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Memorial Day Weekend 2024 in Los Angeles: LA Fleet Week, Fiesta Days, and More Things To Do

Naval ships at port. Photo courtesy of LA Fleet Week Foundation
Naval ships at port. Photo courtesy of LA Fleet Week Foundation
5/22/24 - 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 and is filled with festivals and fairs galore—this year is no exception. Watch jet planes in action at LA Fleet Week in San Pedro, celebrate 50 years of Fiesta Days in La Cañada, and travel back in time at the Koroneburg Renassaince Festival in Corona. Summer 2024 is off to an epic start! 

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 some of them listed below. 

Looking to get out of town for the 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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Topanga Days Parade. Photo by Fadeout Media for the event.
Topanga Days Parade. Photo by Fadeout Media for the event.

Best Memorial Day Weekend Things To Do in Los Angeles

LA Fleet Week

San Pedro - FREE
Wednesday-Monday, May 22- 27
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 neighborhood activations.  READ MORE

Summer Games in the City!

Irvine
Opens Friday, May 24
Let the Games begin! The training ground at Pretend City is ready for the smallest athletes to test their athletic skills over the next three months. Kids can dive into adventurous play, competition, and hands-on learning experiences that celebrate the vibrant spirit of the Olympics. READ MORE

Circus Vargas Jubilé at the Ventura County Fairgounds

Ventura
Opens Friday, May 24
Circus Vargas’ new production is an epic world celebration! In Jubilé, different cultures and nationalities join hand in hand, coming together to entertain, laugh, live, love, and celebrate as one. Circus Vargas’ latest action-packed extravaganza promises amazing feats of daring and artistry, with acrobats, trapeze artists, and aerialists to thrill and amaze. READ MORE

Disney’s The Lion King 30th Anniversary: A Live-to-Film Concert Event

Hollywood Hills
Friday, May 24-Saturday May 25
It's the circle of life and it moves us all... to see this 30th Anniversary performance of The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl. The Lion King is performed in an immersive live-to-film concert event featuring the original animated 1994 film roaring from the Bowl screens, live orchestra, fireworks, and showstopping vocal performances of award-winning songs from the film. READ MORE

LEGO World Parade

Carlsbad
Friday, May 24
They put this parade together brick by brick! LEGOLAND California Resort debuts North America’s first-ever LEGO World Parade, pieced together with a dazzling array of LEGO themed floats, including a LEGO City Firetruck, a swashbuckling pirate ship, and floats inspired by LEGO NINJAGO,  LEGO Friends, LEGO City Deep Sea Adventure, and LEGO DUPLO. READ MORE

Garden Grove Strawberry Festival 2024 at the Village Green

Garden Grove - FREE
Friday-Monday, May 24 - 27
Garden Grove marks Memorial Day weekend for the 64th year with its Strawberry Festival, the second largest city festival in the West. This year, the festival's theme is "Celebrating Our Hometown."  READ MORE

Dino Quest at Discovery Cube OC

Santa Ana
Opens Saturday, May 25
Discovery Cube OC visitors explore the ancient mysteries of Dinosaurs in a very modern way!  The newly  reimagined exhibit Dino Quest sends visitors on a  brand-new hand-held interactive adventure, with an interactive dinosaur fossil excavation site, interactive missions, and colossal life-sized dinosaurs.  READ MORE

28th Annual Family Fun Day

Pasadena - FREE
Saturday, May 25
Families are invited to enjoy a community celebration at La Pintoresca Park with loved ones, friends, and neighbors at the 28th Annual Family Fun Day.  The day includes games, arts & crafts, a tiny tot lot, skateboarding expo, a bubble zone, bingo, and more.  READ MORE

La Cañada's Fiesta Days

La Cañada
Saturday-Monday, May 25- 27
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. Saturday evening the fireworks start at 8:45pm at Memorial Park (free admission). READ MORE

Scottish Fair and Highland Games

Costa Mesa
Saturday & Sunday, May 25 & 26
Scotsfest returns for Memorial Day weekend in 2024! 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

Topanga Days Country Fair

Topanga
Saturday-Monday, May 25-27
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

