Memorial Day is nearly here which means time spent with family, a three-day weekend, special events commemorating and honoring our troops, and the unofficial start of summer! We’ve rounded up 7 of the best events around D.C. for Memorial Day weekend that you won’t want to miss.
1. The National Memorial Day Parade: Our Sacred Honor
This Memorial Day, enjoy the National Memorial Day Parade at 2pm, with pre-parade musical performances starting at 1pm. After the parade is finished, which you can witness in-person or on T.V., stay tuned for a television companion, Our Sacred Honor: An American Salute. The parade will begin at 7th St. NW and end at 17th St. NW. Check the website for more information.
2. Tune in for the National Memorial Day Concert
Every year for the past 35 years, PBS hosts the National Memorial Day Concert, a televised event of remembrance and honor, here in D.C. Filled with musical performances, documentary screenings and touching dramatic readings, the National Concert is one of the largest events in D.C. that you can even screen on T.V. if you can’t make it in-person. There will be performances by Gretchen Mol, Robert Patrick, Yolanda Adams, Blair Underwood, the National Symphony Orchestra and so much more. You can watch it on the Sunday before Memorial Day at 8:00 P.M. ET on PBS. Get more info here.
3. Catch the Rolling to Remember motorcycle rally
This will be the 37th year of Rolling to Remember, a demonstration where thousands of veterans and patriots ride from the Pentagon to the intersection of Independence Ave. and 14th St. SW to represent mental health awareness for Veterans and accounting for America’s POWs and MIAs. The demonstration will take place on Sunday at 12pm, but there are plenty of events taking place before and after. Check the website for the event schedule and route map.
4. Pay your respects at the National Mall Memorial
“America’s Front Yard,” is the perfect place to spend Memorial Day and pay your respects. On May 25th, you can see a thirty minute tour of the World War II memorial at different times throughout the day, or you can visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial or the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.
5. Visit one of these rooftop bars
While the hot weather has’t quite reached D.C. yet, you can still enjoy the sunshine and have a day drink at one of these iconic rooftop bars in D.C.
- El Techo
- 12 Stories
- Perry’s
- Top of the Gate
6. Observe the Flags In tradition at Arlington National Cemetary
Arlington National Cemetery has been participating in the “Flags In” tradition since 1948. As the largest military cemetery in the nation, service men and women are allowed to leave American flags at up to 260,000 gravesites leading up to Memorial Day. Get more information here.
7. Hear the National Memorial Day Choral Festival
From May 23rd to May 26th will see the return of the National Memorial Day Choral Festival, where choirs from all around the world come together to honor our veterans through song. The festival will be held in the Concert Hall of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
8. Enjoy Farragut Fridays
Memorial Day is also the unofficial start of summer so that means the weather is about to turn up and it’s almost time for rooftop weather! With that, Farragut Fridays just launched last week and will be transforming Farragut Park with live music, games, chef demonstrations, even puppy adoptions from now until September!