HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) – Monday, May 29 is Memorial Day. Honor and remember military servicemembers with ceremonies and events across Hampton Roads.
10 On Your Side has compiled a city-by-city list of local events, as well as services closed due to the federal holiday.
Please note: Due to inclement weather, events are being modified. Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to check each event for more information.
HAMPTON ROADS TRANSIT
On May 29, Hampton Roads Transit bus and light rail will operate on a Saturday schedule. The ferry will operate on its regular Summer weekday schedule. For more information, visit gohrt.com or call 757-222-6100.
CHESAPEAKE
In observance of Memorial Day, all city offices, courts, and community centers will be closed on May 29. All Chesapeake Public Libraries will be closed on May 28 and 29.
The Chesapeake Visitor Center and Parks, Recreations and Tourism Administration Office will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- When: Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m.
- Where: Chesapeake City Hall, 306 Cedar Road
- What: The Chesapeake Mayor’s Commission on Veterans Affairs will be hosting its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in front of City Hall. It will be moved into the City Council Chambers if there is inclement weather.
- Who: The ceremony is open to the public.
HAMPTON
City offices in Hampton will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2023 for the Memorial Day holiday.
No trash pickup on Monday, May 29. Monday collections will be made on Wednesday, May 31.
The following services will also be closed in Hampton on Monday, May 29: Yard waste site, landfill, city schools, libraries, community centers, neighborhood centers, Fort Monroe pool, Treasurer’s Office and the Commissioner of the Revenue, DMV Select, courts, and Peninsula Health District and clinics.
NEWPORT NEWS
Memorial Day Weekend Placing U.S. Flags
- When: Flags will start being placed on Saturday, May 27 at 7 a.m. They will be picked up on Tuesday, May 30 starting at 7 a.m.
- Where: Cemeteries in Newport News
- Peninsula Memorial Cemetery,12750 Warwick Blvd, meet at entrance off Nettles Road.
- Greenlawn and Pleasant Shade, 2700 Parish Avenue, meet at front of the cemetery.
- What: Groups will be placing flags at Veterans graves.
- Who: Anyone is welcome to participate in this event. It is open to the public.
- When: Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m.
- Where: Victory Arch, 25th Street & West Avenue
- What: Event in partnership with the City of Newport News. A quintet from TRADOC will perform.
- Who: Free and open to the public.
NORFOLK
Norfolk government offices, libraries and recreation centers will be closed on May 29 in observance of Memorial Day. Closed offices include Norfolk Courthouse, officer of the Commissioner of the Revenue and the City Treasurer.
The SPSA Norfolk Transfer Station will be open on Memorial Day from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Those who would like to request a bulk waste collection for Tuesday, May 30 can do so before 3 p.m. on Friday, May 26. Requests can be made on the MyNorfolk app, the online portal or by calling the Norfolk Cares Center at 757-664-6510.
- When: Monday, May 29 at 2 p.m.
- Where: Victory Rover Pier, next to the Armed Force Memorial at 1 Waterside Drive
- What: Honor and remember those military service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today during Norfolk’s annual Wreath Laying Ceremony. The event is co-sponsored by the Veterans Affairs Advisory Commission.
- Who: Free and open to the public.
This year’s guest speaker is Ms. Sonya Smith, U.S. Air Force Reserve veteran and the first African American to serve as the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Veteran Services. Smith is a proud Norfolk State University alumna and serves on the U.S. Veteran Affairs Research Advisory Committee for Gulf War Illness.
Inaugural Memorial Day Parade & Wreath-Laying Ceremony
- When: Monday, May 29 from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
- Where: Parade begins at St. Patrick Catholic School, 1000 Bolling Ave. The parade is 1.2 miles from St. Patrick Catholic School to Larchmont United Methodist Church.
- What: The Larchmont Edgewater Civic League is hosting its inaugural Memorial Day Parade and Wreath-Laying Ceremony. There will be free hot-dogs and drinks and information for a dozen local non-profits. The Wreath-Laying Ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. Mayor Alexander is the event’s Grand Marshal. He will lay the wreath at the ceremony.
- Who: It is free and open to the public.
PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth municipal offices, libraries, and museums will be closed on May 29 in observance of Memorial Day. Public libraries and museums in the city will also be closed.
The Recreation Centers will be closed from May 27 to May 29. The Splash Park will be open the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Golf courses will be open on Memorial Day, however tee times and golf carts are limited. Golfers are asked to call ahead to check on availability.
There will not be trash, recycling or bulk collection on May 29. Regular Monday routes will be rescheduled to May 31. For more information, call the Waste Management Division at 757-393-8663.
- When: Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m.
