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Memorial Day Weekend 2023 in Los Angeles: Festivals, Day Trips, and More Things To Do

Enjoy patriotic parades. Photo courtesy of the City of Canoga Park
Enjoy patriotic parades. Photo courtesy of the City of Canoga Park
5/24/23 - By Toby B

Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles this Memorial Day weekend? Here are some events and activities to add to your list for the holiday weekend.

Traditionally, Memorial Day Weekend is the start of the summer season, complete with days-long, large-scale festivals, and the Southland keeps coming back bigger and better. There are festivals and fairs galore in Topanga, La Cañada, Garden Grove, Corona, and Hermosa Beach. Summer 2023 is off to an epic start, and SoCal, our ship has sailed in. (To San Pedro for LA Fleet Week.) Having a staycation for Memorial Day weekend? Consider going to CAMP—not just any camp, Nike Kids camp—at Westfield Century City. 

And, of course, Memorial Day weekend closes with tributes to our fallen heroes. Ceremonies will be held at the Reagan Library and several Forest Lawn locations, along with observances in local cities. You can find them listed below. 

Looking to get out of town on this long weekend? We've got epic California road trip ideas, the best family-friendly spa resorts near Los Angeles, the best spots to go camping near Los Angeles, and more—all in our Guide to Weekend Getaways and Day Trips from Los Angeles.

More Things To Do in Los Angeles This Week With Kids:

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It will be a berry sweet holiday weekend. Photo courtesy of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
It will be a berry sweet holiday weekend. Photo courtesy of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival

Best Memorial Day Weekend Things To Do in Los Angeles

Camping in the City!

Irvine - Opens Friday, May 26
This summer, Pretend City presents Camping in the City!  Little ones get to experience the wilderness with opportunities to hike Pretend City trails, follow and trace footprints of the critters who live in the City, and even sit around a campfire listening to stories and learning how to make s’mores. READ MORE

Nike Kids Camp at CAMP

Century City - Daily through Sunday, July 2, 2023
Get ready for some sportsy, silly fun at the Nike Kids Camp experience at CAMP. Westfield Century City. Zany coaches and counselors guide campers through 4,000 square feet of sports challenges, while emphasizing that it's all about the fun, not the competition. Kids can try their hands (and feet) at soccer, football, baseball, gymnastics, and basktball before heading to the trophy room to customize Nike gear. READ MORE

Circus Vargas Bonjour Paris (Ventura)

Ventura - Starts Friday, May 26
Circus Vargas Express is a high-energy, animal-free extravaganza under the Big Top, with death-defying stuntmen, flying aerialists, exhilarating acrobats, and uproarious clowns under the Big Top. For their latest show, Circus Vargas channels the “City of Lights” in their new production, Bonjour Paris READ MORE

Cinespia at Los Angeles State Historic Park

Chinatown - Friday & Saturday, May 26 & 27, 2023
Cinespia offers an additional location for viewing classic films under the stars: Los Angeles State Historic Park. Films screening Memorial Day weekend are Mrs. Doubtfire and 10 Things I Hate About You. READ MORE

LA Fleet Week

San Pedro - Friday - Monday, May 26 - 29, 2023
Free
Your ship's come in—a whole bunch of 'em actually. Fleet Week returns to the Port of Los Angeles with pier-side ship tours, exhilarating aerial demonstrations and flyovers, live entertainment, live competitions, and family activities.  READ MORE

La Cañada's Fiesta Days

La Cañada - Friday - Monday, May 26 - 29, 2023
La Cañada's weekend-long Memorial Day festivities celebrate their 50 year anniversary.  Activities throughout the weekend include a French toast breakfast, vintage car show, a summer picnic and "ukulele rendezvous", a family dinner with music, and fireworks. Monday's activities include a 5k/10k run, a Memorial Day service,  a grand parade down Foothill Boulevard, and music in the park. READ MORE

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival 2023

Garden Grove - Friday - Monday, May 26 - 29, 2023
Free admission
Garden Grove marks Memorial Day weekend for the 63rd year with its Strawberry Festival, the second largest city festival in the West. This year, the festival's theme is "Celebrating Kindness."  READ MORE

Community Day of Play

Pasadena - Saturday, May 27, 2023
Free
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Southern California Children’s Museum hosts its first-ever free community play day. At Day of Play, everyone is invited to engage with the power of play through arts-based activities, musical performances, and social services information from community service tabling partners. READ MORE

Quakes Minor League Baseball - Fireworks Nights

Rancho Cucamonga - Saturday, May 27, 2023
Take me out to the (minor league base)ball game! For young baseball lovers, minor league games are a wonderful opportunity to see future (and sometimes even current) major league players, for a fraction of the ticket price. On select nights, the Quakes will light up the sky with a fireworks display after the game.  READ MORE

Koroneburg Renaissance Festival

Corona - Starts Saturday, May 27, 2023
The Koroneburg Renaissance Festival returns for another season. With lots of audience-participation content, the Faire offers opportunities to learn about ye ol' German 1450-1600 A.D. history. READ MORE

