San Diego Weekend Guide: May 24-27 – Memorial Day Edition

May gray, yeah yeah. You know what this San Diego weekend is? It’s the unofficial, unquestioned beginning of summer, sun or no (sorry, June 20). We don’t make the unwritten rules, but we sure do embrace ’em.

And also, summer symbolism aside, Memorial Day is a time to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Never hurts to pause and send a thank you out into the universe.

Some of the biggest attractions in San Diego kick off the season with special celebrations:

• Legoland California in Carlsbad hosts the World Parade at 6 p.m. Friday featuring Lego floats, including a Lego City firetruck and for young swashbucklers, a pirate ship, a cast of costumed characters and more than 50 entertainers. The route runs through the west side of the park. Continues on select dates through Sept 2.
• The NAT in Balboa Park embarks on the “Summer of Wonder” with new exhibits, extended hours, special “Weekends of Wonder,” and Nat at Night every week, starting at 5 p.m. Friday.
• SeaWorld launches its Summer Spectacular with the “So Much More to SEA Parade” and “Shamu and Crew – Together Again” character show. Top off the day with the new Enchanted Wonders Fireworks show.

The Lebanese Festival 2024 at St. Ephrem Maronite Catholic Church in El Cajon begins at 6 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the country’s cuisine, folk dancing, a kids zone, wine and beer garden and hookah bar, along with live music in the evenings. Admission costs $5.

The San Diego-TEMA, Ghana Sister City Society hosts a celebration of Africa at Balboa Park’s International Cottages at noon Saturday. The event includes traditional foods, dancing and singing from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda.

The Vista Strawberry Festival opens bright and early, at 8 a.m. Sunday, and it’s not just about eating the delectable fruit in anyway possible. Dress up in your berry best and hey, make stuffing yourself a competition too, with strawberry pie and sundaes the fruitful fare. The new San Diego FC makes an appearance at the free fest too.

Looking for Memorial Day commemorations? Try:

• USS Midway Museum – The Remembrance Wall Exhibit will be up for the weekend beginning Friday. “Meet the Aviators” on the flight deck, at 10 a.m. Sunday, with much more to follow starting at 9 a.m. Monday. There’s a wreath-laying ceremony on the flight deck, followed by bands from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Arizona and Bonita Vista High School, ahead of the 3 p.m. National Moment of Remembrance. 
• Arlington West – San Diego Veterans for Peace holds a memorial on the front lawn of the Midway Museum for 288 service members from Southern California killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. it will be open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday off Harbor Drive and Broadway.
• Two national cemeteries will host events – Fort Rosecrans in Point Loma at 10 a.m. and Miramar at 1 p.m., where the program will mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day with local World War II D-Day veterans set to attend.