Tampa Bay Memorial Day 2024 Events: Ceremonies, Honor Fest, Concerts

TAMPA BAY, 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 the Tampa Bay area:

Clearwater Honor Fest

The Clearwater Honor Fest kicks off with a luncheon on May 24 at noon. A Memorial Day Ceremony takes place at Coachman Park on May 25 at noon during a free music festival, which runs 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Uptown Music & Arts Festival

This music and art festival takes place over Memorial Day weekend, May 25 and 26, 4 to 10 p.m., at Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Riverfront Park. The festival features performances by world-class and chart-topping contemporary jazz and R&B musicians and works by renowned artists.

27th Annual Memorial Day Observation

Hillsborough County Consumer & Veterans Services, partnering with the Veterans Council of Hillsborough County, presents the 27th annual Memorial Day Observation on May 26, 10 a.m., at Veterans Memorial Park & Museum in Tampa. Gold Star Families will read names for the "Garden of Gold" flags that feature the name/photo/service branch of fallen military members. Refreshments will be offered following the ceremony.

Memorial Day Community Cookout

Enjoy free food provided by Liberty BBQ, yard games and free tastings at St. Petersburg’s Foodie Labs on May 26, 1 p.m. All food and drink is donation-based with proceeds going to Vets2Success and Vet2Chef.

Here’s to America Concert

The Here’s to America Concert, featuring a performance by the Dunedin International Chorale, takes place Sunday, 6 p.m., at the Lawn at Pioneer Park in Dunedin. Bring a blanket or lawn chair.

Memorial Day Golf Tournament

Tarpon Woods Golf Club in Palm Harbor hosts a Memorial Day Golf Tournament on May 27. Cost is $75 per golfer and there is a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The event supports fallen soldiers and first responders.

90th Annual Memorial Day Service

American Legion Post 5 in Tampa hosts its annual Memorial Day Service May 27, 11 a.m. The keynote speaker will be Major General Edward Dorman, III, U.S. Army (retired).

The ceremony will include the Jefferson High School R.O.T.C. Color Guard and the Presentation of the Colors will be presented by the Tampa Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. The invocation will be given by Chaplain Cynthia Keeton-Gill, the auxiliary district captain. Vocal tributes by ET1 Joel Gutierrez, US Navy and Jeremiah Robinson are planned.

The raising of the flags to full staff will still take place at the closing of the ceremony at noon to memorialize those who gave their lives serving the U.S.

Memorial Day Ceremony

Largo Central Park’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony takes place May 27, 11 a.m. to noon. There will be readings and presentations from local veterans, as well as live music.

Bay Pines VA Memorial Day Ceremony

Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Bay Pines National Cemetery and the St. Petersburg Regional VBA Office will co-host the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Bay Pines VA in the St. Petersburg area on May 27, 11 a.m.

Guest speakers for the event include Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Director and CEO Paul M. Russo, St. Petersburg VA Regional Office Executive Director Juliana Boor, and Bay Pines National Cemetery Assistant Director Roberto Pizarro.

Dr. Marianne Matthewson-Chapman, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. (retired) will serve as the keynote speaker. From 1975 until her retirement in 2008, she served in the California, Pennsylvania, and Florida Army National Guard. Dr. Marianne Matthewson-Chapman is a Veteran of Operation Desert Storm where she served as the chief nurse of a medical team that supervised the establishment of 44 combat support hospitals in five countries.

Memorial Day Community Picnic

The Florida Dream Center, 4017 56th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, hosts a Memorial Day Community Picnic on May 27, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event features grill master Steve Cleveland.

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