Memorial Day 2024 in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and surrounding areas, will feature many events, both to commemorate our fallen military personnel, and to just celebrate the beginning of the summer.
Memorial Day is Monday, May 27, 2024, and Memorial Day Weekend starts Friday, May 24.
We will be adding freebies and discounts for military personnel as soon as they’re announced. Also, please scroll down for our full calendar for Memorial Day Weekend 2024 in the Triangle.
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Memorial Day Weekend Ideas
Annual Memorial Day Remembrance at Bennett Place
Bennett Place Historic Site, at 4409 Bennett Memorial Road, Durham, NC, is holding its annual event, The American Soldier Through the Ages, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Costumed reenactors will represent soldiers of nearly every conflict, and there will be a Memorial Day ceremony at 3 p.m.
First Fruits Farm Memorial Balloon Festival
The First Fruits Memorial Balloon Festival takes place on May 25 and 26, 2024, from 3 to 10 p.m., at First Fruits Farm, 2323 E River Road, Louisburg, North Carolina. The festival features entertainment, both on the ground and in the air, rides, fireworks, and a balloon mass ascension. Tickets are $15 and parking is $15. Tethered rides will be available for an extra charge.
JawsFest
JawsFest, a once-annual Memorial Day Weekend event, is returning to Chapel Hill on Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, 2024. Events are taking place around Midway Alley, 106 N Graham Street, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Events include a market, a block party (with a mechanical shark and a dunk tank), movies, karaoke, live music and more. Festivities start at noon each day and go into the night. Prices for the events and activities vary.
Town of Cary
The Town of Cary is holding a Memorial Day Remembrance on Monday, May 27, 2024. Check back for confirmation on location, but last year it took place at Veterans Freedom Park, 1517 N. Harrison Avenue, Cary.
Town of Garner
The Town of Garner’s Memorial Day Observance will take place Monday, May 27, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., at the Garner Veterans Memorial in Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Road, Garner.
NC State Capitol
A Memorial Day ceremony will take place outside the North Carolina State Capitol on Monday, May 27,m 2024, at 11 a.m. It will include music, a guest speaker, color guard and the placing of a wreath at the base of the Military Memorial Monument at the north end of the building.
Free Flags
Every year, Ace Hardware gives away American Flags for Memorial Day. The first 240 people at each participating store on Saturday, May 25, 2024, will receive a free flag. No purchase required. These are 8″x12″ stick flags, suitable for placing on a grave, field, or garden as a tribute to a fallen serviceman or servicewomen.
Taste of Soul
Enjoy a wide variety of food, plus music and vendors, at Taste of Soul. It takes place at Durham Central Park, 501 Foster Street, Durham, North Carolina, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is free. Just pay for your food and drink.
East Durham Block Party
Enjoy music, food and community at East Durham Block Party, hosted by Durham Community Land Trustees. The free event takes place Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Guthrie Avenue and Lathrop Street, Durham, North Carolina.
Triangle Wind Ensemble–An American Celebration: The Music of John Williams
Triangle Wind Ensemble is celebrating America with a concert at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at 7 p.m. The concert features music from American composer John Williams. Tickets are $13.
Sundays at Sundown Concert
On Sunday evenings, Sundays at Sundown Music Series takes place on the Green at Southern Village, 600 Market Street, Chapel Hill. There’s no cover charge. The band on Sunday, May 26, 2024, is Graymatter.
Hiking
Please check out our list of some of the best hikes in the Triangle, our photo guide to hiking eight N.C. State parks, and our photo guide to North Carolina waterfalls.
NC Sugar Rush Dessert Market
On Sunday, May 26, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., head to City Plaza in Downtown Raleigh to satisfy your sweet tooth. NC Sugar Rush is a dessert-only food market. Look for ice cream, Italian Ice, cupcakes, funnel cakes, candy apples and more.
Mudcat Baseball
The Carolina Mudcats are playing the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at home in Zebulon on Sunday, May 26, 2024, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $13 to $17, but if you live in one of these five counties — Wake, Franklin, Nash, Johnston, or Wilson — you get into home games on Sundays for just $7. After the game all fans are welcome to come onto the field to play catch.
Memorial Day Weekend Freebies and Discounts
Some of these deals are for everyone and some are specifically for military veterans or personnel.
Bonefish Grill: Vets are honored every day at Bonefish Grill. The restaurant’s Heroes Discount is offered all year long — 10% off for all service members, veterans and first responders.
Olive Garden: If you take the whole family to Olive Garden, enjoy an extra take-home entrée for just $6. Pick up enough extra meals to enjoy over the holiday weekend. Choose from Fettuccine Alfredo, Five Cheese Ziti al Forno and Spaghetti with Meat Sauce.
Krispy Kreme: Buy any dozen doughnuts or 16-count Minis at regular price and get a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for $3.84. Offers is good at participating shops from May 24 to 27, 2024.
Hickory Tavern: Bring a veteran or active-duty service member to Hickory Tavern on Monday, May 27, 2024, and they will get a free meal of equal or lesser value to yours. Dine-in only. Announced on Facebook.
Olde Raleigh Distillery: Veterans get free tours on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. No registration is required. 209 N Arendell Avenue, Zebulon, North Carolina.
Marco’s Pizza: Marco’s Mega Meal Deal includes a large 1-topping pizza, Cheezybread and Cinnasquares for just $19.99, using the code MEGAMEAL.
Outback Steakhouse: Vets are honored every day at Outback Steakhouse. The restaurant’s Heroes Discount is offered all year long — 10% off for all service members, veterans and first responders.
These are some of the businesses that had deals or freebies last year, so we’ll be on the lookout.
Richard Wozniak Kusiolek III says
I only wish that more events were on Memorial DAY and not days before. It seems that would make sense. Memorial day events on MEMORIAL DAY. Am I missing something. Thanks… USAF Vietnam VET
Jody Mace says
Yeah, you know, to be honest, there are more Memorial Day ceremonies that I just wasn’t able to get listed in time. I do have the Garner and Cary ones listed, because they did come across my desk, but I know that there are more. Next year!