By: Mary Genson | Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle | Published May 24, 2023
BEVERLY HILLS — The community is invited to celebrate 40 years of the annual Beverly Hills Memorial Day Parade and Carnival and 100 years of Beverly Park on Monday, May 29. A full day of fun will be offered for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy on Memorial Day.
The Beverly Hills Lions Club will be starting off the day by hosting the annual Memorial Day Fun Run. The race will begin at Beverly Elementary School at 9 a.m. for the 4-mile run and at 9:05 a.m. for the 2-mile family walk.
To watch the parade, people can find a spot on the route, which departs from Groves High School and travels north on Evergreen Road, east on Beverly Road and ends at Beverly Park. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. Drivers are advised to avoid Beverly and Evergreen roads during the parade.
Bob Borgon announced the parade for 32 years on government access cable. He has seen the parade grow into what it is today.
“It has more than doubled in size since it first started,” Borgon said.
Someone Borgon said has been in the parade every year is Pickles the Clown. She is a professional clown Borgon looks forward to seeing every year because of the stories she shares of her late father, a World War II veteran.
Since this year is the parade’s 40th anniversary, several of the original parade organizers have been invited back to be this year’s grand marshals.
Once the parade concludes, the carnival will kick off at Beverly Park. Among the fun planned for the carnival, there will be games, a petting farm, bounce houses, face painting, balloon twisting and live music. The carnival is free to attend.
Food vendors at the carnival will include All City Dogs, Delectabowl, House of Mac and Kona Ice.
At 1 p.m, a Memorial Day Ceremony will be held to honor fallen servicemen and servicewomen. The ceremony will be held around the flagpole at Beverly Park.
“It is a really fun time for residents and non-residents,” Kristin Rutkowski, Beverly Hills assistant village manager and village clerk, said. “It is a family-friendly event, and we encourage everyone to have some fun.”
In addition to it being the 40th year for the Memorial Day Parade and Carnival, this year is Beverly Park’s 100th anniversary.
In honor of Beverly Park’s 100 years, Beverly Hills is creating a community mural. Everyone is welcome to help make this art that will be displayed at the park.
Beverly Park is located at 18801 Beverly Road, Beverly Hills. For more information, call the village at (248) 646-6404.