- Where: Reviewing stand is at High and Court Streets. The parade route is on High Street from Peninsula Avenue, at I.C. Norcom High School, to Water Street.
- What: The parade has been a tradition since 1884. Portsmouth says it, “salutes the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and celebrates Portsmouth’s proud military heritage. It’s one of the longest running Memorial Day Parades in America.” Watch the parade with floats, marching bands, and more.
- Who: Free and open to the public.
SUFFOLK
Suffolk City Offices will be closed Memorial Day on Monday, May 29.
Suffolk Parks & Recreation Joint Use Recreation Centers (Kings Fork, Creekside, Northern Shores, Oakland, Booker T. Washington, and Mack Benn, Jr.) and the East Suffolk Recreation Center, Curtis Milteer Recreation Center, and Bennett’s Creek Recreation Center will be closed Monday, May 29, and will reopen on Tuesday, May 30 at 6:30 a.m.
All Suffolk Public Libraries will be closed on Monday, 29.
Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony
- When: Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m.
- Where: Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road
- What: The speaker will be Major General Jerry F. Prochaska, U.S. Army, Deputy Director for the Joint Force Development and Design Center, J-7, Joint Staff, Suffolk.
- Who: Open to the public.
VIRGINIA BEACH
The following Virginia Beach facilities will be closed Monday, May 29, 2023 in observance of Memorial Day:
- All Virginia Beach government administrative offices
- All Virginia Beach community recreation centers
- All Virginia Beach public libraries including the TCC/City of Virginia Beach Joint-Use Library
- Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office
- Princess Anne Athletic Complex
- Sandler Center for the Performing Arts box office and administrative offices
- Virginia Beach Circuit Court, General District Court, Juvenile & Domestic Relations Courts and Clerk’s Offices
- Virginia Beach Convention Center administrative offices
- Virginia Beach Department of Public Health
- Virginia Beach History Museums
- Voter Registrar’s Office for early in-person voting
- Waste Management administrative offices and the West Neck Recycling Center (Waste Management collections and the Landfill and Resource Recovery Center do not operate on Monday.)
- When: Monday, May 29
- Where: Military Aviation Museum, 1341 Princess Anne Rd
- What: The Run to Remember honors America’s fallen warriors and the organizations dedicated to supporting their families. Sign up for the 5K, Kids’ 1 Mile Fun Run, or Virtual 5K.
- Who: Register for the event here.
Tidewater Veterans Memorial Day Ceremony
- When: Monday, May 29 at noon.
- Where: Due to expected inclement weather, the ceremony will now be held inside at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
- What:
- Join Virginia Beach Mayor Robert M. “Bobby” Dyer and the Mayor’s Committee for Veterans for the annual Memorial Day Ceremony. CSM Daniel T. Hendrex, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, is this year’s Keynote Speaker.
- As part of the opening ceremony, the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Honor Guard Unit-Rifle Team will provide a 21-Gun Salute, followed by the invocation given by Chaplain David Yemington, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Virginia Beach Chapter 969. Music will be provided by the United States Air Force Heritage Brass, and the National Anthem and “God Bless America” will be performed by Tony Zontini of Virginia Beach.
- Who: Open to the public.
- When: The exhibit runs through June 14.
- Where: Military Aviation Museum, 1341 Princess Anne Road
- What: In collaboration with USAA, the Poppy Exhibit will allow visitors to learn “the true meaning of Memorial Day”.
- Who: Tickets are required. Currently serving military, veterans, and USAA members and employees will have free admission from May 26 to May 29 with valid ID. All other days, USAA is offering a 50% discount to those eligible on ticket admission to the museum for the duration of the exhibit.
A trio of free concerts each night of the three-day Memorial Day weekend will take place at the 17th Street Park, the 24th Street Park and the 31st Street Park from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, May 26-28.
WILLIAMSBURG
All Williamsburg city offices will be closed on May 29, which includes the Municipal Building on Lafayette St. and Quarterpath Recreation Center.
The Waller Mill Park will be operating from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Garbage collection will follow a regular schedule on May 29 and 30. Recycling will be delayed by one day, which means Monday’s recycling will be picked up on Tuesday and Tuesday’s recycling will be picked up on Wednesday.
For those who need to pay a city bill, a 24-hour bill payment dropbox will be available in front of the Municipal Building, located at 401 Lafayette St. Payments can also be made online.
Help Wanted to Place Flags on Graves
The City of Williamsburg is inviting the public to help place more than 500 flags on the graves of veterans in Cedar Grove Cemetery at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 25. If you’re interested, please meet Caretaker Bill Brown at the flagpole in Cedar Grove Cemetery at 809 S. Henry St.
Flags will be provided. For questions about the flag-setting, contact Brown at dbrown@williamsburgva.gov