Fiesta Hermosa

Hermosa Beach - FREE
Saturday-Monday, May 25-27
Hermosa Beach's annual blowout combines hundreds of artisans and craftspeople with opportunities to swim, bike, fish, or just relax on the beach. READ MORE

Santa Anita Memorial Weekend Carnival

Arcadia
Saturday-Monday, May 25-27
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

Valley Greek Festival

Northridge
Saturday-Monday, May 25-27
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

Koroneburg Renaissance Festival

Corona
Starts Saturday, May 25
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

Happy Face Music Festival

Simi Valley
Saturday, May 25
Get ready to smile at Simi Valley's annual music festival, focuse on "American Love and British Beats" for 2024. This one-day party includes a family fun zone for the kids, plus plenty of cover bands, a surprise guest, and food trucks galore.  READ MORE

Wende Museum Teen Night 2024: Key Change

Culver City - FREE
Saturday, May 25
Break out your student ID:  the Wende's Teen Night is for high school students only. The Teen Council invites students across Southern California to join for an evening of live music performances, fun artmaking activities, and refreshments. This year's event is the culmination of a long-term collaborative art project exploring the intersection of graphic design, DIY music history, and social activism,   READ MORE

Night of Destruction at the Speedway (and Fireworks!)

Irwindale
Saturday, May 25
It's a night of extreme family fun at the Irwindale Speedway. Arrive as early as 4pm to check out the vehicles; the autograph session begins at 5:45pm. The main event kicks off at 7pm with a jet car burndown, trailer destruction races, skid plate races, enduro races, figure 8 races, and more—followed by a fireworks display! READ MORE

Summer Picnic & Ukulele Rendezvous at Lanterman House

La Cañada Flintridge - FREE
Sunday, May 26
The beautiful grounds of the Lanterman House open for families to enjoy an afternoon of music, picnicking and games. As a special treat, those in attendance can join a ukulele concert hosted by musician Conrad Cayman. Guests are welcome to bring their ukuleles to join the fun.  READ MORE

Marina Culture Jam at Burton Chace Park

Marina del Rey - FREE
Sunday, May 26
Marina Culture Jam is a free multi-part series at Marina del Rey's Burton Chace Park, featuring live performances, arts & crafts, and cultural learning activities. READ MORE

2024 Summer Concerts in the Park at Conejo Community Park

Thousand Oaks - FREE
Monday, May 27
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 27
The Los Angeles County Fair returns for the 2024 season, once again held  in the cooler month of May. This year's theme is “Stars, Stripes & Fun." 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 Ceremonies -Forest Lawn

Multiple locations - FREE
Monday, May 27
Forest Lawn welcomes community members to celebrate Memorial Day at six of its LA locations. The annual ceremony to honor fallen soldiers features patriotic music, wreath layings, presentations and retirings of the flag, keynote addresses, presidential proclamations, invocations, giveaways, arts & crafts, coffee, sweet treats, and more. READ MORE

Memorial Day Event at the Reagan Library

Simi Valley
Monday, May 27
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 at the Nixon Library

Yorba Linda
Monday, May 27
The Nixon Library pays tribute to America’s fallen warriors with a Memorial Day ceremony and concert.  READ MORE

Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade

Canoga Park - FREE
Monday, May 27
The Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade is back for its 32nd 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. READ MORE

Burbank Memorial Day Ceremony

Burbank - FREE
Monday, May 27
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 Condor squadron flyover. READ MORE

Mission Viejo Memorial Day Ceremony

Mission Viejo - FREE
Monday, May 27
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 Ceremony at Huntington Beach Pier Plaza

Huntington Beach - FREE
Monday, May 27
A tribute is held on Memorial Day to honor the brave men & women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Country. This annual Memorial Day Ceremony is co-hosted by the American Legion Post 133. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

LA Fleet Week EXPO (adjacent to Battleship IOWA)
Pretend City Children's Museum
Ventura County Fairgrounds
Orange County Fair & Event Center
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Crossroads Riverview Park
Multiple Forest Lawn locations, including Hollywood Hills
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
McCambridge Park War Memorial
The Kershaw Garden at City Hall
Huntington Beach Pier Plaza