And here you thought next Monday was Memorial Day.
In fact, it's "Memorial All Day."
(Actually, to be totally accurate, it’s “Memorial Morning through the Afternoon and Deep into the Night Day.” But that doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue. Or fit easily into a teeny space on a smart phone calendar.)
But you get the point: Memorial "Day" in metro Atlanta features something different and cool to be done at pretty much any hour — or every hour, depending on how energetic you and the jetpack capable of whisking you from place to place are.
A parade, airport jazz and a laser show. Or just lying around like third base at the same baseball game for hours. Whichever method of "holiday-ing" you prefer, our Memorial Day From Morning 'til Night Timeline has you covered. It's mostly made up of organized events (important note: With a couple of exceptions, like the Gorge Floor Hike, the times below generally denote the hour in which each event starts). Although you're also free to substitute one of our suggestions with your own less organized picnic, pool bellyflop contest or whatever else literally or figuratively floats your boat.
7 a.m and 8 a.m. Dacula Memorial Day 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. Dacula Park, 205 Dacula Rd., Dacula. $25, $15 ages 12 and under. Get an early jump on celebrating — and on burning calories for all those burgers you'll eat later in the day — with the 22nd annual version of this popular event. The 1 Mile run/walk starts at 7:45 a.m. and the 5K starts at 8:45 a.m. And proving it really is Memorial All Day: Organizers caution not to park in Dacula Park if you plan on leaving right after the race, "as you will be blocked in by the parade" (see 10 a.m.). www.daculamemorialday.com
9 a.m. City of Smyrna Memorial Day Ceremony. 20th Century Veterans Memorial (adjacent to Smyrna City Hall), 2800 King St., Smyrna. Free. Pre-seating begins at 8:30 a.m. for the 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Organized by the Smyrna Veterans Committee, this event honors those who have sacrificed in defense of our nation. For more information about the event and the veterans memorial — including how to purchase a paver honoring a veteran to be included in the memorial — go to www.smyrnacity.com and click on "events" under the residents tab.
10 a.m. Dacula Memorial Day Parade. Steps off, rain or shine, at 10 a.m. at Hebron Baptist Church (202 Hebron Church Rd.), proceeds down Dacula Road and ends at Dacula High School. Free. Parades are more of a Fourth of July thing in metro Atlanta, where Dacula's is the one and only on Memorial Day, drawing an average of 10,000 spectators. This year's 23rd version features as its grand marshal George E. O'Kelley Jr. a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and a retired longtime employee of Lockheed Georgia. www.daculamemorialday.com
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. The program includes a wreath laying, a speech by retired Army Corps of Engineer Major General Ronald Johnson, a 21-gun salute and more, followed by post-ceremony picnicking on the grounds (barbecue will be available for purchase on-site). www.roswellmemorialday.com
Noon. Memorial Day Ceremony. Marietta National Cemetery, corner of Cole Street and Washington Avenue, Marietta. Free. Now in its 71st year, this annual event organized by the National Memorial Day Association of Georgia begins promptly at noon. It features patriotic music, posting of the colors, prayers, a gun salute and inspiring speakers set against a backdrop of the graves of more than 10,000 veterans from 23 states. Two days before, the Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts of America and Brownies will place flags on each and every grave. www.nmdaga.org
1 p.m. Atlanta Braves vs. San Francisco Giants. Game time, 1:1o p.m. Turner Field, Atlanta. $8 - $88 (See additional price info below). Be there for the final Memorial Day at Turner Field and help support a worthy cause: In celebration of the USO's 75th anniversary, $3 of every Military Appreciation Day ticket package sold will go back to the USO. And each ticket includes a Braves camo T-shirt. Prices for this ticket package are $21 and $35.
2 p.m. Gorge Floor Hike. 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.Tallulah Gorge State Park, 338 Jane Hurt Yarn Drive, Tallulah Falls. $10 plus $5 parking. OK, so this isn't specifically a Memorial Day activity (although this hike is usually only offered on Saturdays and Sundays). And you'll actually need to start this one much earlier in the day (Hey, we had the 2 p.m. slot wide open on our Timeline. So forgive us for placing this here where you'd find it). The ranger-led hike begins with a 535-step hike down to a river crossing and involves climbing on boulders and logs to arrive at Sliding Rock. Bring water, lunch, snacks and wear a swimsuit if you want to cool off.. Space is limited, so you'll need to call to register in advance. Registration/information: 706-754-7981. www.gastateparks.org/TallulahGorge
3 p.m. Alpharetta Arts Streetfest. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Historic downtown Alpharetta at Milton Avenue and Main Street. Free. Final day of the 12th annual event, now held on Memorial Day weekend. Featuring over 80 artists specializing in everything from painting and photography to clay and folk art; children's activities and a food court. Plus a full lineup of live entertainment, including, on Monday afternoon, Wild Eyed Southern Boys, Hugh Vaughn and Tullamore road. www.alpharettaartsstreetfest.splashfestivals.com
5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Jazz at the Airport Atrium. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Free. Missed — or already missing? — the Atlanta Jazz Festival, scheduled for May 27-29 in Piedmont Park? Then consider heading to the airport for this, the final event in "31 Days of Jazz," which saw Atlanta Jazz Festival artists appearing all over town in all types of settings throughout May. Cool, smooth jazz is also one of the more relaxing stops on the Memorial Day From Morning 'til Night Timeline — but believe it or not, it's not the final stop. That honor goes to …
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. 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 27-30 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. www.stonemountainpark.com
