Memorial Day is meant to honor those who have given their lives while fighting for our country. With this comes the unofficial start of summer and plenty of events and activities to celebrate.
May 27 & 28. Levitt Pavilion Summer Series
Free summer concerts at SteelsStacks’s Levitt Pavilion are a staple of the season, bringing amazing bands to a stage beneath the towering, illuminated factory. Seventies funk and soul band Aztec Sun bring their retro groove on Friday, and Saturday night’s performance is from AC/DC cover band Back in Black.
May 27–29. Mayfair
Mayfair at Cedar Crest College, a multi-day festival of the arts, is free to explore, with more than 100 vendors plying artisan crafts, ticketed workshops to experiment with diverse artistic media and, of course, festival food. Live music on multiple stages includes favorites like the Large Flowerheads and Jimmy & the Parrots.
May 27–30. Heroes Weekend at Hawk Mountain
With challenging trails and expansive vistas, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary weaves along the Blue Mountain Ridge and offers sights of soaring raptors. This weekend, active service members or veterans receive a free trial admission or $15 off a new membership.
May 28. Red, Wine & Blue at the Zoo
Wineries and distilleries of the Valley converge at the Lehigh Valley Zoo this weekend along with artisan food vendors for the sixth annual Memorial Day Weekend festival. Stroll the zoo trying wines, ciders and gourmet treats listening to live music and supporting the animals!
May 28. Twilight Criterium Bike Race
Some of the world’s fastest cyclists are going to be whizzing through Downtown Easton’s streets at speeds over 40 miles an hour in this exciting event, The Twilight Criterium Bike Race. Anyone interested can sign up to test the track for themselves in the community ride before the races begin, and make a day of it with the farmer’s market, dining and shops.
May 28. Pig Roast and Fireworks
For those to the northern side of the Valley, it’s just a hop and a skip to Hardball Cider’s headquarters on a 100-acre farm in Mount Bethel. They’re celebrating with live music all day, food trucks and a pig roast, topped off with lakeside fireworks. Bring your folding chairs and make a day of it!
May 28 & 29. Whitewater Rafting Adventures
It’s time to start splashing around! Take a thrilling ride on the river with Whitewater Rafting Adventures for a whitewater dam release Saturday or Sunday and navigate 13 miles of rushing water. With the trees and terrain of Lehigh Gorge State Park rising around you, it’s an outdoor adventure like no other.
May 28–30. Memorial Day Commemoration at ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest presents the return of the 12th annual Memorial Day Commemoration presented by Embassy Bank, hosted with community partners, Blue Star Mothers, Gold Star Mothers, Tails of Valor, Lehigh Valley Health Network Veterans Health Program, and Women’s Veterans Empowered and Thriving, at SteelStacks campus. This commemorative event features the Hometown Heroes 2022 photo-banner, live music, and remembrance ceremonies including “A Time to Remember” and “Remember Our Heroes” luminary display honoring those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
May 29. IronPigs Car Show
What could be more American than baseball and cars? Spend the afternoon at Coca-Cola Park and the Lehigh Valley IronPigs exploring a showcase of incredible automobiles leading up to the evening’s ball game against the Worcester WooSox. This day and night of fun includes a fireworks display.
May 29. Live Music at a Winery
With warm spring weather and grape leaves unfurling in the rolling vineyards, plenty of wineries will be packed this weekend. Check out Folino Estate in Kutztown for an immaculate vibe and the '90s sound of Joey de Noble on acoustic guitar.
May 30. Emmaus Memorial Parade
Parades are a quintessential part of Memorial Day, and they’ll be held all over Lehigh Valley to put a pause on ordinary traffic and hold space for our veterans. In Emmaus, the parade forms at 9 a.m. at the Emmaus High School parking lot, heading to the intersection of Third and Fourth streets for a service where local veterans will speak.