Memorial Day Weekend 2023: 9 Things To Do Around New Port Richey

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — The upcoming Memorial Day weekend, May 27 to 29, in New Port Richey and elsewhere in Pasco County is part of a nearly 160-year tradition that pays tribute to military personnel who lost their lives in service to their country.

As the observance has changed over the years, many families also use Memorial Day as an occasion to visit Pasco County cemeteries and leave flowers at the graves of family members, regardless of whether they served in the military.

Every year, a national moment of remembrance is held at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, Americans are asked to pause for one minute in silence to remember military personnel who have given their lives in service to their country.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the midday time was chosen because it’s a time when many Americans will be enjoying their freedoms on a national holiday.

Below are some ways to commemorate Memorial Day:

Free Memorial Day Grilling

Harley-Davidson of New Port Richey, 5817 State Road 54, will host a free Memorial Day grilling event Monday, May 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Additionally, the dealership will continue its concert series Saturday, May 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free food, soda and beer, and a performance by Blackwater Jack.

Click here.

Paddle Board Tour Of Durney Key

Spend Saturday, May 27 from 9:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on a scenic paddle board trip to the island of Durney Key, where you can view the offshore stilt homes. The group will paddle out from the park at 8119 Old Post Road, Port Richey, and land on Durney Key to swim, sight see, collect shells and have lunch.

The cost for a half-day board rental with Upper Tampa Bay Paddle Sports is $35.

Click here.

Memorial Day Party

The Eagles Club 3997 of Hudson, 6840 Beach Blvd., Hudson, will host a Memorial Day party for members and nonmembers Saturday, May 7, from 6 to 10 p.m. with music by Wilde Knights, and Sunday, May 28, from 2 to 6 p.m. with live music by 7th Isle. The kitchen will be open until 7 p.m.

Click here.

Trinity Memorial Day 5K And Fun Run

The third annual Trinity Memorial Day 5K and 1-mile Fun Run will take place Monday, May 29. The 5K will start at 8 a.m. and the fun run at 8:45 a.m. at Trinity College, 2430 Welbilt Blvd., Trinity.

Awards will go to first-, second- and third-place winners in five age groups.

The cost of $40 for the 5K and $20 for the fun run includes a T-shirt.

Register here.

Memorial Cookout

Ford of Port Richey, 10715 U.S. 19, Port Richey, will host a Memorial Day cookout and giveaway Saturday, May 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Residents are invited to honor those who made the country's freedom possible. The F150 Mafia will be grilling up free hot dogs and hamburgers, every family will receive a free flag, Buccaneers Lightning, Rays and Ford merchandise will be on sale and John Kelly with Hits 106 will give away $1,000 worth of prizes including a complete family cookout party package, a 65-quart Yeti cooler and a large pop-up tailgate tent.

Click here.

Memorial Day Cars For Cure

There will be a Memorial Day Cars for a Cure event Monday, May 29 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Circle S BBQ, 14630 U.S. 19, Hudson. Spectators and kids choose the winners of this all-makes-and-models car show with a bounce house, balloon art, vendors and barbecue.

The event benefits the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The donation is $25 for adults, $22.50 for military and free for children.

Click here.

35th Annual Memorial Day Service

Curlew Hills Memory Gardens of Palm Harbor will host its 35th annual Memorial Day Service on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29 at 9:30 a.m.

The moving observance program will take place at Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, 1750 Curlew Road, and will be followed by refreshments. The event is free.

The guest speaker will be retired Army Maj. Kerry Roberts. The national anthem will be sung by Sonya Bryson-Kirksey, who retired from the United States Air Force and is currently the national anthem singer for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Other musical guests will include the Palm Harbor United Methodist Church Choir.

Click here or call 727-789-2000.

Honor Our Heroes Memorial Run

Oldsmar Cares, Tampa Bay Brewing Company and the city of Oldsmar, along with other sponsors, have teamed up again to host this popular 5K Run on Saturday, May 27.

The event is expected to attract more than 500 runners and supporters. Starting at Oldsmar City Hall, runners and walkers will be guided along the waters of upper Tampa Bay and through several of Oldsmar’s parks, including Veterans Park on Shore Drive.

Following the run at 7:30 a.m., there will be drinks for all, along with food and beer for those age 21 and up.

Awards will be presented to the top three males and top three females in each age group.
Packet pickup will be at Tampa Bay Brewing Company, 13937 Monroes Business Park, Tampa, on Thursday and Friday, May 25 and 26, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. Race day pickup is discouraged but will be available from 6 to 7 a.m. There will be no registration on the day of the race.

This is a family-friendly event, and 100 percent of all net proceeds go to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12186 in Oldsmar and Oldsmar Cares.

Contact the race director at denos62@gmail.com or click here.

Finish The Memorial Rally Dive Trip

Narcosis Scuba Center of Tarpon Springs will host a Finish the Memorial Rally Dive Trip on Sunday, May 28, at noon in an effort to complete the underwater Circle of Heroes memorial featuring statues of members of various wars and branches of service.

In July 2019, 13 life-size statues commemorating soldiers in the U.S. Armed Forces were sunk just 10 miles off the Clearwater coast, creating the dive site known as the Circle of Heroes.

Four years, later, local dive shops continue to work with long-time St. Pete College oceanography professor Dr. Heyward Mathews, who came up with the original concept, to raise the money to erect and sink the remaining 11 statues to complete the vision for this memorial.

The event will be a two-tank dive. One will be conducted on the memorial where divers will clean off the algae on the statues and the second will be at a location voted on by the group.

The event will include refreshments, fresh fruit and snacks. A $20 Nitrox upgrade will be offered. The cost is $129. Click here.