Whether you’re planning a corporate picnic, a neighborhood block party, or a community-wide celebration, your annual Memorial Day weekend event deserves entertainment that honors the occasion and kicks off the unofficial start of summer. From heartwarming tributes to high-energy fun, we’ve rounded up must-have entertainment ideas, games, and Memorial Day activities to bring people together to celebrate with meaning and joy.
Block Parties and Community Events 🏘️
A lively neighborhood gathering is perfect for bringing people together over the long weekend. By blending creativity, music, and family fun, you can create an event that honors the day’s significance while fostering joy and connection among all ages. From live performances to hands-on crafts, these activities help guests engage with the holiday in memorable and heartfelt ways.
🎶 Live Music
From rock bands to brass ensembles, live music sets the tone for a vibrant celebration. Host a Memorial Day concert featuring patriotic songs and local talent. Whether it’s jazz in the park or a vocal group on the community stage, music brings people together to celebrate Memorial Day in harmony.
🎨 Arts & Crafts
Set up a creative corner for guests of all ages to get hands-on. Kids can decorate mini flags or make popsicle-stick American eagles, while adults try their hand at painting memorial-themed canvases. It’s an engaging way to connect with the meaning of the holiday while having fun.
🫧 Family-Friendly Activities
Keep the kiddos entertained with sack races, face painting, and obstacle courses. These family-friendly activities make it easy for everyone to relax and enjoy the day. Book a puppet show or bubble entertainer to keep spirits high.
Company Picnics and Corporate Events 🏢
Businesses can bring teams together and lift spirits with a fun-filled field day. Picture giant lawn games, inflatable obstacle courses, and red-white-and-blue team challenges that spark laughter and connection. Adding a heartfelt recognition ceremony to honor employees or their loved ones who have served is a meaningful way to show appreciation and bring deeper purpose to the celebration.
🎈 Family Fun Zone
A Memorial Day company picnic is the perfect opportunity to bring together employees, their families, and loved ones for a day of connection, celebration, and community. Designate an area for kids with inflatables, lawn games, crafts, and even a balloon artist or face painter.
🕹️ Team-Building Games
Organize friendly competitions like relay races, trivia contests, or scavenger hunts. These are great for families, coworkers, or community groups. Incorporate historical or patriotic themes with games like Star-Spangled Balloon Pop or a Red, White, and Blue Scavenger Hunt.
📸 Photo Booth with Patriotic Props
Create an Instagram-worthy photo booth with stars, stripes, and cheeky signs. Include military hats, flags, and even cardboard cutouts of historic figures. It’s a fun way to capture memories and boost social sharing. Hire a professional photo booth company to take it to the next level.
Parades and Street Fairs 🎉
Many communities host a Memorial Day parade with floats, bands, and local organizations. These events are often followed by national Memorial Day ceremonies at town squares or veterans’ parks. A powerful way to honor those who gave all.
🎺 Musical Tributes
Invite a choir or local trumpet player to perform a medley of service songs or a moving rendition of “Taps.” These performances can offer a unifying and emotional tribute at the end of a parade, during a ceremony, or as part of a Memorial Day concert.
🤹 Variety Performers
Add extra sparkle to your Memorial Day weekend event with roaming variety performers like jugglers, stilt walkers, and balloon artists. These lively acts are perfect for street fairs and parades, bringing bursts of surprise and delight to guests of all ages.
📜 Living History Reenactors
Bring history to life with performers dressed in military uniforms from past eras, like Civil War Reenactors, or significant people, like Deborah Sampson (America’s first female soldier). Historical characters can march in parades, interact with attendees, or present brief educational skits.
Outdoor Events 🌳
Outdoor activities are a great way to bring people together while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. Whether it’s a little friendly competition, a creative project, or a quiet moment to reset, these additions help round out your Memorial Day weekend event with something for every pace and personality.
🏸 Lawn Game Olympics
Set up stations with cornhole, horseshoes, ring toss, and other classic games. Teams can rotate through each event, earning points along the way. Add medals for extra flair!
🪁 Kite Flying & Decorating
Host a craft station where kids and adults can build and decorate their kites. Then, take to an open field and let the skies fill with color. Bonus if you incorporate patriotic designs.
🧘 Outdoor Yoga or Meditation Sessions
Balance the festivities with a moment of calm. Invite a local yoga instructor to lead a group session at a park or scenic overlook. It’s a peaceful way to start the day and reflect on the weekend’s meaning.
Military Focused Events 🎖️
Honoring the heart of the holiday doesn’t have to mean quiet reflection alone—military-focused programming can be both meaningful and engaging. Whether you’re planning a large-scale gathering or a more intimate community event, incorporating educational and cultural elements rooted in military history helps connect guests to the deeper purpose of Memorial Day weekend.
🎥 Outdoor Documentary Screenings
Host a film night featuring documentaries or short films about military history, notable veterans, or the origin of Memorial Day weekend. Set up an outdoor movie screen, provide headphones or a sound system, and follow it with a group discussion or Q&A.
🎭 Comedic Performances
Consider hiring a comedian to bring people together through laughter. While Memorial Day weekend is a time of remembrance, it’s also a celebration of the freedoms we enjoy. Booking a comedian who’s also a veteran adds meaningful depth, blending humor with heartfelt perspective.
📚 Storytelling & Speakers
Invite veterans or community members to share their stories. You can also include dramatic readings of letters or memoirs. Personal narratives bring history home in a powerful way.
👉 You might also like: 22 Simple Memorial Day Activities for Kids
Whether you’re planning a lively festival, a reflective ceremony, or a backyard bash, there’s no shortage of ways to make your Memorial weekend events meaningful and memorable. With the right mix of entertainment and activities, you’ll create an experience that honors the past while bringing people together in the present. Here’s to a weekend filled with connection, celebration, and community. 🎉❤️
Matt Holland is a Customer Happiness Agent at GigSalad. With 10+ years of experience performing as a jazz drummer, he has gained insights into the life of a gigging musician as well as what makes an event go off without a hitch. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, cooking, and watching the newest TV shows with his wife.