Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend in Queens NYC
Things To Do In Queens Over The Memorial Day Weekend of 2026
May 21, 2026 / Things To Do Queens NY / Queens Buzz NYC.
This is a report containing things to do in Queens over the Memorial Day Weekend, including Memorial Day Parades in Queens with links to the other boroughs of NYC.
NYC Weather Forecast as of 5.21.26. There's a 75% chance of up to 1.25 inches of rain on Saturday, starting sometime between 1 and 5 pm and extending into Sunday, with another .25 to .5 inch of rain, ending sometime between 1 and 4 pm. There's a 20% to 40% chance of a negligible amount of rain Monday. The temperature highs will hover between 60 to 65 all weekend, except Monday where it will rise to 70 degrees. The temperature lows will hover in the mid 50's to high 50's all weekend. The winds will range from 1 - 10 mph on Friday, 5 - [mostly] 10 mph Saturday & Sunday, and then back down to 1 - 5 mph Monday. The humidity will swing wildly all weekend, from 80% to 40% Friday, 60% to 95% Saturday, 95% to 80% Sunday and finally levelling off on Monday in the 60% range. It will be cloudy all days of the three day holiday weekend.
The things to do in Queens on Memorial Day Weekend include art exhibitions, theater, live music, comedy, dance, shopping, outdoor activities such as soccer, kyaking, baseball, parades, street fairs, museums and dining in the Astoria, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, Long Island City, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jamaica, Forest Hills, Flushing, Corona neighborhoods in Queens NYC.
Be sure to check our Memorial Day Weekend things to do on Friday afternoon leading into the Memorial Day Weekend in Queens NYC.
Brief History of the Memorial Day Holiday in Queens NYC
Memorial Day first started out as Decoration Day in Waterloo, New York on May 30, 1866 - a year after the Civil War - to honor those who fought in it. In the 1880's the day came to be known as Memorial Day.
According to a May 25, 2012 report in Time Magazine, ten states - Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee also officially observe some version of a Confederate Memorial Day, sometime between late April and early June [in Texas it's in January]. It's been reported that unofficially most of the former Confederate states still commemorate it, but not without some controversy as to the former Confederate diaspora it's to honor their ancestors, while to the former diaspora of the slaves it seems a remnant of these states racist past.
About ten percent of the nation travels more than 50 miles over the weekend. Memorial Day differs from Veterans Day which is held on November 11th of each year. Veterans Day began by honoring those who fought in World War I which ended on the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Both honor those who served in the U.S. Military. Veterans Day coincides with a similar holiday in Europe for the same reason, which is called Remembrance Day and Armistice Day.
- Click here to view the rest of our report of things to do Memorial Day Weekend in Queens.
Memorial Day Weekend In Queens NYC 2026
Things To Do In Queens, Astoria, LIC, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Flushing, Corona, Jamaica & Bayside Over The Memorial Day Weekend
May 21, 2026 / Things To Do Queens NY / Queens Buzz NYC. Continued.
Queens Memorial Day Parades & Events 2026
CLICK this link to view suggestions, in addition to those below, for things to do this weekend in Queens NYC - this weekend events Qns. We're starting to update these weekly, but haven't yet hit full stride.
Parades & Ethnic Cultural Festivals on Staten Island This Summer
- CLICK here for Queens Memorial Day Parades in NYC QNS.
- CLICK this link to view a schedule of all of the Memorial Day Parades in NYC - all 5 boroughs that we know about.
- CLICK this link to view a FULL SCHEDULE OF ALL of the Queens Parades & large cultural events in NYC.
Also this weekend there are Queens street fairs in Queens NYC. All of the big events are back to their full prepandemic schedules, including the Queens parades NYC. Other activities not available last year like watching theater and visiting the Queens art museums NYC are also offering full slates of activities.
Eating out at one of the Queens restaurants NYC is also a great way to spend some time. We posted some restaurants suggestions for Mother's Day in our Mother's Day Restaurants in Queens report.
Also, shopping in Queens, including visiting local Queens farmers markets in Queens NYC in order to find fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, fish and condiments for a family & friends barbeque is a nice way to relax. The farmers markets openings this year are in line with the traditions of prepandemic years..
You can also go bicycling around Queens so be mindful to observe the rules of the road [click link] to ensure a safe outing. The 5 Boro Bike Ride 2026 went off without a hitch, again this year.
Many things are happening right here in our favorite borough - Queens. Click here to obtain information about things to do Memorial Day Weekend 2026 in Queens. The events calendar is traditionally updated monthly with about 100 different Queens fun / cultural events. Visit the front page of Queens Buzz on Friday for weekend updates. Use this link to see our Queens weekend events calendar NYC which we're in the process of bringing back up to date.
