On Memorial Day 2017, NYC will kick off the start of things to do in summer with tons of events. Memorial Day isn’t just about day-drinking and savoring the long weekend—it’s also about honoring the men and women who have died while serving in our armed forces. So before you chow down on the best BBQ in the city and line up for the best Memorial Day sample sales, remember the sacrifices made for the red, white and blue. It’s no coincidence that Fleet Week overlaps with Memorial Day weekend so don’t forget to rub shoulders with our sailors at one of the many Memorial Day parades taking place in all five boroughs.

When is Memorial Day?

Memorial Day is on the last Monday in May every year. This year it falls on Monday, May 29, 2017.

Where are the Memorial Day Parades in NYC?

The biggest Memorial Day parade starts at 1pm on Grand Ave. at 72nd St. in Queens on Monday, May 29 at 2pm. The 150-year-old Brooklyn parade starts in Bay Ridge at 78th St and Third Ave at 10am and ends at John Paul Jones Park for the memorial service. Manhattan’s Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Day Observance takes place at Riverside Dr. and 89th Street at 10am. There’s also Staten Island’s Memorial Day Parade on Forest Ave and The Bronx’s Memorial Day Parade on City Island.