Fun activities for Memorial Day weekend

Looking for something to do on the cheap?
Groupon has a wide variety of discounts and deals for local activities — from bowling to escape rooms to river tubing to the Skyview Ferris wheel and more! If you buy a Groupon deal through our link, we may receive a small commission.
Browse local deals on Groupon

Head to Stone Mountain Park

From May 23 to 26, 2025, Stone Mountain Park commemorates Memorial Day with a special four-day event.

The highlight is the Drone & Light Show, which will be followed by a special salute to the troops, and epic fireworks all four nights of the holiday weekend. The show starts at 9:30 and features lights, iconic music, lasers, epic fireworks, and flame cannons.

During Memorial Weekend, the Drone show will also feature a formation of 250 fire drones, flying in formation to create the image of an eagle.

On May 24th and 25th, there will be special performances by the 116th US Army Band at 7:30 p.m. on the Memorial Lawn.

♦ Military FREE admission: Active duty, veterans, and retired military personnel will receive one free Attractions Point with valid ID, and will save up to 30% off per person for immediate family members at the ticket plaza inside the park. Note that you can’t get this deal online, only in-person.

♦ Thanks to a limited-time offer from Groupon, you can buy a daily Attractions Pass at HALF OFF — that’s just $19.99, for both children and adults. (The regular price is $39.99 for adults, and $34.99 for kids.)

Enjoy the Atlanta Jazz Festival

The iconic event is one of the largest FREE jazz fests in the nation, and it’s happening at Piedmont Park from Saturday, May 24th thru Monday, May 26th, 2025.
Get the details and see the line-up

Cool off at a FREE splash pad or sprayground

The splash pads and spraygrounds in Atlanta are a fun way for kids to cool off and play in the water, without going to a pool. No matter where you live in metro Atlanta, there is most likely a park with a water feature near you — and most of them are FREE! We’ve put together a handy list of splash pads, spraygrounds, and interactive fountains. The list is organized by county.
Find a splash pad near you

Take in a special exhibit

These traveling exhibits are a bit of a splurge, but they’re a good option for special times.

• Titanic: An Immersive Voyage
An immersive, virtual reality trip through the infamous, ill-fated ship!
Located at the Exhibition Hub Art Center in Doraville.
More info + tickets

• Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
Step into a Van Gogh painting, with this exhibit that combines projection, light, sound, and virtual reality. You’ll experience the artist’s life and work in a whole new way.
More info + tickets

Visit Six Flags for FREE with military ID

May 23 – 26, 2025
Six Flags Over Georgia
Six Flags White Water

Six Flags is thanking U.S. military members and veterans on Memorial Day weekend, by offering FREE admission to both Six Flags over Georgia and Six Flags White Water, as well as discount tickets for their guests.

From May 23 to 26, 2025, all military members will receive a free ticket to a Six Flags park, valid for a single day.
More info here

Browse the Alpharetta Arts Streetfest

May 24 & 25, 2025
Wills Park

Dedicate part of your Memorial Day Weekend to the Alpharetta Arts Streetfest! The two-day event takes place at Wills Park. Admission is FREE. Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
More info here

Enjoy Art on the Green in Woodstock

May 24 & 25, 2025
Downtown Woodstock

Local artists from North Georgia will gather on the Event Green to display and sell their art, which includes: paintings, mixed media, photography, hand-crafted jewelry, eccentric gifts…and MUCH more.

Take in a free outdoor concert

There’s quite a few opportunities to listen to music this Memorial Day Weekend!
Browse our full list of summer concerts here

Friday, May 23rd:

Saturday, May 24th:

Sunday, May 25th:

Monday, May 26th

Spend the day at the Yaarab Shrine Circus & Fair

The Yaarab Shrine Circus and Fair is back for its 81st year — including Big Top acts, 35 carnival rides, and plenty of your favorite fair food. The show runs through Memorial Day Monday.
More info here

Make merry at the Georgia Renaissance Festival

The gates are open on Saturday, Sunday, and Memorial Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is quite a bit to do at the Georgia Renaissance Festival and it is a family-friendly event with plenty for the kiddos. There is food and drink (with a Renaissance theme!) available for purchase. You’ll also find plenty of entertainment and an artisans market for shopping.
More info here

^{Image courtesy of GA Renaissance Festival}

Plan a strawberry picking excursion

Check out our guide to the local strawberry farms — and remember to verify that berries are available to buy or pick, because the weather’s been bad lately.

