Memorial Day 2024 Events: 5 Things To Do In Sarasota, Bradenton

SARASOTA-BRADENTON, FL — As Memorial Day approaches, here are some ways to honor the holiday and those who have died during their U.S. military service in Sarasota and Manatee counties:

Flag Placement and Memorial Day Ceremony

Sarasota National Cemetery hosts its annual flag placement and Memorial Day Ceremony on May 25, 7:30 a.m. Register to volunteer for the flag placement on graves of fallen soldiers by emailing SarasotaWreaths@gmail.com.

Love It Like A Local Memorial Day Beach Clean-Up

The Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, partnering with Keep Manatee Beautiful, hosts this second annual Memorial Day beach clean-up May 27, 9 to 11 a.m., at Coquina Beach. After the clean-up, snacks and refreshments will be served from 11 a.m. to noon.

Memorial Day Ceremony

The Manatee County Veterans Council is hosting its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on May 27, 9 a.m., at Donald L. Courtney Memorial Park on the Bradenton Riverwalk behind Manatee Memorial Hospital.

Memorial Day Symphony

This salute to veterans at Anna Maria City Pier Park on May 27, 10 to 11:30 a.m., features the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra.

Memorial Day Parade

The city of Sarasota and the Sarasota Patriotic Observance Committee hosts the annual Memorial Day Parade on May 27, 10 a.m., in downtown Sarasota.

The parade will start at Main Street and Osprey Avenue and conclude at Chaplain J.D. Hamel Park, located at Main Street and Gulfstream Avenue, where a ceremony will be held at approximately 11 a.m.

This year's keynote speaker will be Michael Tollerton, West Point graduate. She graduated from West Point in 2011 and spent six years in the U.S. Army, earning the rank of Field Artillery Captain.

After her military career, Tollerton joined U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's Military Academy Selection Committee in 2022 and Sarasota Military Academy's Board of Directors in 2023. She currently works with FCCI Insurance Group in Sarasota as a Corporate Risk Control Operator.

The parade will include performances by the Sarasota Military Academy band, and participation from local law enforcement agencies, first responders, color guards, veterans’ groups, community organizations and local dignitaries.

Know of a Memorial Day event that should be included? Email Tiffany.Razzano@Patch.com.