This weekend in Norwalk: Memorial Day parades, Sheffield Island, Bingo Loco at District

Good morning, Norwalk.

Memorial Day weekend is here, and this city does it right. Two parades in two days, a lighthouse cruise to Sheffield Island, a cornhole tournament at 314 Beer Garden, and Bingo Loco taking over District on Friday night. The harbor is open, the flea market is back at Space Cat, and there is a bird watching tour leaving from 90 Water Street on Saturday morning. This weekend earns the three-day break.

Here's what's in this week's Pulse:

• Two Memorial Day parades: Rowayton on Saturday, city-wide on Sunday
• Sheffield Island Lighthouse Cruise returns Friday
• Bingo Loco at District Music Hall
• South Norwalk Flea at Space Cat Brewery

Best for families this weekend: Songs and Stories for Littles at the library (Thursday, free) and the Norwalk Harbor Bird Watching Tour (Saturday, 90 Water St).

-- Cooper

All Weekend Long

Memorial Day Parades

Norwalk runs two parades this weekend, and both are worth showing up for. The Rowayton Memorial Day Parade steps off Saturday. Rowayton's parade is the smaller of the two, neighborhood-scale, and it hits different when you can hear the drums echo off the houses on Rowayton Avenue.

The city-wide Norwalk Memorial Day Parade is Sunday. This is the big one. The route runs through East Norwalk with the full lineup of veterans' groups, school bands, and city officials. If you go to one public event this weekend, this is it.

Library Closures

Both the main library on Belden Avenue and the SoNo Branch are closed Saturday and Sunday for Memorial Day. Plan your returns accordingly.

Thursday (Tonight)

Sunset Cruise with the Norwalk Seaport Association

The Seaport Association is running a harbor sunset cruise out of 90 Water Street. The route goes past the lighthouse and through the islands. Ticketed.

Songs and Stories for Littles

Free storytime at the main library on Belden Avenue for kids 5 and under. 11 AM. No registration.

Ladies Night at La Bonita

HEAT and MESSIAH are taking over La Bonita tonight. Dress up, bring your people. Ticketed.

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Friday

Sheffield Island Lighthouse Cruise

The Sheffield Island cruise is one of Norwalk's best warm-weather experiences. The boat leaves from 90 Water Street, you tour the 1868 lighthouse and the island grounds, and the ride back across the harbor is worth the ticket alone. If you have never done this, Memorial Day weekend is a good time to start. Ticketed via Eventbrite.

Bingo Loco at District Music Hall

Bingo Loco is not your grandmother's bingo night. It is a full production: live DJ, dance breaks, confetti, and prizes that are genuinely absurd. District's SoNo room is the right venue for this. Ticketed.

Women on Water at MarineMax Norwalk

MarineMax is hosting a hands-on boating class for women. Take the helm, learn the basics, get on the water. If you have been thinking about it, this is the low-pressure way in.

TUSA Nights at Don Floro

TUSA Nights at Don Floro is part karaoke, part house party. The vibe is Latin, loud, and unapologetically fun. Friday night at Don Floro is a good call.

Saturday

South Norwalk Flea at Space Cat Brewery

The SoNo Flea is back at the Space Cat taproom and beer garden. 25-plus vendors selling vintage, streetwear, jewelry, and art. Food and drinks on site. This is one of the better Saturday morning walks in SoNo, especially if you are the type who finds something good at every flea market and tells the story for a week.

Bags 'n' Beers Cornhole Tournament at 314 Beer Garden

314 Beer Garden is running its first cornhole tournament of the year. Noon to 3 PM. Competitive bags and cold beer in the garden. 21+.

Norwalk Harbor Bird Watching Tour

The Seaport Association's bird watching tour leaves from 90 Water Street on Saturday morning. Sun, sea breeze, and harbor wildlife. Family-friendly, good for kids who like boats and birds. Ticketed.

Diana Margarette Bouquets: 2nd Year Celebration

Diana Margarette Bouquets is opening its doors at 6 Harding Street for its second anniversary. This is their headquarters: Diana's home and greenhouse. Community invite, no cover. A neighborhood florist turning two is worth a stop.

In Case You Missed It

Marijuana Products Seized By Police At 2 Norwalk Smoke Shops, Employees Arrested. Norwalk police raided two smoke shops and seized nearly 6 pounds of marijuana products. Two employees were arrested, including Saleh Alawdi, according to The Hour's coverage. The crackdown follows a statewide push on unlicensed cannabis sales.

Lineup Announced For TTD 2026 Summer Concert Series At Norwalk Beach. The Totally Terrific Days concert series at Calf Pasture Beach has its 2026 lineup. The series runs Thursday nights through the summer and is one of the better free traditions Norwalk has going. Check Patch for the full schedule and dates.

VFW Post 653 Seeks Volunteers to Help Place Flags for Memorial Day. VFW Post 653 is looking for hands to help place flags on veterans' graves ahead of this weekend's ceremonies. If you have an hour and a pair of work gloves, this is a good way to start the holiday.

Sunday

The Norwalk Memorial Day Parade is the main event. See the All Weekend Long section above for details. Both libraries are closed.

Monday (Memorial Day)

Jazz with Greg Wall at SoNo Branch Library

Listen Up! How to Listen and Enjoy Jazz with Greg Wall at the SoNo Branch Library. Wall is a saxophonist and educator, and this is a two-session series (May 26 and June 9). Free, but sign up while spots last. The kind of Monday holiday event that justifies not going back to work yet.

On the Horizon

Black Wall Street Norwalk (Friday, May 30). Norwalk's first Black Wall Street Festival on the Town Green. Celebrating Black culture, business, and creativity. The Hour covered the announcement and it is shaping up to be a big one. Eventbrite

NHRL Robot Fighting World Championships (Saturday, June 6). BattleBots but in Norwalk. The National Havoc Robot League runs world championships out of their Norwalk facility, and if you have never watched 30-pound robots destroy each other in a cage, you owe yourself this. Eventbrite

5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration (Friday, June 13). Back on the Norwalk Town Green. Five years running. Eventbrite

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We also cover Stamford and Greenwich.

-- Cooper

We also cover Stamford Pulse and Greenwich Pulse.

Want to reach Norwalk readers? Reply to this email.

-- Cooper

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