5 things to do this Memorial Day

It’s officially Memorial Day Weekend and while many Virginians will be hitting the roads on Friday or Saturday, there are likely just as many who don’t have plans yet. We at The Dogwood salute you procrastinators out there, but we also want you to enjoy the holiday to its fullest, so we put together a quick list of potential activities for you to do on Monday.

If you choose not to heed our advice, we’ll try not to hold it against you. No promises, though.

1. Pay tribute to our fallen soldiers

Memorial Day is ultimately about honoring our fallen soldiers. Arlington National Cemetery is holding a remembrance ceremony in the Memorial Amphitheater on Monday, with a concert to follow. If you go, you won’t be alone, as roughly 5,000 people are expected to attend.

When: 11 am

Where: Arlington National Cemetery: 214 McNair Road, Arlington

Cost: Free

2. Visit Virginia Beach

While we cannot endorse the city’s new tourism campaign, we can endorse Virginia Beach as the ideal Memorial Day destination. Whether it’s biking the boardwalk, hiking at First Landing State Park, feasting on some soft-shell crabs or checking out the beautiful sunset, the city has no shortage of fun things to do on this Memorial Day Weekend.

When: May 27, all day

Where: Virginia Beach, VA

Cost: However much you want it to be

3. Attend the National Memorial Day Parade

The 15th annual National Memorial Day parade is the nation’s largest Memorial Day event, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators from around the country. It’s held along Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C. and will honor soldiers from the American Revolution to present day. It will also feature musical performances from Maelyn Jarmon, the season 16 winner of NBC’s The Voice, and Kiefer Sutherland, who apparently is now a country singer. If that doesn’t get you on board, nothing will.

When: 2 pm

Where: Downtown DC: Constitution Ave. and Seventh St. NW, Washington, DC

Cost: Free

4. Run a race to help veterans

Not only will One Loudoun’s Ringing in Hope event include 5K and 10K races and a 1K Freedom Fun Run, but there will also be music, food and over $5,000 in prizes for participants, with all proceeds going to Boulder Crest Retreat, a nonprofit wellness center that helps veterans and their families deal with combat-related stress. So what we’re saying is that you should definitely sign up.

When: 7 am – 11 am

Where: One Loudoun: 20626 Easthampton Plaza, Ashburn

Cost: $15-$50 for race participation

5. Relax with some wine and cheese at James River Cellars

If you just want to relax with friends and family, consider taking a trip to James River Cellars Winery, where you can learn how to pair an assortment of different wines with cheeses. Pairings will occur at 12, 1, 2, and 3 pm, but the tasting room will be open from 11 am to 7 pm for you to get a little tipsy and/or cheesy (sorry, I couldn’t help it).

When: 11 am to 7 pm

Where: James River Cellars Winery, 11008 Washington Highway Glen Allen, VA, 23059

Cost: $15 for a pairing