Celebrate Memorial Day in Jacksonville, Florida

Image courtesy of Aaron Burden via Unsplash

How to Honor Memorial Day Weekend in Jacksonville

Memorial Day is an American holiday that takes place on the last Monday of May and honors the U.S. military personnel who have died serving in the United States armed forces. This year, Memorial Day takes place on Monday, May 30th, and there are plenty of ways to honor this day while spending time with friends and family. Jacksonville is a great place to honor fallen heroes this Memorial Day, as it is full of military bases and monuments dedicated to those in the armed forces. With the Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax), Naval Station Mayport, Kings Bay Naval Base, Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Naval Aviation Depot of Jacksonville, and the Marine Corps Blount Island Command, Jacksonville welcomes military families and those looking to celebrate Memorial Day. 

The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Wall 

If you’re looking for a way to honor fallen military personnel, Jacksonville is home to The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Wall. Located in Downtown Jacksonville, the memorial is the nation’s second largest memorial wall next to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.. The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial showcases the names of around 1,500 people who died in service from WWI to the War on Terror, and covers all branches of the military. 

Memorial Park 

Memorial Park is another great place to visit in Jacksonville if you’re looking for a way to spend Memorial Day. The park’s main feature is a bronze sculpture called Life, which honors the Flordians that died in service throughout WWI. The park is next to the St. John’s River, creating scenic views and opportunities to fish. Memorial Park also has plenty of lawn space for picnics and pick-up sports. You’ll also find a self-guided tour of the park to learn about its history and significance. 

Civil War Memorials 

Jacksonville is full of Civil War Memorials for those interested in learning about how the Civil War impacted the city. The most notable historical location in Jacksonville is the sinking of the Maple Leaf on the St. John’s River, but other monuments like the Fort Hatch Marker are full of history and worth visiting. 

Memorial Day Events 

Jacksonville is also set to host some exciting events on Memorial Day Weekend like the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. The festival will take place from May 26th to May 29th and will feature jazz musicians and a piano competition. 

Cafe Karibo in Fernandina Beach will kick off a Memorial Day themed bar crawl on Sunday, May 29th. Participants must be 21 or older to join, and the event will include a costume contest with prizes given to the biggest group, most creative, and judge’s favorite. 

Timoti’s Seafood Shak 

Add Timoti’s to your Memorial Day Weekend plans to enjoy our menu of fresh, wild-caught seafood!