The sacrifice soldiers made for the well-being of the people of America is remembered to date! Memorial Day parades and ceremony in the USA are moving homage to the courageous men and women who have served and given their lives for their country across the United States. Every year, marching bands, vibrant floats, and flags line the streets of cities and villages to create a powerful display of remembrance and pride in our country.
These celebrations, which range from large, sweeping parades in large cities to modest, community-led festivities in tiny towns, bring Americans together in a spirit of gratitude. We have made it easy for you to track down the best and oldest Memorial Day events in the USA. Read along and find your city!
1) 157th Annual Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade
Pay tribute to America’s soldiers in the city that never sleeps at the 157th Annual Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade! March to the beat of patriotic pride, which will end in John Paul Jones Park with a moving memorial service. Enjoy the melancholy 21-gun salute by the Veteran Corps of Artillery🔥, the stirring sounds of bagpipes, a ceremonial flag raising, wreath-laying by Veteran Service Organizations, and the somber beauty of taps. The United Military soldiers of Kings County are hosting this event to commemorate soldiers🪖 and raise awareness of their lasting influence on American history.
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 3rd Avenue & 78th Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States
2) 105th Annual Arlington Memorial Day Parade And Ceremony
Organized by the American Legion and Veterans Memorial Committee of Arlington Heights, Memorial Day has been celebrated here for more than a century! At the 105th Annual Arlington Memorial Day Parade And Ceremony, chime in the parade from Arlington Heights Road and end at the Memorial Park for the Ceremony.🌷 If you have ever served in the US Military, you are wholeheartedly invited to join the parade at any point and place!
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 West Fremont Street & North Chestnut Avenue, Arlington Heights, United States
3) Annual Chicago Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony & Parade
In honor of the fallen, the City of Chicago and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) organize an Annual Chicago Memorial Day Wreath-Laying Ceremony and Parade. Gather at Daley Plaza for the ceremony, and at noon, pay your respects🙏 on Lake Street to Van Buren Street at the parade! Major General Rodney Boyd serves as Grand Marshal, and it honors Gold Star family members. Gold Star Lapel Pins🎖️ and Next of Kin Lapel are bestowed to many families, not as an award but as a symbol of honoring the lives they lost and the ultimate sacrifice they made.
🗓️ May 25th, 2024
📍 Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, United States
4) Portsmouth’s 140th Annual Memorial Day Parade
Since 1884, Memorial Day has been one of the liveliest times in Portsmouth. A tribute to the service and sacrifices of men and women of the United States Armed Forces, Portsmouth’s 140th Annual Memorial Day Parade takes place! It is considered to be one of the longest-running Memorial Day Parades in America🫡, where the city’s proud military heritage is also celebrated. The streets will be filled with marching bands, floats, and pumping energy and excitement for you to relish!
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 High Street & Court Street, Portsmouth, United States
5) 98th Annual Dearborn Memorial Day Parade
People celebrate Memorial Day wholeheartedly, especially in Dearborn! Hosted by the City of Dearborn and the Dearborn Allied War Veterans, the 98th Annual Dearborn Memorial Day Parade pays tribute to and salutes Purple Heart recipients! One of the largest Memorial Day parades in the U.S. and oldest in the state of Michigan includes 80 or more regional officers, marching bands🥁, and community groups in the parade. You can start by attending the Remembrance Ceremony and then be a part of the parade of pride and honor!
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 West Dearborn, Dearborn, United States
6) 96th Annual Shillington Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony
In memory of the heroes of America this Memorial Day, attend the 96th Annual Shillington Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. It’s an open invitation to all citizens.📩 Remember the day with patriotic spirit, marching bands, floats, and heartwarming memories of the people you lost! Gather at Shillington Park and stay until the end as the parade concludes at Shillington Town Hall! It is time to pay homage to those who have given everything for our nation.
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 Shillington Town Hall, Lincoln Park, United States
7) 58th Annual Commerce City Memorial Day Parade
One should learn how to wholeheartedly remember the sacrifices of dear ones❤️🩹 at the 58th Annual Commerce City Memorial Day Parade! Thousands of people come together as a community for the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Park, parade, and concert with live music🎶, food trucks, booths from veterans’ service organizations, city boards, and commissions, and more to conclude the amazing day filled with pride and patriotism!
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 Veterans Memorial Park, Commerce City, Colorado, United States
8) 52nd Annual Colona Memorial Day Parade
A tradition for more than half a century, Colona does its part by paying respect to the soldiers. The 52nd Annual Colona Memorial Day Parade lineup will begin at noon from 2nd Avenue and end up at Colona City Hall. This year’s theme is “Life, Liberty, USA!”💯. It is a call for all to participate and show their patriotic spirit! Do not forget to fill out the online form to register and save a spot for yourself and your family.👪
🗓️ May 26th, 2024
📍 Rt. 84, Colona, Illinois, United States
9) 31st Annual Dacula Memorial Day Parade
A tradition in Dacula since 1994, the 31st Annual Dacula Memorial Day Parade attracts more than 10,000 people to pay respects and honor thousands of Americans. The parade begins at Hebron Baptist Church⛪ and honors fallen heroes of the country, veterans, active service men and women, military vehicles, marching bands, schools, churches, businesses, classic cars, and so many more become a part of the parade!
