Memorial Day is Monday, May 26, and there will be a number of events across the Twin Cities metro area over the weekend and on Monday to honor and mourn those who died while serving in the military.
The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May. Since it is a federal and state holiday, many offices will be closed. Most grocery stores, pharmacies and other businesses are open, however.
Ramsey County
St. Paul: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. Historic Fort Snelling will host an event focused on military history at the site. The fort will be open for people to explore at their own pace and special events are planned including a flag ceremony, cannon firing, swing band performances, a period speech from World War II as well as a performance by the Fife & Drum Corps. Visitors also can witness the firing of historic rifles from five different eras of the fort’s history. The Brooklyn Big Band will be performing at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. inside the fort. Veterans receive free admission to Historic Fort Snelling. Active military personnel and their families receive free admission through the Blue Star program from Armed Forces Day to Labor Day. For more information, go to the Minnesota Historical Society’s website.
The famous Round Tower at the Historic Fort Snelling on Tuesday, May 24, 2022. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
St. Paul: 10 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day event at Oakland Cemetery, 927 Jackson St. Guest speakers will be Katie Schafer and local historian Mary Benton-Hummel. Refreshments will be available.
St. Paul: 10 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day Mass will be held at Calvary Cemetery. For more information, go to catholic-cemeteries.org/memorial-day-2025.
St. Paul: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. An event titled “From Civilian to Soldier: A Decoration Day Remembrance” will be held at Waldmann Brewery, at 445 N. Smith Ave. It will feature a concert and reenactment of scenes from the history of the brewery, including mustering in of its stonemason-builder Jacob Amos, with the assistance of Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry reenactors alongside music from the Civil War era by Century Brass. The event will finish with a reading from the 1868 proclamation that established Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day. Admission is free. Waldmann beer, soda and food will be available for purchase. Seating is outdoors, so dress for the weather.
St. Paul: 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday. Ceremony honoring Vietnam War deaths at the Minnesota Vietnam Memorial on the state Capitol grounds.
North St. Paul: 9 a.m. Monday. The American Legion Post 39 Honor Guard and VFW Post 1350 Rifle Squad will honor veterans during a ceremony at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
North St. Paul: Noon Monday. The American Legion Post 39 Honor Guard and VFW Post 1350 Rifle Squad will honor veterans during a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park at 2480 Margaret St. N. Following the appearance at Veterans Park, the Post 39 Honor Guard will head back to the Legion, where they will raise the Post’s flag and play taps at 12:20 p.m. At 2:15 p.m., they will appear at the Fleet Farm in Oakdale for the final ceremony of the day.
Roseville: 10 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day service planned at the Roselawn Cemetery Veterans Memorial. The annual Roselawn Heritage Foundation Picnic Lunch — hot dog, chips, cookie, pop or water — will be offered for $5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend.
White Bear Lake: 9 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day Parade. The parade forms at City Hall at 9 a.m. and then marches to Union Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. A ceremony will be held at the cemetery at 10 a.m. The ceremony will include White Bear Lake’s own retired Gen. Paul Nakasone as keynote speaker as well as a thank you to Vietnam veterans on the 50th anniversary of the end of that war. There also will be a memorialization of Maj. Curtis Feistner, a White Bear Lake High School graduate killed in support of the war on terrorism in 2002. After the ceremony, Manny Laureano, principal trumpeter for the Minnesota Orchestra, will perform a traditional military/law enforcement funeral song, “Danny Boy” and taps. The ceremony will be followed by a parade down Lake Avenue to American Legion Post 168 at 2210 Third St. where there will be a free hot dog and refreshment lunch.
Dakota County
Burnsville: 9:30 to 11 a.m. Monday. Observe Memorial Day with the Sweet Sioux Garden Club at Bicentennial Garden, at 3400 Nicollet Avenue. In the event of rain, the event will be held at City Hall.
Eagan: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. The annual Memorial Day Challenge fitness workout returns to the Viking Lakes campus for its 2025 edition — at the Community Plaza of TCO Stadium. More information can be found at memorialdaychallenge.com.
Hastings: 7 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day March. Beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Levee Park in Hastings and proceeding for 10 miles along the River Trail Loop. This year, the keynote speaker will be Drew Carpenter, a veteran of the U.S. Army and active participant with the Wounded Warrior Project. For more information, go to marchforthem.org.
Mendota Heights: 10 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day Mass will be held at Resurrection Cemetery. For more information, go to catholic-cemeteries.org/memorial-day-2025.
Rosemount: 11 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day event at Central Park at 2893 145th St. W. Local officials and representatives from the Rosemount Legion and Rosemount VFW will join to honor the fallen soldiers of Rosemount in a ceremony. Following the ceremony, a free lunch will be served at the Rosemount American Legion at 14590 Burma Ave. W. For more information, go to rosemountmn.gov.
South St. Paul: 9:30 a.m. Monday. A Memorial Day parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at Fourth Street North and 12th Avenue and will proceed to the South St. Paul High School Auditorium. All are welcome to attend the Memorial Day program with performances by the South St. Paul Varsity Singers and the South St. Paul High School Band. Following the program, the South St. Paul Lions Club will host a hot dog picnic at the high school. For more information, go to southstpaul.org/Calendar.
Washington County
Bayport: 8:30 a.m. Monday. The Bayport American Legion Memorial Day Parade will begin on Minnesota Highway 95, between Central Avenue and First Avenue North, and proceed through the city to Hazelwood Cemetery.
Mahtomedi: 9 a.m. Monday. The 2025 Memorial Day Parade will begin in the staging area at Mahtomedi High School and then go down Stillwater Road (CSAH 12), to Veterans Memorial Park. A ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. followed by a pancake breakfast at the fire station.
Mahtomedi: 10 a.m. Monday. The American Legion Post 39 Honor Guard and VFW Post 1350 Rifle Squad will honor veterans during a ceremony at Lakeview Cemetery.
Mahtomedi: 11 a.m. Monday. The American Legion Post 39 Honor Guard and VFW Post 1350 Rifle Squad will honor veterans during a ceremony at Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
Stillwater: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday. A Memorial Day ceremony will take place at the Stillwater Veterans Memorial at Third & Pine streets. More information at stillwaterveteransmemorial.org.
Woodbury: 11 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day ceremony will take place at the Woodbury Lions Veterans Memorial on the City Hall campus, 8301 Valley Creek Road. The event will include remarks from Mayor Anne Burt. Maj. Tyler Kistner of the U.S. Marine Corps will give the Memorial Day address. There also will be displays and veteran help groups in the east parking lot near the memorial. They will be staffed from 9 to 11 a.m. and from noon to 1:30 p.m. The observance will take place rain or shine. For more information, go to woodburymn.gov.
Hennepin County
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Minneapolis: 10 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery. For more information, go to catholic-cemeteries.org/memorial-day-2025.
New Hope: 10 a.m. Monday. Memorial Day Mass will be held at Gethsemane Cemetery. For more information, go to catholic-cemeteries.org/memorial-day-2025.
Radio
WCTS: 10 a.m. Monday. WCTS Radio will broadcast a locally produced Memorial Day service featuring patriotic music, religious and historic readings as well as President Ronald Reagan’s remarks at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day 1986. The voices and stories of veterans of war will also be a part of the service, courtesy of the AMPERS network. An encore will air at 5 p.m. WCTS Radio is at 1030 AM, 97.9 FM and streaming at WCTSRadio.com.
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