Parade, wine mixer to provide festive Memorial Day weekend | Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Florida

Hundreds of people line St. Johns Avenue during the 2019 Memorial Day parade in Palatka.
Positively Putnam FL

Memorial Day weekend looks to be lively in Palatka this year with two events at the riverfront, a stark change from when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled several events in 2020.

Palatka Young Professionals will hold the Palatka Wine Mixer 9 a.m.-10:30 p.m. May 29, which will have a farmer’s market, live music and, of course, alcohol. On May 31, the American Legion and other veteran organizations will hold a Memorial Day parade along St. Johns Avenue from the Palatka post office to the riverfront.

American Legion Bert Hodge Post 45 Adjutant Bo Meadows said the parade doesn’t have any vendors and parade organizers cannot throw out candy to onlookers. The parade begins at 10 a.m.

Last year’s parade was canceled due to the pandemic, but members of the American Legion went to the Palatka Riverfront and waved flags. This year, the parade will have mandatory masking, hand sanitizing stations and COVID-related signage.

“A Memorial Day parade is one of the most solemn events,” Meadows said. “We are doing it to remember the fallen and honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. This is the proper thing to do.”

Meadows said the parade would have up to 30 floats. After the national anthem is performed at the riverfront, there will be words of remembrance.

“We’re trying to get everybody who’s a veteran to walk or ride with us,” Meadows said.

Palatka Young Professionals President Seth Miles said the organization didn’t know how many people were coming to the wine mixer, but preparations are underway. The farmer’s market will close about three hours before the event ends.

COVID-19 safety procedures were discussed at length last month as Palatka City Commissioners approved both events.

“We’re working on it and trying to figure out all the final details,” Miles said. “We’re just getting everything ready to go.”

Miles said the organization is stressing the wine mixer is not the same as the Blue Crab Festival, the much larger event hosted by Palatka Young Professionals during Memorial day weekend in 2019.

“It’s a farmer’s market with a little extra flair,” Miles said. “It’s something completely different.”

At the Palatka Wine Mixer, people are asked to wear masks when social distancing isn’t applicable, and there will be hand-washing and hand-sanitizing stations. Areas will be marked at 6 feet apart.