recycling, and youth programming from CCE. Stop in for some tips and recipes.
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For a complete list of events at our Culinary Tent, go to our website at: www.senecacountycce.org
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2026 Henry C. Welles Award
The Henry C. Welles award honors those individuals who
“embody the character and commitment of the founder of Memorial Day toward the betterment of our community.”
YouTube video Playlist of Henry Welles Award Winners 2009-2026
The Waterloo Library and Historical Society has announced that James “Jim” Patsos Jr. has been named the 2026 recipient of the Henry C. Welles Award, an honor presented annually to individuals who embody the spirit and community commitment of Memorial Day founder Henry C. Welles. The award ceremony is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on May 22 in Fatzinger Hall at the Waterloo Library & Historical Society and will serve as the kickoff to Waterloo’s Celebrate Commemorate Memorial Day weekend events.
For decades, Jim Patsos has quietly shown up wherever Waterloo needed help — from youth sports and community service projects to church leadership and local agriculture. Later this month, the Waterloo Library & Historical Society will formally recognize that lifetime of service.
Patsos moved to Waterloo at age 18 and attended Cornell University before returning to the area to operate his family’s Beltavern Farm in Junius. Alongside his late wife, Deb, he spent decades raising five children while remaining deeply involved in community organizations and volunteer efforts throughout Seneca County.
According to the Waterloo Library & Historical Society, Patsos served as a 4-H leader for 35 years, spent eight years as a Waterloo Little League board member and umpire, and held leadership roles with the Seneca County Farm Bureau. He also served as a church elder for the Church of Latter Day Saints and has volunteered for decades with the Seneca County Bereavement Support Group, the Community Christmas Project, and Trevor’s Backpack Project.
Even after retiring from farming, Patsos has remained active in the community, frequently helping transport Amish residents for work and other activities.
In a statement released by the organization, Patsos said he was “honored, happy and humbled” to receive the recognition and dedicated the award to his late wife.
Waterloo Library & Historical Society Board President Coreen Lowry described Patsos as someone who consistently serves the community without seeking recognition.
“It is a privilege to be able to recognize someone so deserving yet as humble as Jim,” Lowry said in the release.
Fireworks, by Pyrotecnico – Oak Island, Saturday May 23rd, 9:30pm
2024
Food, Food, Food for Everyone!
At 4pm on Saturday May 25th:
Patriot Pizza Eating Contest sponsored by Ciccinos Pizzeria!
FOOD CONCESSIONS:
Support our Veterans!
Buffet breakfast at the VFW Saturday 7am – 10am
Buffet breakfast at the Legion Sunday 8am – 11am
LAFAYETTE PARK FOOD VENDORS
FOOD CONCESSIONS
Food Vendor list:
B & B Kettlekorn
Brittany’s Lemonade
Dar Delights Ice Cream
Dom’s Original – French Fries, Fried Dough, Chicken Tenders
Frozen Fantasies Cheesecake on a Stick
G G Concessions- Hawaiian Shaved Ice
Macarollin – Gourmet Mac & Cheese
Waterloo First Presbyterian Church Pies & Coffee
Waterloo Rotary – Hamburgers/Hot Dogs/Sausage/Pizza
For more information please contact:
Conrad Struzik- 315-246-3041
email: Castruzik@gmail.com
The culinary tent is being organized by the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Stop by and see what’s cooking!
All activities take place in the Cornell Cooperative Extension Culinary Tent
located in Lafayette Park
The Cornell Cooperative Extension Culinary tent will have lots of great information about food and nutrition throughout the weekend, plus gardening, agriculture, recycling, and youth programming from CCE. Stop in for some tips and recipes.
The History of Celebrate Commemorate in the Year 2000
Celebrate Commemorate is enjoying its 26th anniversary this year – do you remember how it all got started?
Dave & Darlene Duprey have produced a video that recaps the 5 days of events that took place in May of 2000, which was originally thought to be a one year event to celebrate the turn of the century.“We filmed all the activities so we would be able to show the community involvement and just plain fun that was had by both those who volunteered and those that attended” they.
Viewers will have fun spotting friends and family throughout the 57 Minute video.
There are clips of each of the entertainers & musicians, as well as craft vendors in the park, the duck race, the car show, boat rides, horse & wagon rides, civil war re-enactors, and the military services at St. Mary’s and Maple Grove Cemeteries. The parade features many veterans and school band members.
The highlight of Celebrate Commemorate 2000 was the attempt to put Waterloo in the Guinness Book of World Records for displaying the most American flags in a single town in one day. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H club members and anyone that participated in the flag count, might see themselves in the video!
Please share this with anyone you know who was involved during the year 2000 or would just appreciate reliving this 5 day event.
Click the link below the image and be sure to click on the notification bell in the video window, to get a reminder 30 min. before the premiere starts!
The video is available at Waterloonytube.com
The Hit Men
Saturday May 24th 12:00 – 12:20 pm
Lafayette Park Stage
Come & join us for a great show in LaFayette Park following their performance in the Celebrate Commemorate Parade at 11:00 am!
The Hit Men are a group of good fellas who come together from all parts of the New York area. They provide a performance that combines both the musical and the theatrical. Their show stopping demeanor means they provide the best entertainment around. Look around the site, and if you see what you like get a hold of us. If not then we’ll take care of yah. 
Schedules – Applications – Maps available
If you are looking for a Schedule of Events, Event Map or 5k Race Map, or need an Application for an event or wish to be a vendor, please visit this link.
Schedules, Applications, Maps, etc.
