Things To Do in Southern California Memorial Day Weekend (2026)

Celebrate Memorial Day with your family while honoring our heroes. Explore Kidsguide’s list of family-friendly events and places that pay tribute to the brave.

2026 Memorial Day Events in Southern California

FREE! Memorial Day Ceremony
Veterans Memorial Plaza at Del Valle Park, Lakewood
Monday, May 25, 2026
Honor fallen service members at this annual ceremony featuring a keynote speaker, flag presentation, live music, and tributes from local veterans organizations.

Field of Honor
Mission San Juan Capistrano
May 19-25, 2026
Mission San Juan Capistrano transforms into an awe-inspiring Field of Honor with more than 400 American flags, each standing seven-feet tall in solemn formation, waving proudly in honor of military, veterans, first responders, including K-9 and equestrian heroes. Display is included with regular admission. Active duty, veterans, and first responders are free.

FREE! Field of Honor
Castaways Park, Newport Beach
May 15-25, 2026
See 1,776 U.S. flags fly in honor of all military service members, firefighters, lifeguards, police, medical personnel, and other first responders. Ceremonies will be held at noon on Armed Forces Day (May 16) and Memorial Day (May 25).

FREE! Candle Lighting Ceremony
Northwood Gratitude & Honor Memorial, Irvine
Sunday, May 24, 2026
A special candle lighting ceremony will be held at the Northwood Gratitude & Honor Memorial, the first permanent memorial to honor every American fallen service member in Afghanistan and Iraq. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating.

Memorial Day
Fairhaven Memorial, Santa Ana
Monday, May 25, 2026
Join Fairhaven Park & Mortuary for their annual Memorial Day Ceremony featuring military speakers, live music, aerial flyover, Honor Guard detail, antique cars on display, and more.

FREE! Memorial Day Commemoration
Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley
Monday, May 25, 2026
Join the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to honor the fallen men and women who served in the United State Military. The program includes live musical entertainment, a flyover, color guard, and more. All Memorial Day programming is free to attend, reservations recommended. Admission rates apply to tour the museum or special exhibits.

Memorial Day Air Fair & Flower Drop
Palm Springs Air Museum
Monday, May 25, 2026
Join the Palm Springs Air Museum to honor the fallen with a fly-by and flower drop of over 3,000 red and white carnations from a B-25 Mitchell bomber. Plus, enjoy flight exhibitions, kids’ activities, live music, food vendors, and more. Visitors are welcome to pick up a flower to take home. Flight exhibitions and activities scheduled all day long, Memorial Ceremony and Flower Drop scheduled for 1pm. Tickets: $23-25.

Memorial Weekend Activities

Legacy Week
USS Midway Museum, San Diego
May 22-25, 2026
The USS Midway Museum’s “Legacy Week” is the heart and soul of Memorial Day commemoration in San Diego with iconic activities onboard the aircraft carrier. Event highlights include choir performance, meet the aviators, and wreath ceremony.

FREE! LA Fleet Week
Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro
Neighborhood Activations: May 19-25, 2026
Festivals & Tours: May 22-25, 2026
LA Fleet Week is an annual, multi-day celebration of our nation’s Sea Services held on the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles over the extended Memorial Day Weekend. Events include active duty ship tours, military displays and equipment demonstrations, live entertainment, aircraft flyovers, culinary cook-off competitions, and concerts.

FREE! Tunes at the Dunes
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, Newport Beach
May 22–24, 2026
Enjoy beachfront live music, food trucks, and sunset vibes by the bay.

FREE! Fiesta Hermosa
Hermosa Beach Pier, Hermosa Beach
May 23–25, 2026
Shop, ride, eat, and enjoy live music all weekend at this beachside festival.

Smorgasburg BBQ Invitational
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia
May 23–25, 2026
Sample BBQ from multiple vendors, enjoy carnival rides, games, and live entertainment at this three-day food and family event.

Family Memorial Day Camp Out & Barbecue
Gilchrist Farm, Santa Clarita
May 24–25, 2026
Camp overnight on a farm with animals, activities, BBQ, and a campfire experience.

Military-Themed Places to Visit

American Military History Museum, South El Monte
An outdoor museum dedicated to preserving our nation’s military history. See over 170 military vehicles and military equipment on display.

Drum Barracks Civil War Museum, Wilmington
The Drum Barracks served as the main staging, training, and supply base for the Union Army and military operation in the Southwest. Visitors can tour the courtyard, parlor, armory, barracks room and more.

Battleship USS IOWA, San Pedro
This battleship served our country proudly in WWII, Korea, and the Cold War. General access pass offers exhibits on the Battleship of Presidents, Gunnery Hazards, HUP-2 Helicopter, and more.

S.S. Lane Victory, San Pedro
Self-guided tours are offered on the museum ship that was once used in World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War.

Lincoln Memorial Shrine & Civil War Museum, Redlands
Learn about the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln and learn the stories told through letters and objects from the Civil War.

Nixon Presidential Library, Yorba Linda
Step aboard Army One, the presidential helicopter used by Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford. See artifacts from The Vietnam War and their newest exhibit honoring prisoners of war.

Reagan Presidential Library, Simi Valley
Walk and explore the actual Air Force One that flew seven presidents, see a full-size replica of President Reagan’s Oval Office, the Berlin Wall, and the F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter and F-14 Tomcat, Marine One Helicopter, M-1 Abrams Tank, and more.

USS Midway Museum, San Diego
Navy aircraft carrier featuring more than 30 restored aircraft and nearly 10 acres of exhibits. Climb aboard real cockpits, tour the bridge and captain’s cabins, walk through spaces where the crew lived, and explore the hangar and flight deck.

Air Museums with Military Aircraft

Flight Path Museum, Los Angeles

The Proud Bird, Los Angeles

Western Museum of Flight, Torrance

March Field Air Museum, Riverside

Museum of Flying, Santa Monica

Lyon Air Museum, Santa Ana

Planes of Fame Air Museum, Chino

Yanks Air Museum, Chino

Blackbird Airpark, Palmdale

Joe Davies Heritage Airpark, Palmdale

San Diego Air & Space Museum, San Diego