San Diego Memorial Day Guide

Legacy Week 2026 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 the original Top Gun movie playing on the flightdeck on Friday evening. I will note that as of a few days before Memorial Day weekend, tickets are sold out for both Top Gun on Friday and Top Gun: Maverick on Saturday.

But if you don't have a ticket to see one of the movies, don't worry because there will be plenty more to see and do. There will be a 'Meet the Aviators' event all day Sunday, a stirring performance by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Band at 11:00am Memorial Day Monday, and a wreath-laying ceremony starting at 9:00am, also 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 2026, 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.

If you're looking for a deeply moving way to celebrate Memorial Day, and the fallen soldiers that have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country, then I can wholeheartedly recommend you attend this year's Fort Rosecrans Memorial Day celebration.

The 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 touching 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.

With warm temperatures and blue skies most of the year, visiting one of San Diego's 75+ beautiful beaches is an activity you can do on most days of the year. But there's just something special for me and my family when it comes to visiting the beach on Memorial Day.

As the unofficial start of summer and a long weekend for most, the energy is always high, with families getting together to have a picnic, enjoy the water, build a sand castle, go for a walk at sunset, or just sunbathe in the warm sun on a beautiful Memorial Day weekend afternoon.

As a free activity, I really think you can't go wrong. Whether you visit one of the beaches in Encinitas, The Children's Pool in La Jolla, or my home beach, Pacific Beach, it doesn't get much better than celebrating the holiday on the beach!

This is one of my favorites, a "Strawberry Capital" celebration with a 5K run, pie-eating contest, live music, a fantastic kid's zone, and plenty of berry treats! The festival, part of our complete guide to the best holiday celebrations in San Diego in 2026, is celebrating its 15th year in North County, and just keeps getting better every time my family attends!

The Strawberry Run is a 5K, and there's also a 1 mile or ¼ 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.

You can first 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 with its Nighttime Zoo event, 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.

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 you'll be able to keep the day vibrant with a kaleidoscope of color.

For Memorial Day and the other spring and summer festival dates, you can 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 your family.

The Belmont Park Ride and Play pass is 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, an all-new summer drone display over the bay, patriotic events, and daily flag ceremonies.

If you're just interested in visiting over Memorial Day weekend, your cheapest admission can be had with a Go City San Diego pass using discount code GVSD5OFF.

One of my favorite things to do over Memorial Day weekend is to grab a picnic blanket and enjoy a free family movie in the park, under the stars with my favorite people! The outdoor movie night, this year scheduled for Saturday, May 23rd, will feature a movie me and my kids have yet to see - A Minecraft Movie. There will also be pre-movie kids events, fantastic food trucks, and scenic bayfront seating areas.

The movie will begin a bit earlier this year than in years past, well before sunset, so plan accordingly. So I say 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 some adult fun over the Memorial Day weekend, you may want to check out the 3-day lineup of rooftop pool parties at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego. The chic day-to-night events will kick-off Friday with the 'Sunset Social' offering golden hour cocktails, live music, and incredible rooftop vibes.

'Liquid Sunshine', the signature weekend pool party featuring DJ's spinning your favorite tunes, cocktails, and cabanas, will take place on Saturday. Sunday will close out the weekend of events with 'Ibiza w/ SHIFTY & Friends' featuring house beats and a European summer feel.

The Hard Rock Hotel San Diego is one of Todd's favorites. 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 also the perfect spot for an overnight stay.