4 Ways to Spend Memorial Day Weekend 2025 Around Rochester

Memorial Day is a time for families and friends to come together, often through backyard barbecues, picnics, or ceremonial gatherings, while respectfully remembering our fallen heroes.

Many people also regard Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial kickoff to summertime in Rochester. While enjoying the long weekend, it is essential to remember the holiday’s true meaning and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.

1. Honor Our Fallen Heroes

Although Memorial Day customs may vary, its core purpose remains the same: to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the military.

• Local cemeteries and veterans’ memorials often hold Memorial Day services, which include speeches, wreath-laying ceremonies, flag-raising ceremonies, and moments of silence to honor and remember fallen soldiers.
• Remember and honor the service and sacrifice of fallen soldiers, family members, or friends who served in the military by visiting their graves and placing flowers, flags, or other tributes on them.
• Memorial Day parades are a customary tradition in several communities. These parades typically include marching bands, veterans’ organizations, military vehicles, and floats. They offer a chance for the community to unite, show appreciation for veterans and active-duty military personnel, and honor the holiday.
• On Memorial Day, at 3 p.m., there is a national moment of remembrance. During this moment, we take one minute to remember soldiers who died while serving in the military. It’s an annual event that asks all Americans to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by these brave soldiers.
• Consider spending Memorial Day in community service or volunteering for organizations that support veterans and their families. You can participate in various activities, such as assisting with cleaning up memorial sites, joining charity runs or walks, or lending a hand at veterans’ centers. These activities allow us to honor the sacrifices of our brave men and women in uniform and show appreciation to those who have served our country.
• Memorial Day presents a chance to educate the younger generation about the holiday’s significance. Families, schools, and community organizations can arrange activities and discussions to teach children about the sacrifices made by military personnel and the importance of honoring their memory.

Please contact the Veterans Outreach Center for ways that you can provide or receive assistance.

Spend a Quiet Moment at a War Memorial

The Veterans Memorial at the Rochester Community War Memorial

The Blue Cross Arena’s lower level features a tranquil Veterans Memorial, paying tribute to local armed services and offering the community a space for reflection on the sacrifices of those who came before them. Public access may vary, so check current building hours or visit during arena events. If the building is closed, you can still peek through the window from the riverside park near Broad Street. Get Directions

Beikirch Park. Before 2012, the area south of Highland Drive was part of Highland Park. However, that year, the Monroe County Parks Department dedicated this area as Beikirch Park to honor Vietnam Veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch. The park features several memorials, including the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, War on Terror Memorial, AIDS Memorial, Victims’ Rights Memorial, and Workers’ Rights Memorial. Get Directions

It is my hope that as people enter this park and walk among the heroes that are honored and remembered here that they will hear each hero say to them, “There is a different way to live your life. Live your life believing that there is something greater in life than me. Live your life caring for others, loving others. Greater love has no one than this … that you would lay down your life for your friend.”

Gary Beikirch

Livingston County Veterans Monument. Located at the Hampton’s Corners Complex on New York State Route 63, just south of Geneseo, there is a field of 250 metal poppies that sway gracefully in the breeze. Each poppy has been designed and welded by a veteran or a veteran’s family member to honor their brave service to the country. Get Directions

Visit the National Memorial Day Museum

Waterloo, New York, situated one hour east of Rochester, is the first official Memorial Day location. According to the museum’s website, the story of Memorial Day dates back to the summer of 1865. At a social gathering, a prominent local druggist named Henry C. Welles suggested that while praising the living veterans of the Civil War, it would be fitting to remember the patriotic dead by placing flowers on their graves. However, nothing resulted from this suggestion until the following spring when he again mentioned the idea to General John B. Murray, a Civil War hero and intensely patriotic. General Murray wholeheartedly supported the idea and rallied veterans’ support behind it. Learn more at wlhs-ny.com.

Attend a Ceremony or Parade

Be sure to check with your municipality for current Memorial Day parade schedules, ceremonies, and community observances.

