10 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day in Boston

Enjoy a fresh seafood selection this Memorial Day. Every Monday through Wednesday, 4–6 p.m., Rare Lounge offers $2 oysters and chilled catches like lobster, crab, shrimp cocktail, and ceviche. Alongside the raw bar, three types of lobster rolls and specialty cocktails are on deck for a relaxing afternoon in a sleek and intimate space. Beyond the bites, small plates and main courses featuring Black Hawk Farms burgers and steaks follow. The raw bar is available from 4–6 p.m. every Monday through Wednesday for walk-ins only.

On Memorial Day, there are several chances to win at Encore Boston Harbor. From May 19 to May 25, casino guests can enter into a drawing for their share of $75,000 Red, White, and Blue Bonuses. Twenty-five winners will be selected every 30 minutes from 12–6 p.m. on Memorial Day for up to $500 in free play, with a drawing of five winners for up to $10,000 in cash at 6:30 p.m.

In addition to cash, Hero Tier members receive an Amazon Echo gift.

Reserve time to take a stroll among the finest art in Boston. Several museums in the greater Boston area will offer special hours on Memorial Day, and during select daytime hours, both locations will offer free admission to local visitors. The Museum of Fine Arts is hosting its Memorial Day Open House, with tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis for musical performances, crafting sessions, and guided tours. Meanwhile, the Institute of Contemporary Art Boston is cracking its doors for a rare Monday opening so art lovers can walk about the museum’s current selections. Advanced bookings are required for an ICA Boston visit on Memorial Day, with an option to add a water shuttle trip.

Volunteers plant over 37,000 flags on the Boston Common lawn surrounding the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial each year. This act commemorates fallen Massachusetts service members during the Revolutionary War, September 11, and other national periods of loss. This multi-day affair is a splendor at every step, from planting the flags to signing up to watch them in two-hour increments until their day of disassembly on May 25.

Enjoy this tribute from Thursday, May 21, to Monday, May 25.

To keep the long weekend festivities intact, luxury nightclub Mémoire will feature a legendary tour stop on Sunday, May 24. Nigerian DJ Spinall will take over starting at 9 p.m. as a stop on his Motion Tour after a night in Philadelphia. Oluseye Desmond Sodamolalisten, AKA DJ Spinall, maintains over 2.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify and nearly as many Instagram followers, showcasing a chill yet energetic portfolio.

Once again, some highly anticipated home games hit the local turf. The Boston Red Sox play the Minnesota Twins in daily games from May 22–24. Times vary, and tickets for these Fenway Park games are selling fast. Get there early. Sign up for an exclusive ballpark tour to stroll around the history and memorabilia that make Fenway famous.

More hometown pride will commence when the Red Sox take on the Atlanta Braves from May 26–28, right at Fenway Park. Catch mid-afternoon and evening games to kick the week off with baseball games galore.

Boston is no stranger to the luxury shopping scene, and outlets like Prudential Center are boasting deals and steals for Memorial Day weekend. Check out this gorgeous glass building with picturesque sky views and visit retailers like Canada Goose, Shinola, Aritzia, and many more. With spring in full swing, pastel-hued outfits and smart sets are waiting to be flaunted. Dining options are also available between store visits.

Speaking of this beautiful weather, Encore Boston Harbor offers a stunning waterfront path for leisure strolls. This is part of the interconnected Harborwalk that winds through the city, and also offers benches and local art installations for further ambiance.

Take it far back in history with a point of interest for a day of cultural exploration in Boston.

The Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum provides a unique perspective on history’s most infamous event. Actors dressed in traditional garb reenact key moments and recite history through a multisensory experience featuring replicas of relics and actual artifacts, all from the vantage point of a centuries-old ship. Museum visitors can toss a tea bag or two into Boston Harbor. Remember to stop by the tea house and gift shop to enjoy more pleasures of centuries past.

The waterfront is not the only spot in the city with aquatic wonders. The New England Aquarium is open on Memorial Day, May 25, to showcase a variety of ecosystems, from the Amazon rainforest to coral reefs around the globe. Plan to set aside several hours to walk around and enjoy. Check out the Dockside beer garden for local brews and other treats. Tickets are available online with the option to add a movie. Select locals can receive a discount as well.