This year, Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 27th, which means a three-day weekend. While it is a day to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who gave their lives in service to their country, Memorial Day Weekend is also thought by many to be the Unofficial Start of Summer!
With that in mind, we’ve compiled this list for you. You’ll find there are so many things to do, so many things to see, so many places to go!
Scroll down the the section for events happening on Monday, May 27th, to find official observances of Memorial Day, with parades, ceremonies, and other events around Southern California, that honor our American Service Men and Women.
We are grateful for their service.
UPDATED FOR 2024
Memorial Day Events Happening Friday, May 24th
Movies at the Park: Jurassic Park
Thousand Oaks Community Park
2525 Moorpark Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) invites families to enjoy an outdoor screening of Jurassic Park on Friday, May 24th. Movies start at sundown, and fun, pre-movie activities start one hour prior. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and a picnic dinner or your favorite movie snacks. (The movie is rated PG-13.)
Memorial Day Events Happening Friday, May 24th through Monday, May 27th
L.A. County Fair
1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768
If you haven’t yet been, Memorial Day weekend is a great time to check out the L.A. County Fair! “The 2024 LA County Fair celebrates the medley of communities that comprise Los Angeles County with its theme Stars, Stripes & Fun.” There is something for everyone at The Fair including carnival rides, animals, shopping, live musical performances, and of course, the food. Check the website for more information about tickets and schedule of events. Don’t miss out – the last day of the Fair is Monday, May 27th. (Children 5 and younger receive free admission.)
LA Fleet Week
250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro, CA
LA Fleet Week is “an annual, multi-day celebration of our nation’s Sea Services.” The event is being held over the extended Memorial Day Weekend from Wednesday, May 22nd through Monday, May 27th. The free event includes tours of active duty ships, live entertainment, aircraft flyovers, military displays and equipment demonstrations, and much more. Check the website for details and information regarding parking and shuttle options.
64th Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
Village Green – between Euclid & Main St., Garden Grove, CA
The 64th Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival is happening all weekend long, from Friday, May 24th through Monday, May 27th. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Our Hometown.” The fun includes a Parade (on Saturday, May 25th), carnival rides, games, vendor booths, live musical performances, strawberries, and lots more! Details are available on the website.
Summer Games in The City – Playing for the Gold
Pretend City Children’s Museum
29 Hubble, Irvine, CA
Pretend City Children’s Museum announces Summer Games in The City – Playing for the Gold, a special program beginning on Friday, May 24th and continuing through Monday, September 2nd. “Dive into adventurous play, competition, and hands-on learning experiences that celebrate the vibrant spirit of the Olympics.” Children will participate in “traditional Olympic events as well as city-themed challenges,” all focusing on important developmental skills and gross motor milestones. Details and ticket information are available online.
Memorial Day Events Happening Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25th
Disney’s The Lion King 30th Anniversary: A Live-to-Film Concert Event
Hollywood Bowl
2301 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90068
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Disney animated movie, The Lion King, with “an immersive live-to-film concert event featuring the original 1994 film roaring from the Bowl screens, live orchestra, fireworks, showstopping vocal performances of award-winning songs from the film, special celebrity guests,” and more. Performances are scheduled for Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25th at 8:00 pm each night. Tickets are available online.
Memorial Day Events Happening Saturday, May 25th and Sunday, May 26th
Scottish Fest
OC Fair and Event Center
88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Scottish Fest is happening on Saturday, May 25th (10 am to 6 pm) and Sunday, May 26th (10 am to 5:30 pm). You’ll find lots of “family fun with bagpipes, drums, Highland dancing, Scottish clans and genealogy, Scottish athletics, shopping, food and so much more.” Details, including ticket information, are available online.
Memorial Day Events Happening Saturday, May 25th through Monday, May 27th
Fiesta Hermosa
Downtown Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach’s annual Fiesta Hermosa is happening Memorial Day weekend – Saturday, May 25th through Monday, May 27th. “For 52 years, Fiesta has been filling Hermosa’s streets with art, music, and fun,” and is known as “Southern California’s largest beachside arts and crafts festival.” The fun includes live musical performances, carnival rides and games, food, Makers Mercado featuring more than 250 vendors, and much more. Check the website for all the details.