Queens Public & Private Parks & Swimming Pools
Queens has a number of New York City Parks, which will be mostly open / back to normal. Here are some highlights.
New York City beaches will re-open for swimming on Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday, May 23, 2025 and remain open through Sunday, September 13, 2026. The city outdoor pools will reopen on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
City playgrounds, golf courses and driving ranges, skate parks and grilling areas are all open. Dog runs, basketball, handball, tennis, bocce, and volleyball courts have also re-opened.
All NYC Parks recreation centers and nature centers are open.
The City's historic houses and museums are open to the public. Check individual house museum websites for updated hours and visitor information. The Wildlife Conservation Society zoos and aquarium are open to the public this weekend.
Queens has one of the best collection of parks and golf courses in the NY Metro area, if not the best. Queens has at least 17 great parks. Click here for a listing of the Queens Parks 2025 including maps showing their locations along with a bit of park history.
Golfing In Queens Now Open
Queens has four golf courses and all of them are open over the Memorial Day Weekend. Click here for details about Queens Golf Courses 2026 including maps and links to the operators' websites. Brooklyn also has two golf courses, and both Staten Island and the Bronx each have three golf courses - and they're open over the Memorial Day Weekend.
Street Fairs Memorial Day Weekend in Queens
On Memorial Day Weekend in Queens there are a number of farmers markets and street fairs planned in Sunnyside, Jackson Heights and Astoria. Click here to view the Queens farmers markets, including dates, times and map links.
Shopping In Queens
This is a great weekend to do a bit of shopping during the pleasant weekend weather. Click here to view our shopping sections of the following neighborhoods: Astoria Shopping, LIC Shopping, Sunnyside Shopping, Woodside Shopping, Jackson Heights Shopping. Also see links above for farmers markets and street fairs.
Each of these shopping sections includes links to home pages, which have slide shows of merchandise as well as maps, store hours, phone numbers and telephone numbers.
Bicycling in Queens
Queens has a long and growing list of bike paths. Click here to view bicycling events in Queens. And we're working on a useable map of bike trails in Queens, since we couldn't find one we liked.
Kyaking Along the East River in Queens
Click here to view a story about kyaking along the East River in Queens with the LIC Boathouse. Click here to view the date, time, map link and site link to the LIC Boathouse which sponsors kyaking along the East River in Queens on Memorial Day Weekend.
Memorial Day Weekend Dining in Queens
Food in Queens has always been good. The authentic ethnic restaurant choices are difficult to match anywhere, and the prices too. Click here to view the Queens Restaurants section of the site, which includes reviews of the restaurants we've selected to review.
Celebrity Music Festival in Jamaica
In prior years there was a celebration going on down at Roy Wilkins Park on Sunday or Monday of Memorial Day with the Groovin' in the Park festival. This year the festival is scheduled for June 25, 2023, where there will be performances of Afro Caribbean music.
Or visit one of the Memorial Day Weekend Street Fairs in Queens.
Theater in Queens - Memorial Day Weekend
Click here to view the Theatre section of the Queens Events Calendar to see what's doing this Memorial Day weekend theater in Queens.
Art Exhibits In Queens - Memorial Day Weekend
Click here to view some of the in-progress art exhibits in Queens this Memorial Day weekend.
Things to do in Other NYC Boroughs Memorial Day Weekend
Things to do Manhattan Memorial Day Weekend & Parades NYC and Queens Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend & Parades NYC and Things to do Bronx Memorial Day Weekend & Parades NYC and Brooklyn Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend & Parades NYC, Staten Island Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend & Parades NYC and New York City Memorial Day Parades all 5 Boros NYC.
More events will be added to the Front Pages of each of these sites on Friday.
Queens Memorial Day Weekend Events 2026 / Things To Do NYC
Queens Neighborhoods Related Links
Click on these advertisements for promotions, discounts and coupons by retailers and restaurateurs in Long Island City LIC and nearby Queens.
Click this link to go to the:
Astoria Neighborhood or Astoria Shops & Shopping or Astoria Restaurants or Astoria Maps
Flushing Neighborhood or Flushing Shops & Shopping or Flushing Restaurants or Flushing Maps
Jackson Heights Neighborhood or Jackson Heights Shops & Shopping or Jackson Heights Restaurants or Jackson Heights Maps
Jamaica NY Neighborhood or Jamaica NY Shops & Shopping or Jamaica NY Maps
Long Island City Neighborhood or LIC Shops & Shopping or Restaurants In Long Island City or LIC Business Directory or Long Island City Maps
Sunnyside Neighborhood or Sunnyside Shops & Shopping or Sunnyside Restaurants or Sunnyside Maps
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