San Diego Memorial Day Guide

Legacy Week 2025 at the USS Midway Museum pays tribute to our fallen military service men and women.

I plan to honor my granddad by tying a ribbon of tribute along the flight deck, and my children are looking forward to the deck screening of Top Gun: Maverick on Friday evening. There will also be veteran meet-and-greets, a stirring performance by the Imperial Valley Master Chorale at 12:00pm Saturday, and a wreath-laying ceremony starting at 9:00am on Monday.

Our team at Go Visit San Diego agreed that this event may just be the ultimate Memorial Day event in San Diego in 2025, so we included it as part of our Complete Guide to All the Holidays in San Diego article as well.

The USS Midway is part of the Go City San Diego pass, so if you’re looking for a great way to save on admission prices, pick up passes using discount code GVSD5OFF for your family before you arrive.

This 100-year-old tradition includes an impactful patriotic celebration overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It’s about honoring and thanking our fallen heroes. My family has attended this event several times; it’s one of the largest in the area, and we’ve always found the Fort Rosecrans Memorial Day celebration to be moving and inspiring.

The ceremony is completely free to attend and thus there are no tickets necessary. As a pro tip from our founder Todd, arrive early to secure a spot. Also, take the shuttle from Cabrillo National Monument to make finding parking easier.

This is one of my favorites, a “Strawberry Capital” celebration with a 5k run, pie-eating contest, live music, a fantastic kids zone, and plenty of berry treats! The festival, part of our complete guide to the best holiday celebrations in San Diego in 2025, is celebrating its 14th year, and just keeps getting better every time my family attends!

The Strawberry Run is a 5k, and there’s also a 1 mile or 1/4 mile kid option. My daughter likes to dress up in her favorite costume for the run, and she’s not alone! All races start and finish on the Vista Magnet Middle School track.

As much as we start to think about the end of the school year and summer approaching, I think for Memorial Day weekend it’s also very important to remember our troops while celebrating with your family.

The ‘Holiday at Home’ Parade and Festivities is a fantastic place to see an impressive local parade and cheer on your favorites.

Start your Memorial Day off early with a delicious pancake breakfast. Then, sign up for the Miracle Mile Relay. Afterwards, enjoy the community parade of cars, plenty of live music, and a few cool pet events. There’s also a social neighborhood picnic with great food.

The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park is the #1 attraction in San Diego and part of the popular Go City San Diego pass. The zoo kicks off extended hours Memorial Day weekend, and the nighttime fun continues into August.

You and your family will get to enjoy the glowing light displays, live music, and entertaining animal shows. My kids also love listening to the animal keepers talk under the stars.

Since this event continues into June and through August, it also could be an incredible activity to do for Father’s Day.

LEGOLAND California, part of the Go City San Diego pass, is a top 3 attraction in San Diego and fantastic for little kids. It also has a stand-alone aquarium park called SEA LIFE Aquarium. If you’re looking for a place to stay, there are two on-site themed hotels, LEGOLAND Castle Hotel and LEGOLAND California Hotel.

For Memorial Day and the other dates throughout the summer, you’ll find special festival zones, building challenges, character meet-and-greets, and limited edition giveaways during Memorial Day weekend. This is one of my young niece’s favorite weekend events!

Belmont in Bloom is a spectacular carnival-style event held at the 100 year old historic Belmont Park.

My family loves the garden displays and fun rides at the beachfront amusement park. The floral workshops are also educational for anyone with a not-so-green thumb. Fun caricature artists and face painting keep the day vibrant with a kaleidoscope of color.

For Memorial Day and the other spring and summer festival dates, enjoy the rides, including Todd’s daughter’s favorite, the Giant Dipper, and save some room for a cotton candy or ice cream treat. This is a great way to enjoy the warm summer afternoons and spend a fun day with the family.

Belmont Park Ride and Play passes are part of the Go City San Diego pass.

SeaWorld San Diego is the #2 attraction in the area for good reason! The rides, animal shows, food, and live events are special things my family always enjoys. For Memorial Day weekend, the park is going all out with live music, nightly fireworks shows over the bay, patriotic events, and daily flag ceremonies.

It’s tough to take in all that SeaWorld San Diego has to offer in one visit, so I purchased 2025 Fun Passes for my family. Passes provide us with admission through the end of the year, so we can go as often as we want.

If you’re just interested in a single day visit, your cheapest admission can be had with a Go City San Diego pass using discount code GVSD5OFF.

Grab a picnic blanket and enjoy free family movies in the park, under the stars with your favorite people! The outdoor movie night on May 24th features one of my daughter’s favorite animated films, Moana 2, as well as pre-movie kids events, fantastic food trucks, and scenic bayfront seating areas.

The movie will begin about 15 minutes after sunset, so plan accordingly. Grab some food from your favorite vendor, pick the perfect spot under the stars, and spread out your blanket for relaxed and casual family fun.

If you’re looking for adult fun for this Memorial Day weekend, check out the rooftop pool party at the Andaz San Diego Hotel. This chic day-to-night event includes premium craft cocktails, a DJ spinning your favorite tunes, a sunset dance floor, and phenomenal skyline views.

The Andez San Diego Hotel is one of Todd’s favorites, and it’s the ideal spot for enjoying an upscale night out on the town with someone special. The Gaslamp Quarter is known for its nightlife, so this is the perfect spot for an overnight stay.