Memorial Day weekend events on Long Island
On Memorial Day weekend, festivals and parades bring people together to commemorate and honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. The holiday also marks the unofficial start of summer, featuring parades, fireworks displays, festivals, and more. Here's what's happening.
Jones Beach State Park, Ocean Parkway, Wantagh
Members of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds perform at Jones Beach Air Show in 2023. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Soar into Memorial Day weekend with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. This summer marks the team’s 10th headlining performance at Jones Beach. This year’s military performers include the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the United States Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, the United State Navy Rhino Demo Team and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Other performers include the American Airpower Museum Warbirds, the Farmingdale State College Flying Rams and aerobatic pilot David Windmiller.
Republic Airport, Hangar 3, 1230 New Highway, Farmingdale
Witness the American Airpower Museum's World War II Legends of Airpower Warbirds in the FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach. Credit: American Airpower Museum/Ricardo von Puttkammer
See the museum's World War II Legends of Airpower Warbirds flying in the air show, which include a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, North American P-51D Mustang, Curtiss P-40M Warhawk "Flying Tiger" and more. On the ground, the AAM's Republic Aviation static display includes an F-84, F-105D, A-10A Warthog, and other planes.
Route 58, Riverhead
Cheer on the drivers at the Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
America's Military Services Night features NASCAR racing with modifieds, INEX legends, late models, crate modifieds and truck enduro racing.
Parking field 2, 1899 Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow
Senior Juan Diaz looks at the cockpit as Pilot Andrew Baity, of Virginia, talks about the helicopter. Credit: Rick Kopstein
U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines and U.S. Coast Guard helicopters land and attendees are invited to meet the crews in conjunction with New York Fleet Week at Eisenhower Park. Military displays from each branch of service will be on display, and the U.S. Navy Band performs.
Volunteers are needed to place American flags on veterans' graves. Flags will be provided.
Cub Scout Andrew Wegener, of North Bellmore Troop 192, places American flags on the graves at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale in May 2024. Credit: Joseph Sperber
2040 Wellwood Ave., Farmingdale
210 Princeton Blvd., Calverton
175 W. Shore Rd., Port Washington
North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
The Memorial Day Commemoration and fireworks event focuses on members of the Armed Forces, featuring speeches and music by Shot Down. This year's theme is "Country Party USA." Food will be available for purchase.
Nautical Mile, 211 Woodcleft Ave., Freeport
A sunset cruise with Freeport Water Taxi & Tours in Freeport. Credit: Marisol Diaz
See the FourLeaf Air Show while cruising on a water taxi or charter boat with Freeport Water Taxi and Tours.
Tanger Outlets Deer Park, 152 The Arches Circle. Deer Park
Foodie Fest at Tanger Outlets Deer Park. Credit: Amaka Muir
Check out a lineup of food trucks offering diverse menus and specialties in the parking lot next to Under Armour. There will be a DJ and a bounce house.
Broadway Commons, 358 N. Broadway, Hicksville
Big Bounce America at Broadway Commons in Hicksville will feature obstacle courses, mazes and slides. Credit: Big Bounce America
The inflatable wonderland features obstacle courses, mazes, and slides. Play areas include: "The Giant," the "Sport Slam," a sports arena; a space-themed section called "airSPACE," and the newly added deep-sea foam party inflatable, "OctoBlast."
Behind PC Richards and Sons, 2999 Hempstead Tpke., Levittown
Families can enjoy rides, games, and carnival food. New rides to try this year include Zeus and Flash Dance.
Athletic Field, 60 Main St., Huntington
Head to the carnival for thrills, amusements and more. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto/Clayton Piatt
The carnival features rides, a midway with games, food including cotton candy and popcorn, international cuisine and magic shows (May 24-25).
\St. Joseph University, parking lot at Wavery Avenue and Sunrise Highway, Patchogue
The carnival features rides, games and food vendors.
On the great lawn across from St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 35 Main St., Westhampton
The event features artisans displaying their original artwork, sculptures, jewelry, paintings and more.
Kennedy Plaza, 1 W. Chester St., Long Beach
Artisans sell one-of-a-kind items at Arts in the Plaza in Long Beach. Credit: Arts in the Plaza
Artisans present one-of-a-kind items, jewelry, clothing and crafts. Farmers' markets and food are available for sale, along with live music.
715 Sound Ave., Mattituck
Farmer Fred races pigs at the Barnyard Adventure at Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck. Credit: Jeffrey Basinger
Baby goats, lambs, bunnies, and chicks will join the free fun in the farm's picnic area at Harbes Family Farm. For more animal adventures, enter the Harbes Barnyard Adventure, featuring a musical hayride, pig races and "jumbo jumpers" bounce pillows. Explore the sports zone with baseball, football, and basketball tossing games, a trike track, obstacle course, a hedge maze and an animatronic chicken show.
