While Memorial Day itself is a somber occasion, the three-day weekend that comes along with the holiday is the unofficial start of summer, and definitely something to celebrate. But with the rush of the end of school and whatnot, making plans might have slipped your mind.
Swipe through to get ideas as to how to spend Memorial Day weekend.
Check online to see if your community hosts a Memorial Day parade. Such gatherings are a terrific way to honor those who have died in service to our nation. These patriotic gatherings often feature military personnel and marching bands.
Photography: Pinterest/Glo Maner
Welcome summer with a neighborhood block party. Invite the gang to your house, or have everyone haul their grills out into the street for a multi-family cookout. Keep the kids entertained with a squirt gun fight or pull out the old-fashioned egg-on-spoon game.
Photography: Pinterest/Chicago Tribune
Maybe there’s an outdoor music show near your community. Check online listings, then grab a couple friends, a blanket and some picnic food and have a great time!
Pack up the tent, the kids and the dog and head to a campground. It can be a nearby spot—no need to drive across the state for a quick weekend trip. With days of swimming, biking, hiking, canoeing and long afternoon naps, you’ll create lifelong memories you’ll treasure forever.
Contact local veterans’ organizations to find out if you can help out in any way. Tidying up or taking flowers to a veterans’ cemetery might be one way to honor fallen soldiers. There might be official Memorial Day ceremonies that need volunteers.
In your own city. You might be surprised at the hidden gems that you didn’t even know about right in your own town. New hot spots pop up all the time—find a tour with a local who knows what’s what and discover them for yourself.
If you’re lucky enough to live close to a lake, river or even the ocean, Memorial Day weekend is a spectacular time to go boating. Some folks like to sail, while others prefer a leisurely pontoon ride. Rent a motor boat if water skiing is your thing. Just be sure to wear sunscreen!