Since 1868, Memorial Day has been celebrated by Americans as homage and commemoration to those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is typically observed on the last Monday of May each year as a federal holiday.
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day is significant because it recalls the ultimate sacrifices of those who gave up their lives in the name of freedom and for the defense of democracy. One might think endless possibilities await, but many of us struggle to plan ways to pay tribute to our nation's bravest and keep our youth engaged with the values our country was built upon.
Here are the 40 best things to do on Memorial Day, in a list bound to help you plan fun things to do on Memorial Day weekend in remembrance of our debt to the fallen heroes!
Make A Special Visit to A National Cemetery
Visiting a national cemetery on Memorial Day is a meaningful way to honor fallen soldiers. Before going, research the cemetery and any scheduled events, consider bringing American flags or flowers, and observe respectful behavior, like quiet reflection and gratitude.
Host A DIY Patriotic Crafts Party
Nothing screams more fun than a Do-It-Yourself crafts party. A creative way to spend the day with your loved ones is by decorating flag wreaths and painting the mason jar in the iconic shades of red, white, and blue. DIY can spark the creative element in your Memorial Day activities and be one of the many fun things to do on Memorial Day with kids. A separate crafting station set-up can help elevate the participant’s creative spirit to another level.
Make A Jar That Holds Memories
Yes! A simple jar can hold so many memories; it remains one of the many fun things to do on Memorial Day. It can be used during the planned gatherings for the day, where each person can write down a memory that they hold closest to themselves or any other thing they are grateful for. Encourage everyone to participate so that by the end of the gathering, everyone can read aloud the shared memories they cherish the most.
A Family Reunion
Memorial Day can be a great occasion to bring your family members together. It is a day filled with laughter, food, and fun, but most importantly, a family reunion to comfort those who have lost their loved ones to war. Tragic as it is, the loss of a relative often brings the rest of the family together to remember and cherish the memories they spent with their loved ones.
Volunteer at a Parade
You can either help with the set-up and coordination or actively participate in the parade to show your genuine support. This will help you get more involved in the community and recognize the true essence of the special day.
A Dedicated Community Cleanup
An organized cleanup drive is a great way to give back to the community. You can choose a neighborhood, local park, or beach. You can also spend the day planting trees, picking up litter, and tidying public spaces.
Set Up A Patriotically Themed Photo Booth
A photo booth set up with various props, such as hats, sunglasses, flags, or flowers, is an exciting way to capture memories with the kids and close ones. The pictures can make excellent, everlasting mementos of the Memorial Day celebrations.
Set Up A Patriotic Themed Picnic
Pack a picnic basket filled with all-American favorites like apple pie, hotdogs, and hamburgers. Pick a serene and scenic spot to enjoy the day with family and friends.
Attend A Local Memorial Service
Many communities plan memorial services by holding parades and ceremonies in memory of military personnel and veterans. Participate in the services being held near you and show your undying support.
Make A Playlist of the Day
You can create a special playlist consisting of all the songs that awaken the true spirit of the day. Play it during gatherings or even while you are home alone, relaxing.
Pay Tribute to the Red, White and Blue
Utilize the American flag's colors to maximize the day's patriotic spirit. Décor the yard, patio, or the whole home with the colors that represent the patriotic festivities of the day. Arrange balloons or make banners using the colors to set the mood for the celebrations.
A Friends and Family BBQ Cook-Off
The key to engaging in the festivities is challenging your inner spirit to do your best as part of the national community. A friendly competition between family and friends and a cook-off to see who can grill the best ribs, burgers, or chicken is a great way to spend the day. Set a prize or reward for the dish's presentation, taste, and creativity.
A Tour of the Historical Sites or Museums
Organize a tour to explore the local historical sites and museums for insight into military history. This can help acknowledge and learn the sacrifices made by the men and women serving the country.
Go On a Charity Walk or Run
Take part in a charity walk or run dedicated to paying tribute to veterans and military families and helping them financially. A glorious salute to their service, indeed!
Patriotic Movie Marathon
Movies can be a great source of heartfully experiencing the sacrifices and celebrating historic victory. Host a movie marathon consisting of classic patriotic themes, like “Saving Private Ryan,” “Independence Day,” or “Top Gun”.
Volunteer at the Local Veterans’ Home
Spend your time by offering your assistance and companionship or organizing fun things to do on Memorial Day to brighten up the lives of those in a local hospital or a veteran’s home.
Host a Flag Ceremony
Hoist up patriotic spirit in your locale by raising the flag on a local pole! Ensure you include your friends and family and a moment of silence to honor the fallen soldiers.
A Scrapbook for Memorial Day
Create a memorable scrapbook by gathering photos, memories of the past memorial days, and mementos. Making a scrapbook using pictures and stories of the past Memorial Days can be one of the many lovely
memorial gifts for the loss of a mother a father a close friend or a relative. Take pictures of the gatherings that you host and the decorations. Make a scrapbook out of the pictures to cherish the memories forever.
A Patriotic Potluck
Send out invitations to all your friends and family to a potluck dinner. Everyone can bring dishes inspired by American cuisine, such as steaks, mac and cheese, and apple pies. The feast will consist of all the flavors of Patriotism.
