10 DC Memorial Day Weekend Events 2025

Washington, D.C. is the place to be for Memorial Day Weekend Events with a lot of activities for the holiday specifically as well as summer kickoff family activities. In 2025, Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 26.

We are usually traveling over the weekend but my family and I will be in the area and excited to check out some of the DC Memorial Day weekend events!

DC Memorial Day Weekend Events - Parade, Concerts, Memorials

1) 2024 National Memorial Day Parade - Monday, May 26, 2025

Date: Monday, May 26, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Location: Constitution Avenue, Washington, D.C.
Route: 7th Street NW to 17th Street NW
Admission: Free
The parade will feature marching bands, floats, veterans groups, and other organizations. The parade is free to attend and open to the public.

The parade is organized by the American Veterans Center and is presented by Boeing. The parade is a way to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have died while serving in the United States military. The parade will be broadcast live on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and CW stations nationwide. The parade will also be available to stream live on the American Veterans Center website.

2) Arlington Cemetery Memorial Day Events

Pay your respects at Arlington National Cemetery, where many American heroes are laid to rest. Witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. All information on their website here.

Presidential Armed Forces Full Honors Wreath-Laying Ceremony: This will be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 26, 2025. It's a traditional event where the President or his representative lays a wreath to honor the fallen, marking a central act of national remembrance.
Flags In Ceremony: Before the Memorial Day weekend, members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard," will place American flags at every gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery. This is a deeply moving sight and serves as a tribute to each service member laid to rest there.
Memorial Day Observance at the Memorial Amphitheater: Following the wreath-laying ceremony, there will be a service at the amphitheater, which often includes remarks from dignitaries, service leaders, and a speech by the President or Vice President.

3) National Memorial Day Concert - Sunday, May 25, 2025

Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM but gates open around 5:00 PM. (airs on PBS stations)
Location: West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Admission: Free and no tickets are needed.
From their website: "General Admission gates typically open at 5:00 p.m. The public will not be admitted to the West Lawn of the Capitol before that time. Checkpoints will be set up, and all bags and parcels will be checked. Guests will be required to enter through a metal detector. The gates are located at the southwest corner of the Capitol grounds. There are viewing areas for the use of guests with disabilities. More details can be found on the U.S. Capitol Police’s website in the Media Center.

4) Marine Corps Band at Wolf Trap - Sunday, May 25, 2025

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band will launch Wolf Trap’s summer season with a program of concert band favorites including selections from The Music Man, a medley of the Armed Forces’ service songs, and more. A fireworks display will follow the concert.

Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM but gates open at 6:30 PM for the Lawn
Location: Filene Center - 1551 Trap Road Vienna, VA 22182
Admission: Free and general availability seating on a first-come, first-seated basis.
Fireworks viewing areas will open FOLLOWING the performance at approximately 9:30 PM
Website for more info.

5) Visit the National Mall and Monuments

Explore the iconic National Mall, which is home to several memorials and monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and World War II Memorial. Take a stroll and pay your respects to the fallen heroes.

Summer Kick-Off Links for DC Memorial Day Weekend

6) Chesapeake Beaches

So many great beaches to enjoy within 1 hour of Washington DC! Here's a blog post of the top 10 Chesapeake Beaches near DC.

7) DMV Splash Pads

8) C&O Canal Boat Tours are back in Georgetown!

No update yet but in previous years they had tours departing at 10 AM, 12 PM, 2 PM, and 4 PM Wednesday through Sunday and last for 1 hour. I will check their website here for up-to-date info.

9) Cheer on the DC home teams!

Washington Nationals (MLB) – https://www.mlb.com/nationals/tickets
(Memorial Day Weekend 2025 is May 24–26, so check the schedule closer to that date.)
Washington Spirit (NWSL) – https://washingtonspirit.com/tickets
D.C. United (MLS) – https://www.dcunited.com/tickets
Washington Mystics (WNBA) – https://mystics.wnba.com/tickets

10) Pick Strawberries

Strawberry season is still in full swing! Check out strawberry farms in Maryland and Virginia but be sure to check their Facebook pages for daily updates on field status.