49th Annual Topanga Days Country Fair
1440 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga, CA
The 49th Annual Topanga Days is happening Memorial Day weekend – Saturday, May 25th through Monday, May 27th from 10 am to 7 pm each day. A Parade is scheduled for Monday, May 27th starting at 8:30 am. The fun includes live entertainment, a variety of vendors, food, games, and more. This special event is a fundraiser for the Topanga Community Center. Details, including information on parking, shuttles, and tickets, are available online.
Fiesta Days
Multiple locations in La Cañada Flintridge
Over Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday May 25th through Monday, May 27th, residents and visitors to La Cañada Flintridge gather to “celebrate, remember, and respect.” Fiesta Days honors veterans and the city’s Spanish heritage. The fun includes a vintage car show (on Saturday), fireworks show (on Sunday), a parade (on Monday), and more. Check the website for all the details.
Annual Memorial Weekend Carnival
Santa Anita Park
285 W. Huntington Dr., Arcadia, CA 91007
The Annual Memorial Weekend Carnival at Santa Anita Park is scheduled for Saturday, May 25th through Monday, May 27th (11:00 am to 7:30 pm). The fun includes inflatable jumpers, carnival games and rides, pony rides, arts and crafts, face painting, and more. Carnival tickets are required for certain attractions; however, children 17 and younger are admitted for free. Details and ticket information are available online.
Valley Greek Festival
Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
9501 Balboa Blvd., Northridge, CA 91325
The San Fernando Valley’s 48th Annual Greek Festival is happening this weekend Saturday, May 25th through Monday, May 27th. “The festival evokes the sights, sounds, and tastes that define the traditional Greek way of life.” Enjoy tasty food, live musical and dance performances, bouncers, giant slides, and crafts for kids, an outdoor Greek marketplace, cooking demonstrations, and more. Details are available online.
Memorial Day Events Happening Saturday, May 25th
26th Annual Tribute to Veterans and Military Families
Arcadia County Park
405 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia, CA 91006
The 26th Annual Tribute to Veterans and Military Families is happening on Saturday, May 25th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger is hosting this special event. In addition to musical performances, exhibitors will be on-hand to highlight “a wide array of programs, services, and benefits tailored to meet the needs of our esteemed veterans and their families.” This is a free event and open to the public. No RSVP is required.
Corvette Car Show + Chili Cook Off
The Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum
610 Lairport St., El Segundo, CA 90245
The Zimmerman is hosting its Corvette Car Show + Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, May 25th from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Car enthusiasts are certain to enjoy the corvettes on display. Plus, the cook-off is people’s choice — everyone’s a judge. Tickets are available online.
Street Food Cinema: Crazy Rich Asians
The Autry Museum
4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Street Food Cinema invites you to enjoy an outdoor screening of Crazy Rich Asians on Saturday, May 25th. Doors open at 5:30 pm, the band starts performing at 6:45 pm, and the movie starts at 8:00 pm. There will also be food trucks on site as well. Tickets are available online. (The film is rated PG-13.)
Memorial Day Events Happening Sunday, May 26th
Marina Culture Jam
Burton Chace Park
13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292
On Sunday, May 26th visit Burton Chace Park for Marina Culture Jam. This special event features “live performances, arts and crafts, cultural learning activities, and much more.” TAIKO Project will perform from 11:30 am to 12:15 pm and Melody of China will perform from 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm. RSVP online for this free event.
Simone Leigh Opening Celebration
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
LACMA invites families to the Simone Leigh Opening Celebration happening on Sunday, May 26th from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. The event focuses on “art, music, and movement inspired by the exhibition Simone Leigh.” Enjoy live DJ sets and hands-on art-making workshops throughout the day. This is a free, all-ages event. RSVP online.
Memorial Day Events Happening Monday, May 27th
Memorial Day: Honoring the Brave
Forest Lawn
Six Locations including Hollywood Hills
6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068
All six Southern California Forest Lawn locations are hosting special Memorial Day commemorations on Monday, May 27th. “The family-friendly, parkwide remembrances will bring generations together to commemorate the lives and valor of American veterans with patriotic music, wreath layings, presentations and retirings of the flag, keynote addresses, presidential proclamations, invocations, giveaways, arts & crafts, coffee, sweet treats, and more.” Events at most locations, including Hollywood Hills, begin at 10:00 am. The Glendale location’s events begin at 1:00 pm. Families are encouraged to arrive one hour earlier to allow enough time to find parking and leisurely stroll through the grounds before the events begin. Admission and parking are free. Details are available online.
