May 25, 2026 · Updated May 25, 2026
Six Memorial Day events are running across the South Shore Monday, from a 10 a.m. AMVETS march in Bay Shore to a classic car show in Babylon Village. Parades in Islip, Lindenhurst, and Fire Island communities plus a waterfront dining return at Nicky's on the Bay round out the holiday along the Great South Bay.
From Islip Town Hall to the Babylon Village Gazebo, the South Shore is spending Memorial Day the way it has for decades: lined up along a curb, watching fire trucks roll past, and staying for the ceremony afterward.
Six events are running across Islip and Babylon townships Monday, from the AMVETS march in Bay Shore at 10 a.m. to a classic car show in Babylon Village that runs until 2 p.m. Here is the full schedule.
AMVETS Post 76 runs one of the South Shore's busiest Memorial Day marches, proceeding down Bay Shore's Main Street before concluding at Oakwood Cemetery with a graveside service honoring local veterans buried there. Community members are invited to line Main Street from 10 a.m. The cemetery service immediately follows the march and is open to the public. Bay Shore LIRR station is a short walk from the parade route; the Bay Shore ferry terminal for Fire Island boats is about 10 minutes from the station on foot.
The Islip parade steps off near Islip Town Hall on Main Street and moves through the downtown before ending at the Islip Veterans Memorial for a brief service. Veterans' organizations, local fire departments, EMS units, and community groups are all scheduled to march. Arriving by 10:30 a.m. for a spot near the reviewing stand is recommended. Parking on Carleton Avenue is typically available before road closures take effect.
The Babylon Village parade begins on Foster Boulevard and heads south along Deer Park Avenue through the business district, ending with a memorial service at the Village Gazebo on Montauk Highway. The Babylon Village fire companies, the Babylon Village Band, and veterans' organizations are all scheduled to march. The gazebo service begins immediately after the parade concludes, typically around noon.
Running parallel to the morning ceremony, the Babylon Village car show sets up in the Municipal Pool parking lot on Arbuckle Avenue. Food trucks and a DJ are on the schedule. Entry for spectators is free. The show typically draws a mix of classic American muscle cars and vintage imports; organizers and vendors set up by 9 a.m., making early arrival worthwhile for the best walk-through before the parade crowds arrive.
Lindenhurst starts with a ceremony at Fireman's Memorial Park at 10 a.m. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. and ends at noon outside Village Hall on South Wellwood Avenue with a closing observance. The Lindenhurst American Legion is coordinating both events. Parking near Fireman's Park typically fills fast in the 9:30–10 a.m. window.
Ocean Beach and several other Fire Island communities hold small Memorial Day processions that are a different experience from mainland marches: shorter routes, tighter crowds, no cars, and a sense that nearly every year-round resident is either marching or watching. Ferry schedules from Bay Shore and Sayville are running on a holiday timetable; check the ferry operator's website or call ahead for specific departure times.
Nicky's on the Bay at 150 S. Clinton Ave., Bay Shore, reopened for its summer season on May 1, giving the holiday weekend a full-service waterfront option at the foot of the Bay Shore Marina on the Great South Bay. The restaurant has outdoor seating that fills quickly on Memorial Day. Reservations are recommended.
Several roads through Babylon Village and the Bay Shore corridor will see partial closures during morning parade hours. Allow 15 to 20 extra minutes if driving between 10 a.m. and noon. The LIRR Babylon Branch provides direct service to both Bay Shore and Babylon stations on the holiday schedule. Robert Moses State Park, which falls within Islip, opens fully for the summer season this weekend; Field 2 parking near the Fire Island Lighthouse typically fills by 9 a.m. on a sunny Memorial Day.
