Fun Things to do for Memorial Day Weekend 2109 in Los Angeles

Wondering what to do in Los Angeles over Memorial Day Weekend 2019? We’ve rounded up a few fun things to help you make the long weekend a joy.

While there is no shortage of Memorial Day activities, we tried to stay away from the bars, restaurants, hotels and such that were putting on events. We are keeping this to the more community oriented Memorial Day festivities.  These are fun things to do whether you are traveling to LA for the holiday weekend or a native Angeleno.

1. Memorial Day Weekend at the Queen Mary

The Memorial Day festivities at the RMS Queen Mary is the one thing you can do that most remembers what we are celebrating on Memorial Day. Our Veterans and Troops. The ones that fought for our freedom.

The Queen Mary’s stint as a troop hauling ship during WWII makes her the perfect venue to celebrate. It will be offering free admission to active members of the armed forces, retired military personnel, veterans, and first responders. Non-military guests in their party will receive 25% off.

Each day from Noon to 8:00 PM WWII you’ll find WWII troops, nurses, and Allied leaders throughout the Queen Mary, telling how the ship guided the Allied Forces to victory in WWII. There will be a number of exhibits and activities related to the RMS Queen Mary’s role in the war. TAPS will be played at sunset Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 7:54 PM.

For more info and tickets visit the Queen Mary Website.

1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, CA

2. Fiesta Hermosa at Hermosa Beach

Fiesta Hermosa is the South Bay’s kick off for summer. It runs the full Memorial Day weekend from May 15 – 27, 2019 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The fair features arts and craft booths, a kiddie carnival and a beer garden. Approximately 300 artists and crafters will be present. Live music will play from three stages and the food court will be just south of Hermosa Pier.

The activities center around Hermosa Beach Pier and along Hermosa and Pier Avenues.

More things to do after the break…

3. Annual Walk to Remember on the Santa Monica Pier

Merging Vets and Players, MVP, is holding their annual Memorial Day walk. The walk will run from the Santa Monica Pier down Ocean Blvd and up Wilshire Blvd to the Los Angeles National Cemetery.

MVP’s mission is to match up combat veterans and former professional athletes together — after the uniform comes off — to give them a new team to tackle the transition together. MVP shows them they are NOT alone.

This is the time we come together to show our respects to our fallen brothers and sisters in arms. Let’s all come together, fill our packs and walk into where our brothers and sisters are laid to rest.

We will meet at Santa Monica Pier at 6:30am and step off at 7:30am to get to the cemetery at 10:00am. We will be walking as a group and arriving as a group.

More information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/annual-walk-to-remember-with-mvpla-tickets-55090429959

4. Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade

I was a little surprised that this was the only parade I could find going on this Memorial Day. If you know of others we should include here, drop us a comment.

The parade is back for its 30th year with patriotic floats, equestrians, celebrities, antique cars, and marching bands making their way from the corner of Sherman Way and Owensmouth Ave. and travel east to Mason on Sherman Way, ending at the First Baptist Church with a car show. Ceremonies begin at 10:00 AM and the parade begins at 11:00 AM on Monday May 27th.

5. The Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra Annual Memorial Day Weekend Concert

The Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra is presenting their annual Memorial Day Weekend concert at Barnum Hall in the Santa Monica High School. The concert is on May 26, 2017 from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. The concert is free and it’s open seating.

Santa Monica High School is located at 600 Olympic Blvd. Parking is available for $5.00 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium parking lot.

More information here: http://www.smsymphony.org/events/annual-memorial-day-weekend-concert-sunday-may-26-2019-2

6. MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street

The 6th annual MAINopoly : A Taste of Main Street is on Sunday May 26th from 1:00 – 6:00 PM. The all ages event is a take on the Monopoly game board so get your dice ready and make your way down to Main Street in Santa Monica for a culinary walking tour.

All restaurants along Main Street will be open to the public, and participating locations count as official stops on the game board. So please check in and get your game board at the ticketing and VIP area (2801 Main St.) before you start your tasting tour to ensure you get proper credit. If you’ve visited all the locations and would like to be considered for the grand prize, come back to the same location to turn in your board for contest entry.

Admission fees may apply for some activities. More information available here: https://www.mainstreetsm.com/mainopoly/

7. Simi Valley Cajun and Blues Festival

The two-day annual Cajun & Blues Festival in scenic Simi Valley will satisfy different musical tastes with both a Cajun/zydeco stage as well as a blues Stage. Snack on food options straight out of Louisiana like jambalaya and alligator sausage, and take part in a bead-filled Mardi Gras parade each day.

