Picture you, as a youngster, sitting along the side of the road in a lawn chair. Your family brought you out early, sat you down, and gave you a poppy before watching the Memorial Day Parade together.
While parades are still an honorable way to commemorate our fallen service members, there are many other ways to enjoy the long weekend and pay tribute to this special holiday.
Explore our guide for activities to do on Memorial Day, with a little something for everyone—whether you want to spend time outside or teach your children about the holiday with crafts.
What (and when) is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is the last Monday in May. It’s a federal holiday for honoring and mourning service members who have passed away. Although there were variations of the event before, it only became federally recognized in 1971.
On this day, people around the country celebrate and remember those who have served—and passed—as part of the armed forces. To that end, explore our seven Memorial Day celebration ideas and commemorative activities you can participate in over the weekend.
1. Weekend roadtrip
Memorial Day is the first long weekend leading into summer—the perfect time for a quick getaway. Whether you want to go camping, stay in a cabin, or hang out in a hotel, you can drive to a nearby city or town for the holiday.
While you’re there, scout out veteran-owned businesses to shop or dine at to honor those who served. Or, if you have a veteran relative in the area, spend the weekend with them.
2. Write a letter
Children and parents alike can honor service members by writing letters. Have your kids write letters to people they know who served in the armed forces (or the family members of the fallen), such as:
- Grandparents
- Aunts
- Uncles
- Close family friends
- Cousins
If you don’t have anyone in your circle who has served, that’s okay, too! Send your children's letters to A Million Thanks, which will send them to active or veteran soldiers on your behalf.
3. Classic barbecue cookout
When you think of Memorial Day, one of the first things that pops into your head is probably a barbeque or cookout. Whether you want to have a backyard hang or meet family at the park, you can easily usher in summer and spend time with the people who matter most.
Bring along all your outdoor games, including:
- Basketball
- Disc golf
- Bean bag toss
- Tennis
- Ladder toss
- Lawn darts
Make sure to stop by your preferred grocery store in advance to round up all your favorite grilling foods, refreshing drinks, and tasty desserts (or use Instacart if you're in a pinch). Be sure to use a RaiseRight gift card to fund your purchase and support your favorite organization in the process!
4. Decorate a soldier's grave with flowers
Honor a family member, friend, or another veteran at the cemetery with flowers. You can place red, white, and blue flowers or single roses at their grave to salute them for their service.
If you can’t reach the cemetery, you can still send flowers. Donate to The Memorial Day Flowers Foundation, and they will place them for you.
5. Make your own poppy pin
Poppies signify remembrance on Memorial Day, and many wear them over the weekend. While you can purchase a poppy pin, turning it into a craft can help your children learn about the day's significance.
Grab some red and black tissue paper, a stapler, and a pin back, then check out these instructions to get started.
Don’t have any tissue paper on hand? Head to an arts and crafts store like Michaels to purchase supplies. Then, the whole family can don their poppy pins for your holiday activities.
6. Attend a Memorial Day parade
As mentioned earlier, going to a Memorial Day parade is a great way to honor active and retired soldiers, and many cities host them. While at the parade, you and your kids can see local groups, veterans, and marching bands. Wear red, white, and blue to commemorate the occasion.
If the weather turns sour or you can’t attend a parade, you can watch the National Memorial Day Parade on TV.
7. Bake Memorial Day treats
Sweets are always a welcome treat—and on Memorial Day Weekend, you can use them to honor veterans. Ask your children to help you make goodies like:
- Cookies
- Cupcakes
- Ice pops
- Three-tiered cakes
- Cake pops
- Pies
Decorate the dessert with white icing and red and blue sprinkles, then share with relatives and friends. Even better? Take a batch to a veteran’s or active soldier’s family!
Plan your Memorial Day weekend with RaiseRight
No matter how you choose to celebrate and honor Memorial Day, RaiseRight is here to help you make budgeting decisions that work for you.
With a RaiseRight program, you can effortlessly earn money for your favorite cause or organization—just by buying gift cards or shopping online for everyday purchases. Learn more about how it works here.
Not yet enrolled in RaiseRight? Consider establishing a gift card fundraising program to support a local school, sports team, or music program. Or, talk to your place of worship or preferred nonprofit about getting started with RaiseRight. You or your organization can earn up to 20% per purchase. It’s that easy!
With hundreds of popular brands to choose from, like Walmart, Target, and Amazon, it's easy to make holiday weekend planning a breeze.
