If you are wondering what fun things to do with family on Memorial Day weekend, you are in the right place! We have rounded up some of the best and most Fun Memorial Day activities for families.
These Memorial Day activities for kids & adults are a great way of remembering the fallen heroes & honouring their sacrifices while fostering family bonding.
Sure to make the long weekend exciting, these family activities for Memorial Day promise fun and lifetime memories.
Fun Memorial Day Activities for Families
With the weather getting warmer, Memorial Day activities assure lots of fun! Think about long BBQ, fun beach activities, parades, live music and special events honouring the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
While the options for Memorial day activity ideas for families are endless, make sure to strike a nice balance between acknowledging the national heroes and fun family activities.
1. Pay Respects
Stay true to the spirit of Memorial Day by paying respects to the fallen heroes by visiting your local or national cemetery.
Place the American flags or flowers on the graves of the nation‘s heroes to pay your respect. Bonus points if you can visit Arlington National Cemetery and attend their remembrance ceremony.
2. Observe Moment of Silence
Observe the National Moment of Remembrance by keeping silence for at least a minute to remember and thank the soldiers who laid their lives for the United States of America.
This Memorial Day activity for families is a must to inculcate gratitude and respect for the brave hearts.
3. Decorate Your Home
Bring out the red, blue and white declarations to mark the special occasion and show your solidarity for the soldiers. This fun memorial day activity for kids will keep them happily busy while boosting their creativity.
4. Take A White House Virtual Tour
Embark on a historical journey with a virtual White House tour with kids and family. This immersive experience will give you a deep dive into the history of White House. It even offers free resources for students & teachers for classroom use.
5. Visit Veteran-Owned Businesses
This is a simply wonderful idea to visit or shop at a veteran owned business on Memorial and Veterans day.
Simply search for a veteran or military families owned business in your area and pay it a visit to express your appreciation. Hands down one of the best and most thoughtful Memorial Day activities for families!
6. Attend the National Memorial Day Parade
You possibly cannot miss the Memorial Day parade. If you can’t attend one, simply tune it on your television sets or stream it live! There is no better Memorial Day activity for families than watching the parade together.
Quick Tip: This Memorial Day, make these Easy Parade Wands with kids!
7. Make A Contribution
This Memorial Day, make sure to make a monetary contribution towards veterans and military organisations. Find a local organisation that supports the cause or make a donation at U.S department of Veteran Affairs or USO.
8. Host a Memorial Day Picnic
One of the best things about the Memorial Day weekend is the warm weather, which is just perfect for a picnic or an outdoor dinner or a bbq – whatever you like! And remember to keep things simple to make it fun and enjoyable for everyone.
9. Post On Social Media
Memorial day celebrations call for social media posts! Pay your respects and showcase your appreciation & gratitude with social media posts applauding the veterans and military.
10. Memorial Day Concert
Tune into the National Memorial Day concert for live music and heartfelt tributes. A great Memorial Day family activity, this one is sure to keep everyone, from little kids to adults, entertained!
11. Head to The Beach
Memorial day marks the unofficial start of summer season. Club that with an extended weekend and it is the perfect opportunity to head to the beach with the whole family!
It is one of the most fun Memorial Day activities for families and is sure to make lifetime memories!
Quick Tip: Check out these Fun Beach Games for Families to make the best of your Memorial Day break!
12. Learn Patriotic Songs
Make your own live entertainment by learning to play patriotic songs or singing if you like! Choose from a wide selection of patriotic songs available on the web to pick your favourite.
13. Attend a Music Festival
Memorial Day weekend hosts some of the best musical concerts. Check out the one closest to you or take a family trip to your favourite music festival this Memorial Day!
14. Listen to Veteran’s Stories
Visit a local veteran you know and request them to share their stories with you. You will be in awe of the sacrifice they made for the country. In case visiting is not an option, tune into Stories of Service members & military families on StoryCorps.
15. Visit a National Park
The extended holiday weekend and the warm weather makes it a great time to visit a National Park. Drive to your nearby or favourite national park for complete family fun. But, do make sure to check on their status before you head off!
16. Watch History Programs
Make the best of the federal holiday by watching history programs to learn more about American history, World War II and the armed forces.
Educational and entertaining, this memorial day activity for families is a big hit with everyone and have you beaming with American pride!
17. Clip Coupons
This is a great Memorial Day activity for families. Sit together and clip coupons off your Sunday paper and mail them to the Overseas Coupon Program.
And don’t worry about the expired coupons! Include them too as these can be used by soldiers upto 6 months past their expiration dates. So gather along and make some good!
18. Pen Letters
Write a letter to military members, active soldiers as well as veterans to express your gratitude for their services to the country. This thoughtful Memorial day activity will help your kids understand the significance of the Memorial Day holiday.
19. Send Care Packages
Send care packages to active soldiers to acknowledge their contribution to the country. Support our Troops, Operation Gratitude and Soldier Angels are a few organisations that offer care package donations.
20. Go Backyard Camping
Nothing can be more fun and easy than camping in the backyard. If you are looking to simply relax and yet have good family fun, backyard camping is a great option. All you need is some comfy throws, blankets and pillows to get the fun rolling!
21. Participate in Take a Veteran To School Program
This is a great way to celebrate Memorial Day with kids and strengthen the community. Sure to make you and the kids proud, this programme offers the opportunity to bring out the experiences and learnings of a veteran for the whole community.
22. Watch Patriotic Movies
Make the best of a three-day weekend by watching patriotic movies together as a family. And don‘t forget to bring on the popcorn!
Quick Tip: Also check out this list of Family Movies for all seasons and holidays!
23. Host The Family of The Military
Invite over the family or loved ones of a military family to show your appreciation and gratitude for their services. If your kids have a classmate whose parent is deployed, ask them if they would like to come over for brunch or tea with your family.
24. Make Patriotic Crafts
Get crafty and make your very own Memorial Day decorations this time around. It is a great Memorial Day activity for kids and adults that will bring your family closer.
25. Take a Road Trip
Drive to a nearby town or simply take a getaway to enjoy the three-day holiday with family and friends. Think of nearby towns hosting parades, musical events or a quiet resort for family time!
Quick Tip: Check out these fun Road Trip Games & Activities to keep kids entertained on the way!
26. Bake a Treat For Military Family
One of the best Memorial Day activities to show your gratitude is baking a treat for a local military family! And if that’s not an option, simply bake Memorial Day treats with your kids together as a family to bond over food.
Related: Get your kids helping you with this Easy Baking Guide for Kids!
27. Read Patriotic Books
Make reading a part of your Memorial day celebration. Read about the history and meaning of the holiday with your family to help them understand the sacrifice of veterans and soldiers.
FAQ
Memorial Day is celebrated in the honour of the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces. The day is to recognize the sacrifices and commitments of the brave hearts who lost their lives while defending the nation.
Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of the month of May.
Both, Memorial Day and Veteran Day, are celebrated in the honour of the U.S. military. The only difference is that the Memorial Day is in the honour of the service members who died while serving in the U.S. military. And, the Veterans Day is in the honour of those who have served in the U.S. armed forces, living or dead.
1. Visit Veteran-Owned Businesses
2. Watch Patriotic Movies
3. Make A Contribution
4. Post On Social Media – Appreciation and gratitude for veterans and military
5. Host the family of the Military
