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5 Best Ways To Celebrate Memorial Day In NYC

This Memorial Day, New York City celebrates the heroes who have fought and continue to fight for our country. Here are five events that are happening both on the ground as well as at sea. By Carly Petrone.

NY Philharmonic Memorial Day Concert

Alan Gilbert
(credit: Facebook/StJohnDivineNYC)

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Celebrate Memorial Day with a free concert by the NY Philharmonic inside one of the beautiful Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. Watch as conductor Alan Gilbert leads the orchestra in a program that includes Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10. Tickets will be distributed at 6 p.m. for the 8 p.m. Those who don't snag tickets can grab a spot at the nearby Pulpit Green and listen to the audio broadcast. You may even sneak a peek of Harry and Phil, the two peacocks that live on the premises.

Memorial Day Commemoration at Green-Wood Cemetery

Green-Wood
(credit: green-wood.com)

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Commemorate all of the soldiers who have fought for our country this Memorial Day at Green-Wood Cemetery. Starting at 11 a.m. you can join re-enactors and musicians in the Honor March, a parade to Green-Wood's Civil War Soldiers' Lot for a ceremony including remarks, a names recitation by descendants of Civil War veterans, an artillery salute, and more. Stick around for the Memorial Day Concert at 2:30 p.m., which features the ISO Symphonic Band, led by founder and conductor Brian P. Worsdale. Local food and drink vendors will be there while they perform works by Fred Ebb, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Leonard Bernstein, and more. You can also enjoy a Special Memorial Day Trolley Tour starting at 5 p.m. led by historian Jeff Richman.

Might Get Weird

Might Get Weird
(credit: mightgetweird.com)

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Are you a weirdo? Make sure you RSVP for the Might Get Weird party happening all day from noon until 9 p.m. on Memorial Day. DJ collective The Deep will bring the house down (wherever that may be) with a live performance by The Cole Ramstad Band. Just a few of the DJs on the docket include David Kiss, Luka Son of Wolf, Dash Speaks, Will Buck, Salinger, and many more. Get there early for the open bar, courtesy of Owney's. Tickets are $20. RSVP here to find out where this secret party is taking place.

Fleet Week at The Intrepid

Intrepid
(credit: Facebook/IntrepidMuseum)

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Celebrate Fleet Week aboard The Intrepid! On Monday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. there will be activities and displays by NASA, the Office of Naval Research, American Legion and U.S. Coast Guard, a well as a Restoration Scavenger Hunt. Hear about the Stories from Pearl Harbor, watch a U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demonstration, and learn more about The Magnificent Seven. A special Memorial Day Ceremony will also take place at 11 a.m. to honor those we have lost as well as those who have served in wars and conflicts from WWII to the present. This patriotic ceremony will include the unfurling of a 100-foot American flag, the playing of Taps, a ceremonial wreath laying, and a 3-volley rifle salute. Please check website for ticket information and times of specific talks and activities. Admission is free for all U.S. veterans on Memorial Day.

Casper's Memorial Day Sail

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(credit: Facebook/CasperSleeps)

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Looking for a new mattress? Hop aboard Casper's Memorial Day Sail and test out that comfy mattress aboard a 150-foot sailboat. No joke! Cruise along the Hudson from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and enjoy hors d'oeuvres as well as an open bar. After that, you'll either want to buy a boat or a mattress a mattress. We're hoping it's the latter. Tickets are $30 and go on sale on 5/24 at 12 p.m. All proceeds go to Charity Water.

For the latest on all of the Tri-State's events and happenings, follow us on Twitter!

Carly Petrone is a freelance writer living in New York City.

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