Along Hawkins Avenue, Ronkonkoma
Soak up the final days of summer at the Ronkonkoma Street Fair. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
The fair features live music, children’s rides and entertainment, arts and crafts and food vendors.
58775 County Road 48, Greenport
Catch the sunset at Low Tide Bar at Sound View in Greenport. Credit: Randee Daddona
Enjoy private beach access at this waterfront hotel and bar, where the venue holds its Low Tide Bar (open to all; starting Memorial Day weekend; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Sunday), where guests and non-guests can buy cocktails from an outdoor tiki bar or lounge in beach chairs.
1 Cayuga St., Ocean Bay Park, Fire Island
Nick Bell, of Centereach, dances at Flynn’s in Ocean Bay Park. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
The outdoor dance party at Flynn's is the Brazilian Carnival edition with sounds by Mike Savage, Frankie Sims and MC Neil Walsh. The party continues Sunday with Fotsbeats, DJ Bad and City.
161 Main St., Amagansett
Live bands will take the stage all weekend long, covering '80s classics to indie rock.
3232 Railroad Ave., Wantagh
People dance to the live band at Mulcahy's in Wantagh. Credit: Howard Simmons
New Age Bingo Loco arrives at Mulcahy's with dance-offs, rave rounds, lip-sync battles, throwback anthems, confetti showers, conga lines, and more.
The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
The stand-up comedian and '80s mainstay on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" continues his tour with a stop at The Paramount.
34515 Main Rd., Cutchogue
Husband and wife Reinaldo Miranda and Wanda Rosario, of Queens Village, drink a glass of pinot noir by the koi fish pond at Pugliese Vineyards in Cutchogue. Credit: Randee Daddona
Sip on vino and enjoy live music by April Rain and Steve Archdeacon.
42155 Main Rd., Peconic
Maegan and Chris Ramnarine, of Mattituck, at the Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. in Peconic. Credit: Randee Daddona
Grab a brew and groove to the music of the Grateful Dead with Roses Grove Band on May 24, and enjoy five decades of rock music with One Track Mind on May 25.
35 Cox Neck Rd., Mattituck
Head to winery for live music with Taylor Thomas on the outdoor patio.
36225 Main Rd., Cutchogue
Friends taste wine at Bedell Cellars in Cutchogue. Credit: Randee Daddona
Check out live music from Frank Palmeri at this East End winery.
3 Court House Dr., Central Islip
Cheer on the Ducks as they face off against the Staten Island FerryHawks at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. Credit: George A. Faella
Cheer on the Ducks as they face off against the Staten Island FerryHawks at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. Fireworks follow the game on May 24.
3575 Lighthouse Rd., Southold
Cherry trees in bloom on the grounds of the Horton Point Lighthouse in Southold. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
During the opening weekend, explore exhibits on whaling and the history of the lighthouse built in 1857.
2549 Splish Splash Dr., Calverton
Splish Splash in Calverton opens for the season Memorial Day weekend. Credit: Splish Splash
There’s fun for kids of all ages, and accommodations for children with special needs, at the splashy playland opening weekend. New this summer is a kids' water playground featuring three water slides, six interactive spray options, a dump bucket and more. The 96-acre water park features 20 attractions, including slides like Bombs Away, Alien Invasion, and Bootlegger's Run. Try the Hyperlight, which whooshes riders for 45 seconds through a 300-foot tube slide to a disco or techno beat.
Southaven County Park, 189 Gerard Rd., Brookhaven
A member of the Long Island Live Steamers give passengers a ride around the eight acres of track on a electric powered train. Credit: Randee Daddona
A public running day on a steamer train features travel around more than 8 acres of the park, along with elevated and scale model trains.
Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Rd., Oyster Bay
Take a walk or run through the woodland trails as you make your way around the historic landscapes at Planting Fields during the Spring 5K. Credit: Katie Walsh
Runners and walkers meet at the Hay Barn to start the race around the arboretum on grass, hilly terrain and pathways.
Pindar Vineyards, 37645 Main St., Peconic
Run or walk a 5K through a North Fork wine trail, followed by an after-party with live music, a barbecue food truck, and Pawsitive Possibilities on-site with puppy adoptions. A 1-mile walk is also available.
Start and finish at the boardwalk and Laurelton Boulevard, Long Beach
The 10-mile run takes participants along the boardwalk and through the streets of Long Beach. An awards ceremony follows, and runners receive free entry to the beach for the day.
Connolly Station, 280 Hempstead Ave., Malverne
The 5K run or walk is a tribute to veterans, past and present, followed by a parade around the village. A children's fun run begins at 8 a.m.
