Memorial Day: It’s a weekend to honor those who’ve lost their lives serving our country while signifying the official start to summer at the same time. And fittingly, in our Nation’s Capitol, the celebration doesn’t disappoint.

So — whether you’re visiting from out of town or planning a festive staycation, keep reading for the hottest ways to celebrate Memorial Day in Washington, DC.

#1 Attend The National Memorial Day Parade: Back for the first time since 2019 and organized by the American Veterans Center, this year’s event will feature appearances from historical re-enactors, celebrities, entertainers, military veterans, and active-duty personnel. The parade is expected to draw a larger crowd than usual, according to the organizers. Previous parades have drawn more than 200,000 spectators. This year’s grand marshal will be Lt. Colonel James H. Harvey, III, one of the Tuskegee Airmen and a Korean War veteran.

#2 Honor Fallen Veterans: Honor our fallen veterans during special Memorial Day-themed programming at the Library of Congress during our Live! at the Library Thursday night schedule. Enjoy live music from Operation Song featuring songwriter Bob Reagan in the Great Hall along with collections displays featuring memorials from our Prints and Photographs Division and American Folklife Center, and first-hand accounts of WWII Marine Corps combat recordings from the National Audio Visual Conservation Center. Learn about capturing oral histories from veterans in a free workshop in the Whittall Pavilion starting at 5:30 PM this Thursday!

#3 Learn About The Women Who Served & Sacrificed: Take a trip to the iconic Arlington National Cemetery to explore its hallowed grounds and learn the stories of women who served and sacrificed on Sun, May 29 from 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM. These military women appear on the front of the iconic headstones of Arlington National Cemetery, whereas many of the women featured in Part One and Part Two are spouses of a person who is interred in the cemetery, which generally means that woman’s name is featured on the back of the headstone.

#4 Sip & See: Nothing screams the start of summer quite like a cocktail washed down with iconic city views. Here are the new (and newly reopened) lofty spots topping our list this year:

– Deck 11 Rooftop Pool and Lounge at Yotel: Relax during the day and party at night at this newly reopened rooftop pool bar on Capitol Hill. Hotel guests and locals alike can cool off in the pool ringed by private sun decks and cabanas. In the evenings, things get fired up between the DJs and flame tables. The lounge offers full food and beverage service including beachy cocktails (cue the piña coladas) in the $8 to $13 range, and eats like chips and guac’ or crabcakes.

– Summit: The seasonal bar located on the Conrad Hotel’s rooftop in CityCenterDC recently reopened for Thursday-through-Sunday imbibing. In full transparency: Like the views, prices are sky-high—that pitcher of sangria will set you back $65 and cocktails hover around $20—but there’s a luxe “garden gastronomy experience” with Chesapeake flora and fauna-accented bites paired with Veuve bubbles that’s worthy every penny.

– Lady Bird: The femme-chic lounge perched atop Dupont Circle’s new Kimpton Banneker hotel opened last fall, and is ready to fly into prime rooftop season. The indoor/outdoor bar serves cocktail party-inspired fare (mini lobster rolls, deviled eggs) and retro libations such as martini service—all fit for a socialite like the bar’s namesake First Lady.

Looking to browse the latest listings in between stops? Check out our lineup of the hottest homes live on the market today!