Get a FREE flag from Ace Hardware

Each year, Ace Hardware gives away a million flags nationwide on the Saturday before Memorial Day. The flags are FREE and no purchase is required.
More info here

Explore the South Fulton Scenic Byway

Roll the car windows down, open the sunroof, and enjoy the views of the countryside — without going far from home. The South Fulton Scenic Byway has been called the loneliest road in metro Atlanta — and it is so gorgeous, you won’t believe you’re still in Fulton County.
Get the route details

Wander through a historic cemetery

It’s traditionally a time to honor our fallen heroes, so why not wander through a historic cemetery — or spend an afternoon following the links and reading about their history?

Oakland Cemetery is Atlanta’s most famous park-like cemetery, the final resting place for many notable and historic Atlantans.
Southview Cemetery has a history dating back to Reconstruction.
Marietta National Cemetery is a military burial site on the National Register of Historic Places; it is said to be the final resting place for over 1o,000 Union soldiers.
Utoy Cemetery is the oldest in Atlanta, dating to 1828. Its preservation is handled by a group of dedicated volunteers.

Visit a Georgia State Park

The state parks are open for hiking and picnics.
Get the details here

Memorial Day commemorative events

Click thru the links for more info on each one, and to get weather updates if it’s rainy or storming.

Taps Across America

Do you play an instrument? If so, organizers of Taps Across America are asking you to play Taps at 3 p.m. local time this Memorial Day, after observing a moment of silence. Taps is the somber, 24-note bugle call played at military funerals and memorial observances. Play from your lawn, porch, balcony, driveway or open window — anywhere you can. Let your neighbors know you’re participating, so they can listen in.
Get more info or register to play

Norcross Remembrance event

Come to Thrasher Park in downtown Norcross on Memorial Day.
From 11:30 to 1:00, there will be live entertainment, including a bagpiper.
More info here

Smyrna Memorial Ceremony plus celebration event

Attend a memorial ceremony on Smyrna’s Veterans Lawn (outside City Hall) at 9:30 a.m. on Memorial Day 2025.

Alpharetta Memorial Day Tribute

This annual event includes music, a wreath laying ceremony, rifle salute and more. The program begins at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 26th at Alpharetta City Hall.
Details here

Dunwoody Memorial Day Tribute

The annual Memorial Day Ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 26th at the Brook Run Park Veterans Memorial, located at 4770 N. Peachtree Road. Open to the public.
More info here

Memorial Ceremony at Cauble Park

Saturday, May 24th at 10 a.m. — an hour-long ceremony honors our fallen military members. Open to the public. Cauble Park is located at 4425 Beach Street in Acworth.
More info here

Woodstock Memorial Ceremony

Monday, May 26th at 10 a.m. at The Park at City Center, located at 101 Arnold Mill Road in Woodstock. Special musical performances by a band and a bagpiper, wreath laying ceremony, dove release, rifle honors, Taps.
More info here

Marietta National Cemetery Memorial Ceremony

The Memorial Day Ceremony at the Marietta National Cemetery will be held Monday, May 26, starting at noon at 500 Washington Avenue Northeast, Marietta.
Event info

You can also volunteer to help place flags at more than 18,000 graves there on Saturday, May 24th. More information at https://www.nmdaga.org/

Memorial Weekend Freebies & Discounts

Local offers

Stone Mountain Park: The park is offering a FREE Attractions Pass to all active duty and retired military personnel. Plus, they can get 35% OFF per person for immediate family members. This offer is good during Memorial Day Weekend.

Plus, there is a Groupon Deal for half-off. College Football Hall of Fame: This downtown museum offers FREE admission to veterans and active military every day of the year — including Memorial Day, when hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please bring valid ID. Georgia Aquarium: special discount for military members, year round.

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.

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.

Pizza Hut

Have an inexpensive pizza party over the holiday weekend, thanks to Pizza Hut’s ongoing deals and discounts. Share a slice of pizza and fun with the family…plus, it’s an easy set-up (and clean-up) for the party planner.

Sonic Drive-In

Through June 29, 2025, Sonic Drive-In is offering 50% off all Classic and Master Shakes — after 5 p.m. Best of all, there’s no limit, so everyone can cool off by enjoying a discounted shake.

Memorial Day Shopping Deals

Please check back, as we’ll be adding more Memorial Day special deals!

Ace Hardware

As part of its annual One Million Flag Giveaway every Memorial Day weekend, Ace Hardware is again giving away a FREE 8″ x 12″ U.S flag on May 25, 2024 — no purchase necessary. The flags are available at participating locations, while supplies last.