Memorial Day weekend in Kansas City offers opportunities to celebrate the true reason for the holiday with family friendly events. For additional weekend activities, be sure to check our community calendar!
National WWI Museum and Memorial Events (May 24-27)
Admission Discounts
Free General Admission for veterans/active-duty military; spouses and dependents with ID. Half-price General Admission for the public
Featured Exhibits
World War I Research Stations
Find your connection to World War I during Memorial Day weekend through research stations at the Museum. Discover how the Great War affected your family through records, photographs and much more available at research stations throughout the museum.
Flags of Forgotten Soldiers Display
The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that every 72 minutes, a service member takes their own life. This moving display of 140 U.S. flags calls attention to the fact that 140 veterans are lost to suicide every week.
Vietnam Era Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” Helicopter Display
The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #243 will provide an iconic Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter for people to climb aboard and inspect in the U-shaped Drive.
Vintage Military Vehicle Display
The Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA) will display vintage military vehicles from World War I, World War II, Korean War and Operation Desert Storm on the southeast lawn.
Metcalf Avenue of Flags
We raise over 350 flags along Metcalf Avenue six times a year. We do this as a patriotic service to our community and as a fund raiser for our service activities. Local Boy Scouts, members of the Military Officers of America Association and Hy-Vee employees assist the Overland Park Lions Club with the raising and lowering of the flags.
Celebration at the Station (May 26)
Kansas City’s favorite Memorial Day tradition! Join Kansas City PBS and the Kansas City Symphony for Bank of America Celebration at the Station. Music Director Michael Stern leads the Kansas City Symphony performing iconic patriotic works by John Williams, Aaron Copland and John Phillip Sousa, plus crowd favorites Armed Forces Salute and the 1812 Overture with live cannons. The grand finale features a stunning fireworks display accompanied by your Kansas City Symphony. This year’s concert marks the 20th event and is the final with Music Director Michael Stern. Learn more.
Memorial Day Ceremony and Bell Tolling (May 27)
A formal public program to include remarks from dignitaries and a keynote address from Lt. General (Ret.) Wendy M. Masiello, beginning at 10 a.m. at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Masiello served for 36 years in the United States Air Force and retired as the director of the Defense Contract Management Agency. At noon, we commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice with a bell tolling ceremony featuring a presentation of colors, a wreath laying and a moving reading at noon on May 27. It was also tolled 11 times at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1926 during the dedication ceremony of the Liberty Memorial and again on Nov. 11, 2018 to commemorate the centennial of the WWI armistice.
Blue Springs Memorial Day Parade (May 27)
Blue Springs has held this Parade on Memorial Day each year since World War II, to honor those who died in service to our country. Military and Civilians march from Main Street to Blue Springs Cemetery, where the VFW holds a ceremony for the fallen, with a Parade Rest at Meyers Funeral Home, to honor their support of the parade. Festivities begin at 9 a.m. Learn more.
