Celebrating Memorial Day in DC is easy if you check out these fun events! If you are relocating to DC and you wonder how you will spend your time here, these are some great ideas. DC is a great place to live with lots of fun things to do, great places to eat and beautiful neighborhoods in which you will love living.
Memorial Day Concert
The National Memorial Day Concert salutes the sacrifice made by the men and women in uniform, as well as their families. The free annual concert will be aired on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday at 8 p.m. Actors Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna will host the proceedings, which will feature numerous other celebrity performers. The event will also be live-streamed online and will be available on-demand for two weeks after the performance. For those wanting to get a sneak peek, the dress rehearsal for the concert takes place Saturday, May 25, with gates opening around 5 p.m. For information on the concert, visit its FAQ page.
The National Memorial Day Parade
Our Sacred Honor tells the story of American sacrifice from the Revolution to today along Constitution Avenue through live, on site historical re-enactors, veterans, and active duty military personnel, joined by musical performances and celebrity appearances. The in-person parade will take place ‘live’ in Washington, filmed for a television special that will air on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox stations nationwide.
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Rolling to Remember
For many people, celebrating Memorial Day in DC is all about Rolling To Remember, formerly known as Rolling Thunder. This is an iconic Memorial Day motorcycle ride into Washington, DC, with a deep-rooted tradition of honoring veterans and paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. These heroes from across North America that ride into town for this annual event represent all types of their fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen, firefighters, rescue personnel, and law enforcement officers and make the event especially memorable for riders and spectators.
Muller had announced Rolling Thunder would end its run in the nation’s capital in 2019, citing a lack of cooperation from Pentagon officials and “increased harassment to our supporters and sponsors.” The 2020 version of the ride happened with new organizers, a new sponsor and a new name, but participants and spectators hardly noticed the changes.
Rolling To Remember, continues the legacy of the ride while embracing a new name. Riders from across North America will gather for this patriotic display, riding in solidarity to honor fallen soldiers and raise awareness of issues facing veterans. The event serves as a poignant reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of our servicemen and women, as well as a powerful call to action for supporting those who have served. This is something uniquely American…this is Rolling To Remember.
Kennedy Center – The National Memorial Day Choral Festival
If celebrating Memorial Day in DC means trying to stay cool, you might consider visiting the Kennedy Center. The National Memorial Day Choral Festival at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, May 26, at 2 p.m. is a free concert but you need tickets. Listen to classic American patriotic tunes sung by 200 singers accompanied by the U.S. Air Force Band.
Turandot by Puccini is also being performed at the Kennedy Center this weekend although tickets are hard to come by. If you aren’t feeling like listening to beautiful music at the Kennedy Center this weekend – or you can’t get tickets, you might try Dixie’s Tupperware Party, Dixie Longate is a fast-talking, gum-chewing Alabama gal who’s here to bring your grandmother’s Tupperware party into the 21st century. She’s going to show everyone the multiple uses of the plastic kitchen staple and share some hilarious tales. Expect audience participation and plenty of down-home wisdom as well.
Relocating to DC? A Long Time Native?
Whether you are relocating to DC or a long time native of the metro area, you will find lots of opportunities for celebrating Memorial Day in DC. Since this is the start of summer, you can host a barbecue on your own roof deck terrace or eat at a trattoria outside in Dupont Circle, go swimming in one of the local pools or house hunt for a property with a pool of your own! If you are relocating to DC and need a Realtor who knows the city as a native, give the Lise Howe Group a call at 240-401-5577 or email us at lise@lisehowe.com.
