Marking the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day always takes too long to get here -- and then passes by frustratingly fast.
But what if you could stop to smell the proverbial roses -- hour after hour after hour?
We’ve rounded up a host of fun (a circus!), exhilarating or suitably patriotic things to do all around metro Atlanta on Monday (we’ve even included one that starts on Sunday night and goes into the wee hours of Monday morning to help kick off the holiday). Many of them are free and suitable for people of all ages.
MONDAY/MEMORIAL DAY:
- A color guard leads the annual Dacula Memorial Day Parade down Dacula Rd. in 2015. JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL Jonathan Phillips
10 a.m. Dacula Memorial Day Parade. Steps off, rain or shine, at 10 a.m. at Hebron Baptist Church (202 Hebron Church Road), proceeds down Dacula Road and ends at Dacula High School. Free. This year's 24th version features as its grand marshal Mary S. Pittman, 96, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a resident of Lawrenceville. The only Memorial Day parade in Metro Atlanta and the largest in the the state of Georgia, it will feature more than 150 participating units and include a C-130 Aerial Flyover from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta. www.daculamemorialday.com
This file photo shows some of the clowns from the:Yaarab Shrine Circus and Carnival. Memorial Day is the final day for this year’s version of the circus, which also features animals, high-wire acrobats, trapeze performers, motorcycle stunts and more. Veterans get free admission all day. Yaarab Shrine Circus
10:30 a.m. Yaarab Shrine's 75th Anniversary Shrine Circus. J.R. Miller Park, Marietta. Free admission for all veterans on Memorial Day. Others: $7, children 10 and under free. The ideal idyll for those looking to round out a day of parades and picnics with the astounding acts of trapeze artists, the Reel Steel Riders, animals and — of course — the famous Shrine clowns. A ticket gets you into the Midway Carnival, which opens at 10 a.m. and features 40 rides and attractions, plus food and drink. It also includes unlimited access all that day to the circus performances under the Big Top (on Memorial Day, the shows are at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.). www.yaarabshrine.net
Frank Duffy, left, helps his friend Francis Turner stand during a tribute to the Army during the 2016 Roswell Remembers Memorial Day celebration .Turner was a technical sergeant in Patton's Third Army. The largest Memorial Day ceremony in the state will take place again this Monday. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com Ben Gray
11 a.m. Roswell Remembers. Roswell City Hall complex, 38 Hill St., Roswell. Free. The largest Memorial Day ceremony in Georgia, the official program begins at 11 a.m., although exhibits open and music begins at 10 a.m. Beloved DJ Moby will emcee the program, which includes bagpipe and bugle music, a 21-gun salute, a wreath laying, a speech by World War II Army veteran Hank Freedman, who was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and is the recipient of the Bronze Star, the French Legion of Honor and multiple other medals. After the ceremony, you can enjoy live music and picnicking on the grounds (barbecue will be available for purchase on-site). www.roswellmemorialday.com.