2024 Memorial Day Ceremony
Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park
4 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606
The City of Irvine is hosting its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 27th from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. The ceremony “will include guest speakers and vocal performances in honor and appreciation of our military men, women and families.”
Memorial Day Observance
Community Center
100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, CA 92672
The City of San Clemente is hosting its Memorial Day Observance on Monday, May 27th from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. This free, outdoor program commemorates fallen veterans and features “a keynote speaker, the presentation of wreaths and florals, the posting of the colors, taps bugler, and live music.” Seating is limited; families are encouraged to come early to allow for plenty of time to find parking.
2024 Memorial Day Flower Drop
Palm Springs Air Museum
745 N. Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Celebrate Memorial Day at the Palm Springs Air Museum at their Annual Memorial Day Flower Drop. To honor “fallen comrades who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms,” there is a special flyover and flower drop of over 3,000 red and white carnations from a B-25 Mitchell bomber. Visitors are welcome to pick up a flower to take home. Flight exhibitions and activities are scheduled throughout the day and include live music, kids’ activities, and on-site food vendors. The Memorial Ceremony and Flower Drop is scheduled for 1:00 pm. Tickets are available for purchase online. (Parking and shuttle service are free.)
32nd Annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade
Sherman Way Blvd. (from Owensmouth to Cozycroft), Canoga Park, CA
The 32nd Annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade is happening on Monday, May 27th. The opening ceremony is at 10:00 am, and the parade starts at 11:00 am. Enjoy floats, classic cars, bands and choral groups, and more. Check the website for more details as they become available.
Memorial Day at the Nixon Library
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, CA 92886
The Nixon Library honors America’s fallen warriors during a wreath-laying ceremony on Monday, May 27th at 10:15 am. At 11:00 am, the Huntington Beach Concert Band will perform “patriotic favorites in the Nixon Library’s exact replica of America’s Grand Ball Room, more formally known as the White House East Room.” Tickets are available online.
Memorial Day Commemoration at the Reagan Library
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
40 Presidential Dr., Simi Valley, CA 93065
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is hosting a Memorial Day Commemoration Event on Monday, May 27th. Live music begins at 9:00 am, and the day’s program begins at 10:00 am. The event also includes a flyover by the Tiger Squadron (weather permitting), keynote remarks, and more. This free event is held outdoors. (Admission rates do apply for those wishing to visit the Museum.) In addition, For The Troops will have donation bins on-site. Families are encouraged to draw and/or write notes and letters which will be placed into the care packages that will then be sent to our service men and women.
Memorial Day Service
Inglewood City Hall – South Mall
One W. Manchester, Inglewood, CA 90301
The City of Inglewood is hosting its annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 27th beginning at 11:00 am. The special event honors men and women who “made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives while serving the United States Armed Forces.”
Memorial Day Ceremony
McCambridge Park War Memorial
Corner of San Fernando Road and Amherst Dr., Burbank, CA
The City of Burbank’s Memorial Day Ceremony is happening on Monday, May 27th from 10:15 am to 11:30 am. The event starts off with the Burbank Community Band’s performance and will feature speakers and a flyover.
Memorial Day
Alhambra Park
500 N. Palm Ave., Alhambra, CA 91801
The City of Alhambra is hosting its Memorial Day event on Monday, May 27th beginning at 10:00 am. Live music and a continental breakfast begins at 10:00 am, and the Ceremony begins at 11:00 am.
The History of Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a Federal holiday in the United States that is observed on the last Monday of May each year. It is a day to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. The holiday has its roots in the aftermath of the Civil War, which ended in 1865. In the years following the war, communities across the country began holding ceremonies to honor the soldiers who had died in the conflict.
The first official observance of Memorial Day was held on May 30, 1868, when General John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued a proclamation calling for a national day of remembrance for the Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War. The day was originally called Decoration Day, and it was designated as a time for decorating the graves of the fallen soldiers with flowers and other decorations.
Over time, Memorial Day came to honor all Americans who had died while serving in the military, not just those who had died in the Civil War. In 1971, Congress passed the National Holiday Act, which made Memorial Day a Federal holiday and moved its observance to the last Monday in May.
We hope you enjoy and celebrate the memories of those who’ve served our country this Memorial Day.
Wendy Kennar is a mother, writer, and former teacher who has lived her entire life in the same Los Angeles zip code. You can read more from Wendy at her website WendyKennar.com where she writes about books, boys, and bodies (living with an invisible disability).
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