MAINopoly: Taste of Main Street

Santa Monica - Saturday, May 27, 2023
Pass GO and head to the 8th Annual MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street. MAINopoly is a fun, interactive tasting event that mirrors the classic board game, offering a culinary walking tour of Main Street's restaurants, ice cream stores, coffee shops and other businesses. READ MORE

LA Sanitation & Environment North Central Yard Open House

Lincoln Heights - Saturday, May 27, 2023
Free
The Bureau of Sanitation Open House might not seem like everyone's idea of a fun Saturday, but to kids who are intrigued by garbage trucks it's a real hoot. And you might even go home with a fruit or shade tree. READ MORE

Scottish Fair and Highland Games

Costa Mesa - Saturday & Sunday, May 27 & 28, 2023
Scotsfest returns for Memorial Day weekend in 2023! Scotsfest is a Scottish festival of Celtic entertainment, food, and Highland games. The two-day event showcases the best of the Scottish and Celtic heritage with sounds of bagpipes and drums, the smells of authentic Scottish foods, and the sights of the traditional tartan kilts. READ MORE

Fiesta Hermosa

Hermosa Beach - Saturday - Monday, May 27 - 29, 2023
Free admission
Hermosa Beach's semi-annual blowout combines hundreds of artisans and craftspeople with opportunities to swim, bike, fish, or just relax on the beach. READ MORE

Topanga Days Country Fair

Topanga - Saturday - Monday, May 27 - 29, 2023
Topanga hosts its annual Memorial Day celebration which consists of music, artisan booths, great food, and a wide range of games, such as pie eating contests, an animal imitation contest, sack races, and a diaper derby.  READ MORE

Valley Greek Festival

Northridge - Saturday - Monday, May 27 - 29, 2023
The San Fernando Valley’s  annual Greek Festival is held on Memorial Day Weekend at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The festival evokes the sights, sounds, and tastes that define the traditional Greek way of life. READ MORE

Night of Destruction at the Speedway (and Fireworks!)

Irwindale - Saturday, May 28
Get ready for a night of extreme family fun at the Irwindale Speedway. Arrive as early as 4pm to check out the vehicles and get autographs. The fun kicks off at 7pm with a jet car burndown, skid plate races, figure 8 races, and more—followed by a fireworks display! READ MORE

Santa Anita Memorial Weekend Carnival

Arcadia - Saturday - Monday, May 27 - 29
On Memorial Day weekend, Santa Anita Park Infield transforms into a giant carnival with fun for all ages, including thrilling rides, Inflatable jumpers, a range of carnival snacks, and carnival games. READ MORE

2023 Summer Concerts in the Park (Thousand Oaks)

Thousand Oaks - Monday, May 29, 2023
Free
It may get a little chilly in the evenings,  but the music at Conejo Community Park is hot!  READ MORE

LA County Fair

Pomona - Closes Monday, May 29, 2023
The LA County Fair closes out its 2023 season on Memorial Day Weekend. READ MORE
Pay tribute to our fallen heroes. Memorial Day Ceremony photo courtesy of Forest Lawn
Pay tribute to our fallen heroes. Memorial Day Ceremony photo courtesy of Forest Lawn

Memorial Day Weekend Observances in Los Angeles

Memorial Day Event at the Reagan Library

Simi Valley - Monday, May 29, 2023
Event is free, museum admission is not
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum commemorates Memorial Day, with an event honoring the fallen men and women who served in the United States Military. READ MORE

Memorial Day Ceremonies -Forest Lawn

Multiple locations - Monday, May 29, 2023
Free
Forest Lawn welcomes community members to celebrate Memorial Day at six of its LA locations. The annual ceremony to honor fallen soldiers features music, moving speeches,  and patriotism. READ MORE

Burbank Memorial Day Ceremony

Burbank - Monday, May 29, 2023
Free
Veterans are honored in a ceremony at the McCambridge Park War Memorial. A pre-ceremony concert begins at 10:15am.  The event then begins at 11am, with a ceremony that includes a flyover. READ MORE

Mission Viejo Memorial Day Ceremony

Mission Viejo - Monday, May 29, 2023
Free
The City of Mission Viejo honors those who have served and given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The ceremony includes guest speakers, a color guard, rifle salute, live vocals performances and taps. READ MORE

Memorial Day Service (South Pasadena)

South Pasadena - Monday, May 29, 2023
Free
The City of South Pasadena observes Memorial Day with a service at the War Memorial Building. The color guard is presented by Boy Scout Troop 333. READ MORE

Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade

Canoga Park - Monday May 29, 2023
Free
The Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade is back for its 31st year, celebrating the day with patriotic floats, equestrians, celebrities, antique cars, and marching bands making their way along Sherman Way, following a route from Owensmouth Ave. to Cozycroft. Among the featured participants, the146th Airlift Wing takes to the skies for a C-130J Flyover. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Pretend City Children's Museum
Ventura County Fairgrounds
Los Angeles State Historic Park
Port of Los Angeles World Cruise Center
Southern California Children's Museum
Crossroads Riverview Park
Ashland Hill - Main Street Santa Monica
Orange County Fair & Event Center
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
Multiple Forest Lawn locations, including Hollywood Hills
McCambridge Park War Memorial
The Kershaw Garden at City Hall