You can find concerts, sporting events, and free cultural festivals all over the country celebrating Memorial Day weekend, the official kickoff of summer. There are so many Memorial Day events, there is truly something for everyone, no matter what you are into.
Music Festivals
Memorial Day weekend music festivals welcome in the music festival season to come in the summer months. While tickets can be expensive, music festivals are among the most exciting events you can attend when this long weekend rolls around. Key music festivals include Rocklahoma, Sasquatch, and Summer Camp.
Each of these festivals feature different styles of music. Rocklahoma, held in Oklahoma, features heavy metal and rock music stars such as Disturbed, Rob Zombie, and Megadeath–not everyone’s cup of tea. Sasquatch, on the other hand is a more alternative music festival with artists such as Alabama Shakes, Baroness, and Chet Faker. Sasquatch is known as much for the venue it’s held at, The Gorge, outside of Seattle, as the musicians it draws there. Summer Camp, held in Chillicothe, Illinois, is a more relaxed, electronic music festival. In addition to the sounds of artists like Gramatik and Emancipator, The Roots and Yonder Mountain String Band are also on the ticket this year.
While music festivals can break the monotony of everyday life and the food, dancing, and parties are some of the best you’ll find, they commonly require camping or steep RV park fees, as few of them are held close to towns with hotels. Make sure you research a music festival checklist before you buy your tickets.
Sporting Events
Memorial Day weekend sees a couple big races like the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600. The Indie 500 is considered the biggest sporting event of Memorial Day weekend, but it certainly isn’t the only one.
Many MLB fans see Memorial Day weekend as a milestone in the season. It’s the first time teams assess how well they are playing, what they must work on, and what their expectations are for the rest of the season. A day at your local ballpark is a great activity for the family, as stadiums are filled with fans of all ages. While this event isn’t as extravagant as a weekend long music festival, it is, perhaps, more family friendly.
Free Events
You don’t have to spend a fortune on convert or sports tickets for a great time on Memorial Day weekend. In fact, there are many wonderful, family-oriented events that are completely free. Northwest Folklife Festival, for instance, is held in the heart of Downtown Seattle at the Seattle Center and is free for all. Northwest Folklife Festival provides music from a vast number of cultures as well as dance workshops, countless street vendors, and more.
The Barrington Art Festival, in Illinois, showcases more than 130 artists who have been hand picked for their dedication and quality of craft. Youth activities, like the graffiti wall, encourage families to attend, and food vendors serve up delicious bites.
If you’ve never been to New York City, this might be your excuse. New York City throws many parades on Memorial Day. The 149-year-old Brooklyn parade starts at 10:00 a.m. Four other parades take place as well, one for each borough of New York.