Memorial Day Parade Routes and Transit Changes Today

New York, NY · May 25, 2026

The city feels a bit quieter this morning, though the sound of marching bands will change that by noon. If you are heading out, keep a light layer handy for the damp breeze moving off the rivers.

📰 The Lead

Today marks the 159th Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade, one of the oldest continuously running commemorative marches in the nation. While Manhattan often grabs the holiday spotlight, the heart of the day resides in Bay Ridge. The procession kicks off at 11:00 AM from 3rd Avenue and 78th Street, winding its way toward John Paul Jones Park for a memorial service and a 21-gun salute.

For residents, this means significant rolling street closures along 3rd Avenue and Marine Avenue through the early afternoon. Beyond the spectacle, the event serves as a localized moment of reflection for the borough’s deep-rooted veteran community. Expect heavy crowds near the reviewing stand and limited parking throughout Bay Ridge as the neighborhood gathers to honor those who served.

🏙️ Local Pulse

  • Holiday Transit Schedule — Subways and buses are operating on a Sunday schedule today, so factor in extra wait times for your commute.

  • Sanitation Service Pause — There is no trash, recycling, or compost collection today; residents should check their specific neighborhood calendar for the holiday slide schedule.

  • Alternate Side Parking — Street cleaning rules are suspended today for the holiday, though parking meters remain in effect across all five boroughs.

🌦️ Today's Outlook

  • High 71°F · Low 55°F — Drizzle (47% chance of precipitation)
    • Keep a light raincoat handy for those afternoon parades and cemetery visits.

📅 What's On Around Town

  • Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Day Ceremony — Riverside Park at 89th St, 10:00 AM The annual observance features choral performances and a wreath-laying at the monument.

  • Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade — Bay Ridge, 11:00 AM The 159th annual march starts at 78th Street and 3rd Avenue.

  • Fleet Week: Public Ship Tours — Pier 88 & Pier 90, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Final full day to walk the decks of visiting Navy and Coast Guard vessels.

  • Memorial Day Concert — Green-Wood Cemetery, 2:30 PM A free outdoor performance by the ISO Symphonic Band near the Gothic Arch.

  • Intrepid Museum: Commemorative Ceremony — Pier 86, 11:00 AM A solemn ceremony featuring the unfurling of a 100-foot American flag.

📸 Spotlight & Story

  • Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza
    • Tucked away at 55 Water Street, this plaza features a striking wall of translucent glass blocks etched with excerpts from letters, poems, and diary entries sent home by service members. The "Walk of Honor" contains the names of 1,741 New Yorkers who did not return.

New York Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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