Memorial Day gives everyone a chance to celebrate and honor those who have given their lives in service to the armed forces. Events will take place across the country, and NYC is no different. Here are some “don’t miss” events happening this Memorial Day weekend!
The 159th Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade starts on 3rd Ave and 78th St before proceeding down 3rd Ave to Marine Ave, to 4th Ave, before ending at John Paul Jones Park. The final service at the park will feature music, flag-raising, a 21-gun salute by the Veteran Corps of Artillery, and a wreath-laying ceremony. Festivities start at 11 am on Monday, 5/25, in Bay Ridge. This event is free to the public, but donations are appreciated.
The Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade officially starts at 2:00 pm, but there are many events beforehand, including a wreath-laying ceremony at Monument Park (Alameda Avenue and Northern Boulevard, opposite 274th St), and a Veterans’ breakfast at Father Smith Hall. The parade itself includes marching bands, floats, and service members. Starting at Jayson Avenue and Northern Boulevard, the parade will move down Northern Boulevard and end in front of St. Anastasia’s Roman Catholic Church.
The 107th annual Staten Island Memorial Day Parade starts at 12:00 pm at the intersection of Forest Avenue and Hart Boulevard and proceeds down Forest Avenue. The parade includes marching bands, community groups, and veterans. The event is expected to last 3 hours and will conclude at Jewett Avenue.
Other parades will take place at College Point, Myrtle Avenue, Forest Hills, and Van Nest.
In addition to parades, the Intrepid Museum is hosting a weekend-long event featuring a variety of displays and activities. The celebration kicks off with their annual free movie night on the flight deck, where Top Gun will be shown at 5:00 pm today! Saturday is the Intrepid’s Battle of the Big Bands, with performances celebrating the swing era and plenty of room to dance. All weekend, attendees are invited to “explore a variety of displays and activities on Pier 86 from participants including the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, antique military vehicles from the Military Transport Association, and many more”. The Memorial Day ceremony with a flyover by Navy fighter Jets on Monday concludes the weekend.
Green-Wood Cemetery invites everyone to attend its annual free Memorial Day concert. The performances will pay tribute to those who have served in the armed forces, as well as honoring “Green-Wood’s famous permanent residents, including Leonard Bernstein”. This event is on Monday at 2:00 pm. Attendees should enter through the Gothic Arch at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street.
