What is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day) is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to the United States. Officially, Memorial Day is on May 30 but it is traditionally observed on the last Monday in May, which this year falls on May 27.
Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off Intrepid’s Summer Salute to Heroes
Join the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum for their annual Summer Salute to Heroes this Memorial Day Weekend. Intrepid’s Pier 86 will be filled with displays, hands-on activities and live performances on their stage. In addition, you don’t want to miss their annual free screening of Top Gun on the Flight Deck.
The weekend will also include a poignant Memorial Day Ceremony featuring the unfurling of a 100-foot American flag. The day will wrap up with a panel discussion focused on African Americans in WWII. All events and activities are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.
Address:
Pier 86
W 46th St and 12th Avenue
New York, NY 10036
For the schedule that weekend or for more information, visit www.intrepidmuseum.org
The Memorial Day Parade in Manhattan
Attending the 2013 Memorial Day Parade in Manhattan is another great way to celebrate the sacrifices given by the country’s armed forces on Memorial Day. This annual parade takes place on Broadway, and features marching bands, members of the Coast Guard, and arrays of soldiers from the US ships that are docked in New York.
Members of the community also participate in the parade, by playing musical instruments and waving flags. Veterans’ associations are also present. The Memorial Day Parade in Manhattan ends at Inwood Hill Park with a bugle performance and a wreath-laying ceremony. New York also has several other Memorial Day parades in different neighborhoods such as Queens and Brooklyn.
Free Concert by the New York Philharmonic
In celebration of Memorial Day, music lovers will appreciate a free concert on Monday, May 27, at 8 p.m. by the New York Philharmonic. Located at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, free admission is available on a first-come, first serve basis, with tickets distributed at the venue on the day of the concert.
The New York Philharmonic Memorial Day Concert is one of the most popular events on Memorial Day, with over two thousand people packing the church itself, many with standing room only. If you can’t manage to get into the venue, music is piped through to speakers on the Pulpit Green nearby.
For more information visit: New York Philharmonic Memorial Day Concert
Address:
Cathedral Church of St. John
1047 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10025
Celebrating Memorial Day Through Art
There are many other events happening on NYC Memorial Day, such as the Lower East Side Arts Festival, which will take place on May 24, 25 & 26. Live music, poetry, dance, and other arts will be performed at this outdoor festival, with special performances just for kids.
You can also attend special Memorial Day activities at the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art), as well as numerous New York street fairs.
Address of the Lower East Side Arts Festival:
Theater for the New City
155 First Avenue
New York, New York
Fleet Week 2013 Has Been Cancelled