A Beach Day
Pack your beach day essentials in a bag for a sand, surf, and sun day. Pack some snacks and drinks along with beach towels. The ocean makes up most of our national borders, after all.
A Scavenger Hunt for the Day
This is a scavenger hunt with the theme of patriotism, a game for both kids and adults. Clues and items that are to be hidden can reflect landmarks and history. Compete to follow the clues to the prize and finish the game by solving riddles before everyone else!
Camping Under the Open Sky
This is every bit as beautiful as it sounds. Going camping under an open sky full of stars is the best way for family and friends to experience America's great outdoors. If you're looking for the perfect
gifts for hikers, consider gear that enhances their outdoor adventures, like durable backpacks, lightweight tents, or high-quality hiking boots.
To make the trip especially memorable, you can set up tents and make s’mores while sitting across the campfire, make souvenirs for the invited people, write thank you notes, hand out small carriable flags, and give thoughtful
gifts for campers.
A Memorial Day Brunch
To start the fun things to do on Memorial Day, stock up on food coloring and pastry creams of the tricolor. Some brunch ideas include fruit parfaits and mimosas.
Plant A Memorial Garden
Honor the memories of those who sacrificed themselves in the war to secure our future or the loved ones who will always live in our hearts by planting a garden in our yards or community space. You can choose flowers with symbolic meanings to pay tribute to the bravery of the soldiers.
A Letter of Gratitude
Write a letter to the currently serving military personnel or veterans to pay them their due thanks. Letter writing comes easy to many of us, and it is thus an opportunity for Americans of all ages to show gratitude to the men and women who lay down their lives so everyone back home can have a better life.
A Game-Night Fun
Board games, charades, or trivia can be great ways to spend a game night, and they can prove even better when the games relate to American history themes. Gather your family and friends for a fun and creative patriotic-themed game night. Snacks and drinks are included, of course!
A Memorial Day Concert
Check out local listings for Memorial Day concerts. There are often many with classic American music and fair homage paid to our veterans. A great way to use your time off work and school is to surround yourself with music and invoke your love for the culture.
Outdoor Movie Night
Get your projectors and screens ready because this might be the best way to spend the weekend. By planning a movie night, you and your loved ones can enjoy a blend of the homely outdoor feel, feel one with the starry sky, and relish the fresh air.
Have Some Sporty Fun
Organizing a sports event can be an excellent idea for a fun and festive day. An event consists of games such as flag football, volleyball, or even softball! Sports help nurture healthy competition and be active with your friends and family the whole day.
Plan a Road Trip
Pack your favorite snacks and drinks, and remember the playlist you made. A road trip could be a great source of fun filled with memorable destinations and adventure.
Create a Virtual Memorial Online
Create a cyberspace where people can pay tribute to their loved ones virtually by posting pictures and stories of those who have served in the armed forces. Encourage your friends to share the stories and media of their loved ones who proved themselves genuine specimens of bravery.
Craft DIY Remembrance Candles
Invite all your family and friends to a Do-it-yourself session to create candles that symbolize your remembrance of those who deserve to be remembered. Search for patriotic quotes and symbols to decorate the candles. You can place these candles in front of framed images of fallen soldiers and light them up as a silent tribute to their sacrifices.
A Circle of Storytelling
Veterans are treasure troves of wisdom and stories from which we can all benefit. Invite them to share their experiences from days of war in a storytelling circle. Provide them with a respectful space to share their insights on their time serving in the military.
A Cooking Class Inspired By the Military
Invite people interested in cooking to host a cooking class focused solely on making dishes inspired by the military, representing different eras and regions. You can also learn about Ration-inspired meals or dishes, including the cuisines military troops serve.
Virtual Field Trip
Today, virtual worlds built on American technology are more than adequately equipped to offer many resources for learning about the significance of history. With the help of online resources, you can take a field trip to historical museums and sites from the comfort of your home.
Patriotic Karaoke Party
A karaoke party where all the invited people can sing the tunes of patriotic music such as “God Bless America” or “America the Beautiful.”
Make Care Packages
Put together care packages containing snacks, books, and handwritten notes of appreciation and gratitude for deployed service members or veterans. The packages can also be donated to organizations supporting military personnel and their families.
A Wall of Honor
Any gathering you plan can be made much more wholesome with a wall of honor. It could be one of the many Memorial Day gifts that display pictures, stories, and mementos of family members who have served in the military.
A Military-Themed Trivia Challenge
It's fun to test your knowledge of military traditions and history by creating trivia questions about topics like famous battles, branches of the military, or notable veterans.
A Memorial Day Gifts Buying Venture
Gifts for family members serving in the armed forces or veterans are a significant memory venture. Gifts like wallets or keychains make for pleasing little surprises. Choosing brass or
copper gifts for men, like flasks or watches, can be thoughtful Veterans Day gifts and help fuel national spirit in the best ways!
Conclusion:
However we choose to spend Memorial Day, let us always remember the sacrifices of those who served and the value of what they believed in. The true meaning of the holiday lies in respecting and protecting the freedoms of, our own and those of our fellow Americans. Let us promise to honor our national values this Memorial Day, this year, and this lifetime!
