Memorial Day 2026 falls on Monday, May 25, giving most families in our region a true three-day holiday weekend from Saturday, May 23 through Monday, May 25. That’s three full days of lake access, open parks, parades, and some of the best early-summer weather the Finger Lakes has to offer.
Here’s how to make the most of it, across all of our area codes.
Start the Weekend Right: Open a Beach
Memorial Day weekend is when most regional beaches officially open for the season, and in the Finger Lakes, that’s worth celebrating in its own right.
Deep Run Beach on Canandaigua Lake opens Memorial Day weekend, with lifeguards on duty from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., plus picnic tables, grills, and restrooms on site. Kershaw Park in the city of Canandaigua also has a lakefront beach and playground and the walking path along the shoreline and the Canandaigua City Pier are free and beautiful for anyone who wants to stroll without paying admission.
For families in the 585, Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte on Lake Ontario is the closest option for most Monroe County residents and opens Memorial Day weekend. Down in the 607, virtually every lake access point in the Finger Lakes comes alive this weekend, from Watkins Glen’s south shore to Seneca Lake State Park in Geneva.
Honor the Day: Memorial Day Parades
The parades in our region are genuinely moving, personal, community-driven, and worth showing up for.
In Rochester, the downtown parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. at East & Alexander, heading west on Main Street and finishing at Main & Fitzhugh. The Village of Hilton’s annual Memorial Day Parade steps off at 10:30 a.m. from St. Paul Lutheran Church. The Chili parade kicks off at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, May 25 from 3231 Chili Avenue. And the Spencerport American Legion hosts its annual Memorial Day Ceremony and parade down South Union Street to Veterans Memorial Park.
In the Southern Tier, communities in Corning, Elmira, Bath, and Horseheads all hold their own ceremonies. Check your town’s local municipal website or Facebook page for specific time, these events are free, family-appropriate, and remind everyone what the long weekend is actually about.
Hit Letchworth State Park: Hot Air Balloons Over the Gorge
If you’re willing to make the drive to the 585’s crown jewel, this is the weekend to do it. The Letchworth Red, White & Blue Balloon Festival is held annually on Memorial Day weekend, with approximately 20 hot air balloons splashing the Letchworth gorge with color. All launches are wind and weather permitting. Letchworth is already one of the most spectacular parks in New York State… add twenty balloons floating over that gorge and it becomes something genuinely unforgettable. Pack a picnic and get there early.
🧒 Kid tip: Watching a hot air balloon inflate from the ground is a full sensory experience that kids talk about for months. Get as close to the launch area as the staff allows.
Waterloo: The Birthplace of Memorial Day
This one is worth knowing, especially if you want to give the weekend some meaning beyond the barbecue. In 1866, a local druggist named Henry C. Welles organized the first coordinated, community-wide decoration of Civil War veterans’ graves in Waterloo, NY. Congress and President Lyndon Johnson formally recognized Waterloo’s role as the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1966. In 2026, the village’s Celebrate & Commemorate observance falls on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, with the main parade stepping off at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Waterloo is a short drive from Seneca Falls and easily pairs with a stop at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park for a genuinely meaningful family day.
Rochester Public Market: Flower City Days
The 2026 Flower City Days at the Rochester Public Market are confirmed for Sunday, May 24 and Monday, May 25, which means the market will be filling with rows of annuals, perennials, shrubs, hanging baskets, succulents, herbs, vegetables, and unique outdoor art and garden accessories. Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are on hand to answer questions, and the give-take plant container exchange is always popular. Free admission. It’s a genuinely feel-good morning for the whole family and a great way to kick off the planting season.
The Simply Good Stuff: State Parks, Grills, and Lake Time
Memorial Day weekend in the Finger Lakes doesn’t require a plan to be great. Those who want to get out on the water can rent kayaks, paddleboards, or small boats from several local outfitters in Canandaigua, Geneva, and Watkins Glen. State parks across the region are fully open… Taughannock, Buttermilk Falls, Watkins Glen, Sampson. And this is the first big weekend of the season when the gorge trails are at their most dramatic and the crowds haven’t fully arrived yet.
Whatever you do – parade in the morning, lake in the afternoon, grill in the evening – Memorial Day weekend in the Finger Lakes is one of the best of the entire summer. Don’t waste it. 🇺🇸