HomeSan DiegoThings to do on Memorial Day Weekend in San Diego – 2025

Things to do on Memorial Day Weekend in San Diego – 2025

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American Flag at the Pacific Beach Boardwalk during sunset.

Memorial Ceremony

Fort Rosecrans Memorial Day Ceremony

May 26, 2025

Sometimes you honor the day by firing up the grill—this is for when you’d rather honor it with meaning. Join one of San Diego’s most time-honored Memorial Day traditions at a cemetery overlooking the sea, where history and gratitude meet under the California sun. Bonus: a shuttle saves you from parking purgatory.

Mt. Soledad Memorial Day Ceremony

May 26, 2025

If you’re looking for inspiration with a side of ocean views, this moving ceremony atop Mt. Soledad delivers both. Join the community in honoring our heroes with stirring performances and panoramic patriotism. Bonus: it’s free and outdoors—bring your flags and your tissues.

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Drone shot of Mt. Soledad

USS Midway Museum – Legacy Week 2025

May 23, 2025

Step aboard a massive aircraft carrier and salute the long weekend with some serious style. Legacy Week mixes Top Gun thrills, real-deal veteran heroics, and heartfelt memorial moments—all with a flight deck view that’s better than your cousin’s BBQ. Bring the family, bring tissues, and bring your inner Maverick.

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Festival

Coronado Summer Concert Series (Kickoff Concert)

May 25, 2025

Start your summer with Sousa and sunscreen as Spreckels Park transforms into the most patriotic picnic on the peninsula. The Coronado Concert Band kicks things off with toe-tapping classics, followed by an evening second act that’s easier on your sandals than Coachella. It’s free, it’s local, and the only thing hotter than the vibe is the sun—bring a blanket and hydrate, folks.

Santee Street Fair & Craft Beer Festival

May 24, 2025

Beer, booths, and bounce houses—what more do you need? Santee turns it up to 30,000 with live music, over 300 vendors, and enough family-friendly fun to exhaust even the most energetic toddler. Bonus points for free parking and a shuttle, so your beer fest day doesn’t start with a parking meltdown.

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Vista Strawberry Festival

May 25, 2025

If you like your weekends jam-packed and berry sweet, the Vista Strawberry Festival is your kind of jam. With a 5K, live music, strawberry everything, and a beer garden to help you forget how many chocolate-covered strawberries you’ve consumed—this is Vista living at its berry best.

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Asian Pacific Cultural Festival of San Diego

May 24, 2025

Ready to collect more passport stamps than your actual passport? Dive into a cultural whirlwind with performances from Japan, China, the Philippines and beyond—all without leaving San Diego. It’s like a world tour, but your feet never leave the county.

Family/Attraction

San Diego Zoo – Nighttime Zoo

May 23 – May 26, 2025

Who says the zoo is just for daytime lions and sleepy sloths? At Nighttime Zoo, the San Diego Zoo stays open late with live music, glowing displays, and animal antics that are way cooler after sunset. It’s like a summer block party…with giraffes.

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Sesame Summer Splash at Sesame Place

May 23–September 1, 2025

Dive headfirst into summer with Elmo and the gang—because nothing says ‘vacation mode’ like a furry splash zone and giggle-powered water rides. Sesame Place is throwing a summer-long party so fun, even Oscar might crack a smile. It’s a sun-drenched combo of nostalgia, shows, and just enough chaos to tire the kids out before sunset!

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Nightlife/Bar Crawl

Gaslamp Memorial Day Bar & Club Crawl

May 24, 2025

Looking for a weekend workout that involves zero burpees and 100% bar hopping? This crawl through the Gaslamp’s finest watering holes serves up four venues, VIP perks, and enough party fuel to make your Uber driver feel like part of the crew. Grab a shot at patriotic partying with 100 new best friends—stars, stripes, and strong drinks guaranteed.

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Sing Dance Crawl

May 24, 2025

Ever wish your gym class included glitter, shots, and 2,000 of your new best friends? This high-energy bar crawl is basically cardio with cocktails. Come for the DJs and dancers, stay for the chance to accidentally choreograph a flash mob.

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Andaz Rooftop Pool Party

May 24, 2025

Who needs Vegas when you’ve got San Diego skies and a rooftop pool party that turns up the heat early? With DJs that drop beats like sunscreen and craft cocktails flowing like beach waves, this is where your summer officially clocks in. Saturday at Andaz is more than a vibe—it’s a sun-soaked statement.

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