The festival takes place in the Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, 5005 E Los Angeles Ave, Simi Valley.

Tickets are $30 at the “door” and are cheaper online: http://www.simicajun.org

8. Angel City Heritage Music & Arts Festival

For the downtown Los Angeles crowd, Angel City Brewery celebrates it birthday and Memorial Day with a big bash festival. The annual beer, food, art and music festival features brewmaster-led tours every hour for a behind-the-scenes look at how house craft brews are made. Fill up on grub from local food trucks, and when you’re ready to break from eating and drinking, rock out to L.A. musical talents, check out live painting, and rummage through artisanal wares from local artisans at the Beer Bazaar.

May 26th Noon – 6:00 PM
216 S Alameda St, Los Angeles

9. Take in a Concert at Fisherman’s Village

Enjoy the free concert on the plaza at Fisherman’s Village on Saturday May 25 and May 26th from 2:00 – 5:00 PM. Admission is free and you can get up to 2 hours free parking with validation from one of the Village’s shops or restaurants.

Actually the live music on the plaza at Fisherman’s Village happens every Saturday and Sunday all year long. But hanging out at Fisherman’s Village in Marina del Rey is a great way to enjoy the long weekend!

Marina del Rey is loaded with so many fun things to do from taking one of the Hornblower Cruises, going out on a fishing boat, parasailing and so much more.  This is one of two places where we suggest booking a hotel room for the weekend and enjoying all the activities!

Fisherman’s Village is located at 13755 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, CA 90292

10. Shop at the Marina del Rey Farmers Market

If you are headed out to Marina del Rey for the concert at Fisherman’s Village, you might as well shop the Marina del Rey Farmer’s Market. It’s held in County Parking Lot 11 on Via Marina at Panay Way starting at 9:00 AM. Parking is just $1.00 per hour.

11. Memorial Day Celebration at Huntington Beach

This annual Memorial Day Ceremony is hosted by the American Legion Post 133 and features a 21 gun salute, flag raising and the playing of TAPS.

The event takes place on Pier Plaza at the mouth of the Huntington Beach Pier: 1 Main Street at 11:00 AM. Admission is free.

12. Enjoy the World Famous Venice Electric Light Parade

This isn’t a Memorial Day Weekend event, it just happens to take place on the that weekend… and every Sunday at Sunset for that matter. Bicyclists around Venice gather at Windward Plaza on Venice Beach to parade up the boardwalk to Santa Monica and back with their bikes decorated in beautiful LED lights.

Usually around 80 bikers show up to participate in the Venice Electric Light Parade. Not only the the bicycles decked out in elaborate LED lights, often the riders are in costume. It’s a bit like a Christmas Parade with bicycles as floats and happening all year long.

Being right off the famous Venice Boardwalk, there will be no shortage of things to do while you are waiting for sunset. Most of the restaurants are likely to be doing something special for the holiday, or you can visit Muscle Beach, play some tennis, hang on the beach or ride a bike or scooter on the beach path.

13. Take the Kids to Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

Pacific Park is that cool amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier. Once they have had their fill of the ferris wheel, roller coaster and other rides there is more fun out on the pier. You can enjoy the arcades, funnel cakes, cotton candy and so much more.

If you are still wondering what to do on Memorial Day Weekend in Los Angeles, here are some more ideas. In downtown LA, head over to Grand Park and play in the splash pad in the Arthur J. Will memorial fountain. Its fun and free. I would think there should be a music event going on there, but I didn’t see any listed.

It’s a great time to go bargain shopping at the Santee Alley in the LA Fashion District. It’s open 365 days per year. Spend a peaceful day at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it looking out over the marina.

Palisades Park just north of the Santa Monica Pier is also a great place to pack a lunch and take in incredible views of the ocean. I would also consider Venice Pier, Manhattan Beach Pier, or any of the beaches a great place to spend a day… but count on them being crowded.

For a romantic getaway that keeps close to home, you might want to consider booking a room in one of the funky bohemian hotels on the Venice Boardwalk and spending the weekend there.  We show you how there are enough fun things to do in Venice to keep you busy for the whole weekend in this video we did that was originally titled: A Weekend in Venice Beach.  You can read about the things to do in Venice Beach over Memorial Day Weekend in this post. This would be my first choice, just grab a room on the beach and spend the whole weekend in Venice.

If you’re traveling to Los Angeles for the holiday weekend, you can save on Travel with Trip.com.We hope you have a great Memorial Day Weekend and enjoy the official start of summer.