DC Memorial Day Weekend Schedule Of Events

WASHINGTON, DC — Washington comes alive with patriotic cheer Memorial Day weekend, complete with marching bands, motorcycles, a parade, a concert and more. Read on to find out what's in store.

Sunday will kick off with thousands of motorcycles roaring out of the Pentagon parking lot at noon and riding into the city for the 30th annual Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom. The event honors POW and MIA service members and attracts thousands of bikers and spectators from across the nation.

The rally will begin at 7 a.m. before the motorcyclists ride off at noon. The following roads will be closed from approximately 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the Metropolitan Police Department:

- Memorial Bridge
- Constitution Avenue, NW from 23rd Street, NW to 3rd Street, NW
- 3rd Street, SW from Constitution Avenue, NW to Independence Avenue, SW
- Independence Avenue, SW from 3rd Street, SW to West Potomac Park, SW
- All NORTHBOUND traffic across the 14th Street bridge will be diverted to EASTBOUND I-395 (SE/SW Freeway)
- 12th Street Tunnel will be closed to ALL NORTHBOUND traffic
- The 9th Street Tunnel will be closed to ALL SOUTHBOUND traffic
- There will be no closures of the 3rd Street tunnel but traffic may be heavier than normal, due to the other closures

The motorcyclists will drive: across Memorial Bridge to 23rd Street, North on 23rd Street to Constitution Ave, East on Constitution Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue, East on Pennsylvania Avenue to 3rd St, South on 3rd Street to Independence Avenue, West on Independence Avenue to West Basin Drive, Southwest on West Basin Drive to Ohio Drive, Northwest on Ohio Drive to Franklin D. Roosevelt Park where they will disband.

Sunday night, PBS's National Memorial Day Concert salutes the men and women in uniform, as well as their families. The free concert is held on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and will take place from 8-9:30 p.m. Actors Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna are the hosts, and the concert features numerous other celebrity performers.

The National Memorial Day Parade, the country's largest Memorial Day parade, begins at 2 p.m. Monday. This televised parade honors those who have and do serve in the U.S. military. Spectators can expect marching bands, youth groups, performers, floats and veterans marching down Constitution Avenue.

There will be several street closures that motorists should take into consideration:

Assembly Area

• The parade will assemble in the following location and will be closed from 9 am to 5 pm:
• 7th Street between Independence Avenue, SW & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
• Constitution Avenue, NW between 6th Street to 9th Street, NW

Parade Route

• The parade will start at 2 pm and should disband at 5 pm in the following locations:
• Start at 7th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW
• Proceed on Constitution Avenue, NW
• Disband between 18th & 23rd Streets, on Constitution Avenue and Virginia Avenue NW.
• Total road closures will begin at approximately 1 pm until about 5 pm from 7th and Constitution Avenue Northwest to 23rd & Constitution Avenue Northwest.

Photo: Pixabay