• Rochester, cityofrochester.gov
• Brighton, townofbrighton.org
• Brockport, brockportny.org
• Chili, townofchili.org
• Churchville, churchville.net
• East Rochester, eastrochester.org
• Fairport, village.fairport.ny.us
• Gates, gatesrecparks.org
• Greece, greeceparksrec.recdesk.com
• Henrietta, henriettany.myrec.com
• Hilton, hiltonny.org
• Honeoye Falls, villageofhoneoyefalls.org
• Irondequoit, irondequoit.gov
• Penfield, penfield.org
• Pittsford, townofpittsford.org
• Rush, townofrush.com
• Scottsville, scottsvilleny.org
• Spencerport, ogdenny.com
• Webster, websterny.gov

2. Learn About Our Military History

Fort Ontario State Historic Site

Fort Ontario State Historic Site is a must-visit destination for those passionate about history. The fort boasts a star-shaped structure that dates back to the early 1840s and showcases various renovations between 1863 and 1872. The site contains two guardhouses, a powder magazine, a storehouse, enlisted men’s barracks, an Army office building, unfurnished officer’s quarters, videos, exhibits, ramparts providing breathtaking views of Lake Ontario, and underground stone casemates and galleries that are open for tours.

Fort Ontario has played a significant role in American history. It has witnessed several major events, including three battles during the French and Indian War and two conflicts during the War of 1812. The fort remained occupied by the U.S. Army throughout World War II. However, from 1944 to 1946, it took on a unique role as the only refugee camp in the U.S. for predominantly Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust.

Fort Ontario was handed over to the State of New York in 1946 and was utilized as a housing facility for World War II veterans and their families until 1953. In 1949, it was officially established as a state historic site to safeguard its storied past and highlight its multifaceted roles throughout various historical periods.

Old Fort Niagara

Old Fort Niagara offers an engaging opportunity to experience the era when powerful empires fought for control of North America. You can explore authentic 18th-century buildings and enjoy stunning views while joining interactive programs that bring history to life. The Fort’s Visitor Center features introductory displays showcasing original artifacts and an award-winning 16-minute orientation film highlighting the site’s importance.

Explore the fort and its original buildings, built between the 18th and 20th centuries, where Native American, French, British, and American soldiers lived and worked. During the summer, visitors can watch musket and artillery firing demonstrations, join guided tours, and see artisan exhibits that offer insights into life on the Niagara Frontier during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Special events feature reenactors who recreate the lives of former fort garrisons and depict the struggles that helped shape the birth of the United States and Canada.

Fort Stanwix

A trail connected the Mohawk River and Wood Creek for thousands of years. This trail, known as the Oneida Carrying Place, was a key link between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Ontario. Before Europeans arrived, this route marked an important chapter in American history, as various nations fought for control over the Mohawk Valley, the homeland of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the valuable resources of North America. During this intense struggle, Fort Stanwix played a vital role in shaping the outcome of the conflict.

3. Learn About Our Transportation Heritage

Embark on a leisurely sightseeing boat, train, or hot air balloon expedition.

Explore the Erie Canal and Genesee River

Memorial Day weekend is a wonderful time to explore Rochester’s waterways on board the Colonial Belle in Fairport, the Sam Patch in Pittsford, and the Riverie in Corn Hill. Each boat offers a unique way to experience the Erie Canal and Genesee River, including trips through Locks 32 or 33.

Take a Trolley or Train Ride

Memorial Day weekend often marks the return of seasonal rides and excursions. Enjoy a trolley ride through scenic rural countryside at the New York Museum of Transportation in Rush, where you can also explore exhibits featuring trolley cars, vehicles, model railroads, and the iconic Midtown Plaza Monorail cars. The Arcade & Attica Railroad in Arcade is another favorite for a classic train ride.

While not a ride, the Edgerton Model Railroad Room is also worth visiting when open to the public, with detailed seasonal displays that delight train enthusiasts of all ages.

4. Enjoy Time Outdoors

Pack a picnic and enjoy time with family and friends as you explore our parks. By Memorial Day weekend, many seasonal park amenities and gorge trails are open, but it is always wise to check conditions before you go.

Do you have a favorite way to spend Memorial Day Weekend around Rochester?

I’d love to hear from you—please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.