Memorial Day 2027 is May 31. The Battleship's free observance, Wilmington National Cemetery, trash, parking, buses and schools on the holiday.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from Battleship North Carolina, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the City of Wilmington and the agencies linked below. 2027 details are not out yet; each 2026 date says so.

Memorial Day 2027 is Monday, May 31. Wilmington’s best-known observance is on the fantail of Battleship North Carolina, across the river from downtown. In 2026 it began at 10:30 a.m., free to the public. Downtown meters are not enforced on the holiday, Wave buses do not run, and city trash pickup is not on the holiday list.

Memorial Day at a glance

2026 (last year) 2027
Memorial Day Monday, May 25 Monday, May 31
Battleship observance 10:30 a.m., free Not yet announced
Downtown parking meters Not enforced Not enforced (city holiday list)
Wave Transit buses No service Not yet posted
New Hanover County Schools Closed Closed
City trash Not a trash holiday Not yet posted

Who to call

  • Battleship North Carolina: 910-399-9100
  • City trash and recycling: 910-341-7875
  • Wave Transit: 910-343-0106

The Battleship’s Memorial Day Observance

Battleship North Carolina, 1 Battleship Road, holds an annual Memorial Day Observance Ceremony on the ship’s fantail, with guest speakers, recognition of the fallen, patriotic music by the Brunswick Brass Band and a memorial wreath cast into the water. The 2026 ceremony on Monday, May 25, began at 10:30 a.m., was free and was held weather permitting. The 2026 military guest of honor was retired Vice Adm. John G. Morgan Jr., and the keynote speaker was Becky Aikman, author of Spitfires: The Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During World War II, according to the Battleship’s events page.

The ship itself is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, including all holidays; admission is $14 for adults and $10 for active, retired and military families with ID, according to the visitor page.

Wilmington National Cemetery

Wilmington National Cemetery, 2011 Market St., is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The cemetery office is closed on federal holidays except Memorial Day and Veterans Day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Its floral policy is on the same page.

What is open and closed

Parking. Memorial Day is on the city’s list of holidays with no meter enforcement downtown, the parking page says.

Trash and recycling. The city’s 2026 holiday schedule lists only New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas as closed days, so Memorial Day collection ran as normal. Confirm the 2027 schedule at 910-341-7875; see trash and recycling.

Buses. Wave Transit runs no fixed-route bus, RideMICRO or paratransit service on Memorial Day, its holiday page shows.

Schools. New Hanover County Schools list Monday, May 31, 2027, as the Memorial Day holiday; the last day for students is Friday, June 4 (2026-27 calendar).

Museums. The Children’s Museum of Wilmington opens on Mondays from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the Wilmington Railroad Museum switches to summer hours, including Sundays 1 to 5 p.m., from Memorial Day, according to their websites (Children’s Museum, Railroad Museum).

The long weekend

What this means for you

  • Arrive early for the Battleship ceremony; it starts at 10:30 a.m. and is held outdoors.
  • Park free downtown on the holiday.
  • No buses on Memorial Day.

Related: Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Fourth of July fireworks.

Frequently asked questions

When is Memorial Day 2027?

Monday, May 31, 2027, the last Monday in May.

Is there a Memorial Day ceremony at the Battleship?

Yes. The Battleship holds an annual Memorial Day Observance on its fantail. In 2026 it began at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25, free to the public and weather permitting.

Is there trash pickup in Wilmington on Memorial Day?

Memorial Day is not on the city’s list of trash holidays; the city’s 2026 schedule closed collection only on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Call 910-341-7875 to confirm.

Do Wave Transit buses run on Memorial Day?

No. Wave Transit lists Memorial Day among the holidays with no fixed-route bus, RideMICRO or paratransit service.

Is downtown parking free on Memorial Day?

Yes. Memorial Day is one of the city holidays with no parking meter enforcement downtown.