Memorial Day Weekend 2025 Events: Must-See Parades, Fireworks & Deals Near You

Across the United States, communities are finalizing plans for Memorial Day 2025, offering travelers and locals a long weekend of remembrance ceremonies, patriotic parades, concerts, and family-friendly festivals. Below is a roundup of high-profile and regional Memorial Day events—plus insider travel tips—to help you honor fallen service members while kicking off summer in style. National Highlights Washington, D.C. National Memorial Day Parade • Date/Time: Monday, May 26 at 1 p.m. ET • Route: Constitution Avenue NW between 7th and 17th Streets • What to expect: Floats honoring every U.S. conflict, Gold Star family tributes, and celebrity performers. Arrive by Metro (Federal Triangle or Smithsonian stations) and stake out curbside space before 11 a.m. for the best sightlines. National Memorial Day Concert on the West Lawn • Date/Time: Sunday, May 25 at 8 p.m. ET (gates open 5 p.m.) • Details: Free PBS-televised event featuring the National Symphony Orchestra and a candle-lit moment of silence. Rolling to Remember Motorcycle Ride • Date/Time: Sunday, May 25, 8 a.m. staging at RFK Stadium • Why go: Tens of thousands of riders thunder through the capital to raise awareness for POW/MIA troops and veteran suicide prevention. Regional Must-Sees New York City • Fleet Week Pier 88 & 86 (May 21–27): Tour U.S. Navy ships, watch aviation flyovers, and catch the solemn Intrepid Museum ceremony on Monday. • Brooklyn’s 157-year-old Kings County Memorial Day Parade steps off at 11 a.m. from 78th Street & Third Avenue. Chicago • Wreath-Laying Ceremony at Daley Plaza (May 23, noon) kicks off a weekend that culminates in Monday’s State Street parade at noon. • Navy Pier hosts the “Sky Salute” fireworks show at 10 p.m. Saturday. Los Angeles • Memorial Day Flowers Foundation volunteers place 20,000 roses on veterans’ graves at Los Angeles National Cemetery (May 26, 9 a.m.). • Topanga Days Festival (May 24–26) blends live music with a Monday morning parade through the canyon. Orlando & Central Florida • Clermont displays the three-story Mobile Vietnam Traveling Wall all weekend, ending with taps at sunset Monday. Northern Virginia • Falls Church Memorial Day Parade (May 26, 2 p.m.) pairs with a 17K run and live bluegrass on the town green. • Flags In: 15,000 Scouts place miniature flags at Alexandria National Cemetery at dawn Saturday. Colorado Springs • Schedule a sunrise hike at Garden of the Gods, then head to Pikes Peak International Raceway’s Military Appreciation Car Show (May 25, 10 a.m.). • Peterson Space Force Base opens its museum free to the public on Monday. Small-Town Gems Worth the Drive • Waterloo, New York—the birthplace of Memorial Day—holds a three-day commemoration featuring a Civil War encampment and torch-lit vigil along the Seneca River. • Gatlinburg, Tennessee salutes the 101st Airborne with a midnight parade Sunday into Monday, the nation’s first official procession each year. • St. Augustine, Florida conducts a somber flag-retirement ceremony beneath the historic Castillo de San Marcos. Travel & Planning Tips 1. Book transportation now. Memorial Day weekend 2025 airfare searches are already trending 28 % higher than last year; fly on Saturday and Tuesday to save an average of $85. 2. Use public transit in major metros: D.C.’s Metro runs extended holiday service, while New York’s MTA adds early-morning trains for the parade crowd. 3. Respect local etiquette: Many ceremonies observe the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time—pause activities, mute phones, and stand in silence for one minute. Etiquette for a Meaningful Memorial Day • Replace “Happy Memorial Day” with “Have a meaningful Memorial Day” when greeting veterans. • Wear poppies or a remembrance pin over the heart. • Teach children by attending wreath-layings and encouraging them to place flags at local cemeteries. Weather Outlook NOAA forecasts suggest above-average temperatures across the South and Midwest with scattered thunderstorms along the Gulf Coast. Pack layered, quick-dry clothing and bring reusable water bottles to stay hydrated during outdoor ceremonies. Bottom Line From the storied avenues of Washington, D.C. to small-town Main Streets, Memorial Day events 2025 promise stirring tributes and community togetherness. Secure accommodations early, arrive at venues well before start times, and observe the solemn spirit of the holiday while supporting the organizations that keep the memory of America’s fallen alive.