Memorial Day isn’t just a free day off work: It’s a federal holiday for remembering the people who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Originally called Decoration Day after the end of the Civil War, the holiday is observed annually on the last Monday of May.

This weekend, celebrate the holiday with parades, services and more.

Unless otherwise noted, events are held on Monday, May 29.

Lansing

The City of Lansing will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony at noon on Saturday. The ceremony will take place in the Little Arlington section of Evergreen Cemetery (2600 E. Mount Hope Ave., Lansing). Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero will give opening remarks. Before the city’s service, the Lansing/Sunfield Curtenius Guard, Camp #17 will hold a service at the Mount Hope Cemetery at 10:30 a.m.

There will be an additional service held at 1 p.m. Monday at the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens (444 W. Grand River Ave., Lansing). The VFW 701 Color Guard will perform military honors.

Dansville

A breakfast will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Dansville Community Center (1317 Mason St). There will also be face painting and a parade craft. The parade will begin at noon.

Delhi Township

The Holt Memorial Day Parade will step off at 2 p.m. and march through Holt and end at the Veterans Memorial Gardens, located behind the library. At the park, there will be a special ceremony to honor those who died while serving.

DeWitt

The VFW in DeWitt will host a Memorial Day parade that steps off from the DeWitt Memorial Association (315 W. Washington St., DeWitt) at 10 a.m. The parade route will end at the cemetery for a small ceremony.

East Lansing

The City of East Lansing, together with the Lansing-based 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, will lay a wreath at the East Lansing Medal of Honor monument at the Hannah Community Center at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Eaton Rapids

The City of Eaton Rapids will host a parade, which steps off at 11 a.m. along Marilin Street. From there, the parade will march north to Knight Street. After the parade, a short ceremony will be held at GAR Island Park.

Fowlerville

Fowlerville’s Memorial Day parade will step off from the VFW hall at 10 a.m. From there, the parade will continue north on Veterans Drive to Grand River Avenue, where the route will turn east to the intersection of Cemetery Road. The parade will head north on Cemetery Road and enter Greenwood Cemetery at the north entrance with formation at the Civil War Memorial.

Grand Ledge

The Grand Ledge Memorial Day parade will step off at 11 a.m. in downtown Grand Ledge. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Jackson and Jefferson streets. From there, the parade will march to the library for the flag raising ceremony, then to the bridge for the Gold Star Mothers Wreath Ceremony for Veterans. At noon, there will be a tribute to all veterans at Oakwood Cemetery.

All veterans are invited to march in the parade. Any group or organization interested should call 627-1232.

Mason

The day’s events will start at 8 a.m. on the Ingham County Courthouse Square. There will be a service, including placing wreaths at the memorial at the corner of Ash and Jefferson streets. After the service, the parade will form at Bond Park, near Columbia and Barnes streets. The parade will step off at 9 a.m. and will march through the city to Maple Grove Cemetery, where there will be services.

Okemos

A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at noon at Glendale Cemetery, off of Mount Hope Road in Okemos. There will be pre-ceremony bagpipes, a color guard with drum cadence, music by the Meridian Community Band, a Pledge of Allegiance led by a volunteer from the American Legion Post 269 and more.

Springport

The Springport Memorial Day services and parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the American Legion Bernheisel-Riley Post 313 (230 Mechanic St., Springport). Veterans will report to the post at 10 a.m. A short concert will begin at 10:55 a.m., followed by a program at 11:05 a.m. The parade to the cemetery will step off at 11:30 a.m.

The event is sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Adams-Rockey Post 6056 and the American Legion Bernheisel-Riley Post 313.

St. Johns

The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. The parade will line up behind the Wilson Center (101 W. Cass St.) then head to South Clinton Avenue, to Cass Street. From there, the parade will march through the city and end at Mount Rest Cemetery.

Stockbridge

The service will be held at the Stockbridge American Legion Hall (830 S. Clinton St.) at 10 a.m. The parade will leave from there and travel through town, ending with a service at the Stockbridge Cemetery.

Webberville

A Memorial Day 5K/10K will be held in Webberville. Registration and packet pick-up begins at 7 a.m. at Webberville Elementary School (202 N. Main St.). A parade and ceremony will begin at 8 a.m., with the runs taking off at 9 a.m.

To register for the 5K or 10K, visit runsignup.com/race/MIwebberville/webbervillememorialdayrun. $30.

Williamston

Williamston’s American Legion Post 296 will host a parade. The parade will start at 10 a.m. at School and South Putnam streets. From there, the parade will march north on Putnam and end at the bridge near McCormick Park, where a special ceremony will be held.