RAPID RIVER — Rapid River is set to host its annual Memorial Day celebration on Monday.

This year’s festivities, which have been given the theme “Honor and Remember our Troops and Veterans,” include outdoor activities, food, and contests for local community members to enjoy.

The celebration begins early Monday morning and will run into the later hours of afternoon.

Memorial services at several local cemeteries will kick-off the day’s events.

Members of American Legion Post 301 have been split into two groups to honor veterans who lay at rest. The first group will begin their services at Ogontz at 8 a.m., followed by Isabelle/Moss Lake at 8:30 a.m., Stonington Lakewood at 10 a.m., and Rapid River at 11 a.m. The second group will provide a service at the Nahma/Veterans Memorial at 9:15 a.m.

Once the memorial services have been completed, preparations for the Memorial Day parade will begin. Being the first parade of the summer season, crowds are expected to form and watch as the parade meanders down Main Street in Rapid River.

Those participating in the parade are asked to line-up their floats in front of the Omni Center on North Main Street at noon, with the parade beginning at 1 p.m. Prizes for the floats will be awarded once the parade concludes. An additional decoration contest will be taking place as well.

“We are having a bike decorating contest, so children will be decorating their pedal bikes,” Gail Zierk, the chairperson of the committee that organizes the Memorial Day event, said. “They will all be given a small prize for their decorations.”

During parade set-up, a number of activities will be taking place on South Main Street.

After a celebratory flag raising at noon, the Queen of the Memorial Day parade, who is a girl from the local community, will be crowned at 12:05 p.m. The parade’s grand marshal, or leader of the parade, will be selected at 12:45 p.m. as well.

The Rapid River Township Park will be hosting a variety of outdoor activities and food vendors starting at 10 a.m. From Abra Cadabra Arcade Jumps to a petting zoo, and even a Splat-U-Later paintball gallery, festivities in the park are prepared to keep families busy. Music entertainment will be provided by Reflections starting at 2 p.m.

The park pavilion will be the site of an amateur backyard BBQ cook-off. This contest, which is being hosted by Jack’s Restaurant in Rapid River, is a first for the Memorial Day celebration. Cooking will begin after 8 a.m., with first call to judges starting at 2 p.m.

Those competing are required to cook ribs and chicken, which will be provided by Jack’s. There is an optional “Chef’s Choice” category as well, which encourages chef’s to show off their specialty dishes. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.

The Rapid River Lions Club will be hosting several events Monday as well. The Lions Club, located on South Main Street, will be holding a karaoke contest from 2 to 4 p.m. The top five competitors will be awarded a prize.

The Lions Club will also be serving hot dogs, brats, french fries, and refreshments throughout the day starting at 10 a.m.

Additionally, a Kids Sight Mobile Unit will be hosted by the Lions Club. This mobile unit, which is sponsored by the Rapid River Small Business Association, will provide a free vision screening for all children over the age of six months old. While the mobile unit will not provide corrective lenses, it will identify any vision problems that may exist.

The Lions Club will be hosting its annual raffle drawing as well.

“There will be lots of activities,” Zierk said. “We will be having a raffle drawing going on all day and tickets can be purchased all around town. Tickets will be one dollar a piece or six for five dollars. We have a total of 65 prizes to give away.”

The drawing for raffle prizes will be held at 4 p.m. at the Lions Club.