When Americans think of Memorial Day, it’s often as the unofficial start to summer. The three-day weekend is typically filled with lazy days spent outdoors at the beach or lake, grills fired up and ready to cook Memorial Day barbecue recipes, and red, white, and blue Memorial Day desserts. The holiday always falls on the last day Monday in May, which means that this year, we’ll be commemorating the occasion on Monday, May 30, 2022.
When planning things to do for Memorial Day, it’s important to remember the purpose of this national holiday: honoring those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. So while stores may encourage shopping with steep Memorial Day sales and you’re stoked to get a day off from work or from school, don’t forget to pause for a moment and hold space for the significance of the holiday.
The Memorial Day activities we’ve rounded up here will help you do exactly that. On the fun side, you can enjoy patriotic crafts and DIY lawn games, while Memorial Day tribute ideas include sending care packages to our troops and paying your respects for the fallen at a national cemetery. (The VA maintains 155 in 24 states.) Also an option: tuning in to the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS!
This list of Memorial Day activities has something for the whole family, including kids of elementary school and preschool age. We’ve also got ideas for indoor celebrations, should the rain keep you from enjoying the great outdoors.