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 High Street & Court Street, Portsmouth, United States
10) Farmingdale’s 51st Memorial Day Parade
Celebrate Memorial Day most cheerfully at Farmington’s 51st Memorial Day Parade! In memory of the fighters and their strength, the streets come alive with music, dancing, classic cars🚗, and so many more surprises. A Main Street market will be set up for you to explore artisans and vendors. Don’t miss out on the Veteran Memorial Ceremony at the War Memorial. To have the best experience of the parade, pick a lawn, grab a chair or a blanket to sit on🪑, and show off your patriotic spirit!
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 Main Street Farmingdale, Farmingdale, United States
11) Boylston Memorial Day Parade
Celebrate Memorial Day with the Boylston Memorial Day Parade as held by the Town of Boylston. March briskly into the center of town, arriving at the charming Town Common as the final stop. This event is a real treasure for the neighborhood. Savor delectable foods😍 from a range of food sellers, take in the captivating historical society and library exhibitions, and listen to the bandstand’s melodic music.
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 Boylston, Boston, MA, United States
12) 157th Annual West Virginia Memorial Day Parade
West Virginians will be led by the people of Taylor County in honoring all the courageous men and women who have served their country by giving their all. The 157th Annual West Virginia Memorial Day Parade will have six divisions walking alongside horses, cars, batons, corps, dance groups, floats, and so much more! Celebrate Memorial Day with your friends and family, and pay your respects!
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 West Virginia National Cemetery, Grafton, United States
13) 102nd Annual Whatcom Memorial Day Parade
To remember the heroes of the United States Armed Forces, Bellingham goes out of its way! The 102nd Annual Whatcom Memorial Day Parade is organized for those who passionately remember and honor those who lost their lives. It is a vibrant celebration with several fun activities for families! This year, the parade begins at the intersection of Alabama Street🛣️ and Cornwall Avenue and travels southward along Cornwall Avenue in Bellingham.
🗓️ May 25th, 2024
📍 Alabama Street & Cornwall Avenue, Bellingham, United States
14) Middletown Springs 55th Annual Memorial Day Parade
Visit a heartfelt and inspiring experience at the 55th annual Middletown Springs Memorial Day parade, themed “Say Their Name.”🎤 A solemn ceremony will honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice after the parade. This year’s event carries extra significance as our veterans, many approaching retirement age, will be present to pay tribute to their fallen comrades despite their own physical challenges. Their enduring spirit and sense of duty serve as a poignant reminder of the true meaning of Memorial Day.
🗓️ May 26th, 2024
📍 VT-133, Middletown Springs, United States
15) 114th Annual Memorial Day Parade in Reading
Don’t miss the 114th Annual Memorial Day Parade in Reading—a time-honored tradition that promises to be as heartwarming as it is memorable. This year, they are thrilled to welcome back the Ohio Valley Region Model A Ford Club, adding a touch of vintage charm to the festivities. The parade will journey through the picturesque neighborhoods of Arlington Heights, Lockland, and Reading, creating an atmosphere for community spirit and patriotic pride.😇 Go early, bring your family, and join the legacy that unites all.
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 8633 Reading Rd, Cincinnati, United States
16) Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
It’s time to remember the ones who left behind everything for other’s safety at the Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony. The parade begins at 2 PM, followed by a ceremony at 3. It is one of the oldest continuing ceremonies in the country! Once upon a time, this ceremony also featured past presidents of the United States and Pennsylvania governors as keynote speakers!
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 Gettysburg, United States
17) 150th Annual Freehold Memorial Day Parade
The local veterans organization and Freehold Memorial Day Parade Committee organize the 150th Annual Freehold Memorial Day Parade yearly. It is one of the largest and oldest parades in New Jersey, and more than 70 participants come together to honor military veterans on the streets. Many military units, veteran’s organizations, bands, fire departments, emergency medical services, specially made floats, and civilian units participate in the parade.
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 West Main Street, W Main St, Freehold, United States
18) National Memorial Day Parade
It is the grand return of the National Memorial Day Parade, presented by Boeing—a spectacular event dedicated to honoring our fallen heroes. It’s the largest Memorial Day Parade in the nation, celebrating the true meaning of the holiday with grandeur and heartfelt tribute.❤️🩹 The opening ceremonies will set the stage with musical performances, leading into a parade headlined by surviving World War II heroes, including D-Day veterans and beyond. The event promises to captivate audiences with historical reenactors, active-duty military personnel, vibrant marching bands, and musical performers.
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC, United States
19) Menomonee Falls Memorial Day Parade
A heartfelt ceremony and parade of Menomonee Falls Memorial Day Parade starts from Main Street at Harrison Avenue! It goes through Menomonee Falls’ downtown, then heads west on Main Street before veering north on Grand Avenue and coming to an end at the parking lot of Neu’s Building Center. It is a warm respect to the ones who sacrificed their lives for the country. It is coordinated by the Knights of Columbus.
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 Main Street & Harrison Drive, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, United States
20) Ironton Memorial Day Parade
Take in the iconic Ironton Memorial Day Parade, a beloved American institution since 1868 and the oldest parade of its kind. Twelve colorful categories offer something for everyone. Tens of thousands of onlookers line the road to see numerous eye-catching floats, fire vehicles, clowns, amusing cars, dancing studios, and marching bands. This vibrant festival, which draws about 1000 people, is evidence of the strength of the community and national pride.
🗓️ May 27th, 2024
📍 Center Street, Center St, Ironton, OH 45638, USA, United States
