May 24, 2026 · Updated May 24, 2026
From a 5K at Belmont Lake State Park Sunday morning to a drone show over Jones Beach Monday night, Long Island's Memorial Day weekend packs parades, carnivals, and waterfront ceremonies into 48 hours. Here are six events across Nassau and Suffolk worth adding to your plans before the holiday is over.
Long Island's Memorial Day weekend opens Sunday morning with a 5K at Belmont Lake State Park and closes Monday night with a drone show over Jones Beach, fitting parades, carnivals, and harbor ceremonies into 48 hours across Nassau and Suffolk.
Memorial Day 2026 falls on Monday, May 25. Here are six events worth adding to your plans.
The weekend's first major event starts at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, May 24, at Belmont Lake State Park in Babylon. A free Kids Fun Run kicks off at 9:15 a.m. for younger participants. The park is at 625 Belmont Ave., off Sunrise Highway. Registration is available through the race organizer's website.
A living history village runs Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, with period demonstrations marking America's 250th anniversary. On Memorial Day, live entertainment begins at 6 p.m. and a drone show lights the sky at 9 p.m. Jones Beach is at 1 Ocean Parkway. The traditional air show moves to the Fourth of July weekend this year as part of national Semiquincentennial programming.
Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Monday at Lindenhurst Fireman's Memorial Park. The parade steps off at 11 a.m., heading west on Hartford Street and south on North Wellwood Avenue to a noon observance at Lindenhurst Village Hall. A village resident who has attended since childhood described the parade as simply: "the thing we do every year, no matter what."
The parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday at Ohio Avenue and West Beech Street, moving east on Park Avenue to City Hall. The Joint Veterans Organization and the City of Long Beach co-host. The Long Beach LIRR branch stops within walking distance of the route, making it accessible without a car.
Patchogue's parade starts on Main Street at Rider Avenue, heads west to the Four Corners, then south on South Ocean Avenue to Division Street. Downtown restaurants along the route typically open early to handle the pre-parade crowd, and several bars stay open through the afternoon.
Long Island's regional amusement park at 2245 Broadhollow Road in Farmingdale opens Monday, May 25, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Open since 1962, it is one of the few family amusement parks still operating in the New York metro area. Tickets are available online and at the gate.
Most events are free to attend. Jones Beach charges a standard parking fee on Monday. Parade routes are subject to change based on weather. Check individual organizers for the latest information before heading out.