Memorial Day observance at Marietta National Cemetery. HANDOUT
Noon. Memorial Day Ceremony. Marietta National Cemetery, corner of Cole Street and Washington Avenue, Marietta. Free. Now in its 72ndyear, this annual event organized by the National Memorial Day Association of Georgia begins promptly at noon. Set against a backdrop of the graves of more than 10,000 veterans from 23 states, it features patriotic music, posting of the colors, prayers, a gun salute and inspiring speakers. Additionally, this year's event will honor The Georgia National Guard Family Support Organization. Complete event info: www.nmdaga.org
The Gwinnett Braves is thinking about dropping the “B” word from its name. The team’s GM said potential fans confuse the Triple-A minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves with the Major League team. (Video by Matt Kempner, edit by Erica Hernandez
1 p.m. Gwinnett Braves vs. Syracuse Chiefs. 1:05 p.m. Coolray Field, Lawrenceville. $8 - $40. See 'em while they're still the "Braves," sniff! (the Triple-A affiliate of the big league club up the road just announced plans to rename the team for the 2018 season and beyond, including a fan contest to come up with the new monkier). Along with Monday afternoon's game, the G-Braves will mark and honor the Centennial Anniversary of the U.S.'s involvement in World War I in a number of ways including special presentations, flag giveaways, displays of military vehicles and more. www.mlb.com
The 40th anniversary of the Atlanta Jazz Festival will take place on Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28, but there will be 40 days of jazz-related events at various venues. That includes special concerts on Memorial Day afternoon at four BMW dealerships around metro Atlanta CONTRIBUTED BY MATT ALEXANDRE PHOTOGRAPHY For the AJC
1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Atlanta Jazz Festival's BMW Concert Series. BMW of Gwinnett Place, 3264 Commerce Ave NW, Duluth, and United BMW Alpharetta, 1501 Alpharetta Hwy, Alpharetta. Free. As part of the AJF's "40 Days of Jazz" programming, four BMW dealership locations around metro Atlanta will take turns hosting live performances on Memorial Day. From 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., Gwen Hughes will be at the Gwinnett location and as yet unannounced artist will be at the Alpharetta location. Additionally, from 1 - 3 p.m., you can catch the following artists at these locations: Tamara Goldinella at Nally BMW of Decatur, 1606 Church St. Decatur; Brandon Boone at BMW of South Atlanta, 4171 Jonesboro Rd, Union City. Information on this and all Atlanta Jazz Festival events at www. atlantafestivals.com.
RELATED: These 35 Georgia museums are free to military families from Memorial Day through Labor Day
4 p.m. - 6 p.m. Memorial Day Paddle. Don Carter State Park, 5000 N Browning Bridge Rd, Gainesville. $15 with personal kayak, $25 with rental kayak (available at park), plus $5 parking. Look for wading birds, raptors and other elements of nature during a kayak outing on the Chattahoochee River. Anyone taking part MUST be able to swim and children participating have to be 6 or older AND accompanied by an adult. Bring water, a flashlight and binoculars if you have them, and meet at the boat ramp. Pre-registration is required by calling 678-450-7726. www.gastateparks.org/doncarter
Riders encounter a fiery blast on the new Justice League: Battle for Metropolis ride at Six Flags Over Georgia. CONTRIBUTED BY SIX FLAGS OVER GEORGIA The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ride, Dip, "Battle" your way through the holiday and much more. Six Flags Over Georgia, 275 Riverside Parkway, SW, Austell. $67.99 general admission, $47.99 children under 48" (Note: Discounts and deals are available for tickets purchased in advance or online at www.sixflags.com). Billing this holiday weekend as "the official start of summer," Six Flags will be the place to go let it all hang out all day into the evening on Memorial Day: The brand new, immersive Justice League: Battle for Metropolis thrill ride (read the AJC's preview story here) and water park extravaganza Hurricane Harbor both officially open this Friday (May 26). The water park is open from noon to 6 p.m. on Memorial Day, with Six Flags itself closing an hour later (it's open until 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday). Battling supervillans and going through a hurricane: Not a bad way to get ready for the work week ahead. www.sixflags.com
8 p.m. Not to sound like your mother, but eat something! You've had a long day of celebrating and honoring others' service to our country. And it's not over yet.
Stone Mountain Park will feature a special patriotic fireworks display after the laser light show on Memorial Day night. Photo credit: Stone Mountain Park Stone Mountain Park/Jewel Wicker
9 p.m. Special "Salute to the Troops" extended fireworks and Laser Show Spectacular. Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E.Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. Free when you pay the $15 parking fee to enter the park (you can purchase parking online here). Show starts at 9:30 p.m., but you'll want to be there early to get a good viewing spot of the backdrop of the mountain with its famous carving. In addition to the "usual" fare — digital graphics, lasers, drones, fireworks and other fire effects—there'll be some added Memorial Day oomph. From May 26-29, a special "patriotic" fireworks finale right after the laser show will make the skies above light up in a specially choreographed musical tribute honoring the brave men and women who protect our country, according to the park. (Music by the Stephen Lee Band from 7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.) www.stonemountainpark.com