PLATTEVILLE, May 13 — Earlier sunrises and later sunsets and the Platteville City-Wide Garage Sale Friday and Saturday mean that summer is coming, regardless of what the thermometer recently said.
The Memorial Day weekend traditionally combines high school graduations, veteran and war dead observances, and events that mark the unofficial start of summer. This year Memorial Day will be the earliest possible date, May 25, and Labor Day will be the latest possible date, Sept. 7.
High school graduations start early in this area, however, with Potosi High School’s commencement in the Keith Livens Auditorium Friday at 7 p.m.
One day later will be graduations at UW–Platteville and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College in Fennimore Saturday. UWP’s ceremonies in Williams Fieldhouse will include College of Liberal Arts and Education, master’s degree and associate degree graduates at 9 a.m., College of Engineering Math and Science graduation at 12:30 p.m., and College of Business, Industry and Life Science graduation at 4 p.m.
SWTC will hold ceremonies at 8 and 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. (See Education, page 10B.)
The rest of the area’s high school graduations will be one week later. Platteville High School will have its Class of 2026 commencement at the Platteville Activities Complex, and Belmont High School will have its commencement in the BHS gym, Friday, May 22 at 7 p.m.
Iowa–Grant will have its commencement in the high school gym Saturday, May 23 at 1 p.m.
The Belmont Fire Department will have its annual street dance at the fire station Sunday, May 24 at 5 p.m., with Jake Kemble and Kick playing at 6 p.m. and Not Quite Brothers on their Twin Turbo Tour at 9 p.m.
Memorial Day Monday, May 25 will be commemorated in Platteville in the Municipal Building Auditorium and in City Park. The program will begin with the Platteville Memorial Day Choir at 9:30 a.m. before the program with American Legion Post 42 and VFW Post 5274 at 10 a.m.
This year’s program will feature local veterans who died in service from the Civil War through Operation Iraqi Freedom read by Paul Budden. Area patriotic organizations will be recognized, including Gold Star Mothers, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and American Legion and VFW auxiliaries.
The Ritualistic Service in City Park will include a Salute to the Dead by the VFW and American Legion Rifle Squad and the playing of Taps. A reception will follow in the Platteville Senior Center.
Other Memorial Day observances are traditionally held in Belmont, Potosi and the Iowa–Grant area.
