As thousands of Minnesotans hit the roads or planned to gather with family and friends over the Memorial Day weekend, Historic Fort Snelling in St. Paul kicked off its summer season Saturday with a three-day celebration of pioneer days in the 1800s. Visitors explored historic buildings, chatted with costumed interpreters and learned about life in early Minnesota. Events planned for Sunday and Monday include memorial services, veterans celebrations, military speakers, rifle salutes, bell ringing and religious ceremonies across the metro.

Bloomington: Dawn Valley Memorial Park, 9940 Bush Lake Road. Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday.

Crystal: Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, 5125 Broadway. Ceremony at 1 p.m. Monday.

Excelsior: Oak Hill Cemetery. Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

Little Falls: Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, 15550 Hwy. 115. Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Music by Richfield Symphonic Band. Keynote speaker, Carla Tappanier, first vice commander of American Legion Post 1776 and former trumpeter with Army Band.

Maplewood: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 1800 Edgerton St. Program at 11 a.m. Monday.

Maplewood: Union Cemetery, 2505 E. Minnehaha Av. Ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday.

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Eric Olson helped with some civilians as they practiced marching after the infantry performed their drills on the lawn at Historic Fort Snelling.

Mendota Heights: Resurrection Cemetery, 2101 S. Lexington Av.: 10 a.m. Monday service with the Rev. Harry Flynn, archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Mendota Heights: Acacia Park Cemetery, 2151 Pilot Knob Road. Ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday will include a patriotic address by James E. Williams, music by the Prince Henry III Players, a presentation by the West St. Paul Canine Team and tributes by the Minnesota Job's Daughters, the Legion Honor Guard and the Damascus Commandry.

Minneapolis: Fort Snelling National Cemetery, 7601 34th Av. S., 612-726-1127. Open dawn to dusk, with music and other events starting at 9:30 a.m. and a ceremony at 10 a.m. Keynote speaker will be Maj. Gen. (retired) Larry Shellito, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar will be present, and Gov. Mark Dayton is expected to attend. The 34th Infantry Division (Red Bull) Band and Zuhrah Pipes and Drums group will provide music.

Minneapolis: Lakewood Cemetery, 3600 Hennepin Av. S.: Program at 10:30 a.m. Monday near the Soldiers Memorial. Ceremony will feature a gospel quartet led by Robert Robinson and the Minneapolis Police Band, and guest speaker James Fischer, president of the Minnesota State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Minneapolis: Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, 2925 Cedar Av. S.: Service at 10 a.m. Monday. Band will begin playing at 9:40 a.m. Keynote speaker will be Maj. Gen. (retired) Paul Rehkamp. Students from the Minneapolis Transitions Charter School will post the colors and read the Gettysburg Address.

Minneapolis: St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, 4403 Chicago Av.: 10 a.m. Monday service with the Rev. Joseph Gillespie.

Minneapolis: St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery, 2729 Central Av. NE.: 10 a.m. Monday service with the Rev. Earl Simonson.

New Hope: Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery, 8151 42nd Av. N.: 10 a.m. Monday service with Bishop Lee A. Piché.

Richfield: Honoring All Veterans Memorial Site, 6429 Portland Av. S.: 2 p.m. Monday ceremony with speaker Floyd Roman, a World War II veteran and retired Richfield police officer, and Richfield police officer Jay Henthorne.

Roseville: Roselawn Cemetery, 803 W. Larpenteur Av.: From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday and Monday, organ concerts will be held in the Historical Chapel. At 1 p.m. Sunday, the Anoka County Vietnam Veterans rifle squad will have an educational salute. And at 10 a.m. Monday, there will be a program in the Soldier's Rest area sponsored by the Rosetown Legion and the Roseville VFW, with music by the North Suburban Chorus.

St. Paul: Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 753 Front Av.: 10 a.m. Monday service with the Rev. Kevin McDonough.

St. Paul: Minnesota Korean War Veterans, Chapter 1, will hold a program at 1 p.m. Monday at the Minnesota Korean War Veterans Memorial on the State Capitol grounds. Chapter president is Ed Valle.

St. Paul: Vietnam Veterans of America, Anoka County Chapter 470, will hold a program at 3 p.m. Monday at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in St. Paul. Guest speaker will be Bob Wiltse, a Navy veteran of Vietnam.

St. Paul: Veterans for Peace event at 9:30 a.m. Monday at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial near the State Capitol. Bell ringing, short speeches, poetry and recitation of the names of Minnesotans killed in post-9/11 conflicts.

COMPILED BY PAMELA MILLER

pamela.miller@startribune.com