Memorial Day 2027 is Monday, May 31. Nashville National Cemetery in Madison is the center of local observances; Wave Country and spraygrounds open that weekend.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year. 2027 ceremonies have not been announced; where we give last year’s details we say so. Sources: the VA’s Nashville National Cemetery page, WeGo’s Memorial Day 2026 notice, Metro Parks pools and Metro Waste Services.

Memorial Day 2027 is Monday, May 31. Nashville’s observances center on Nashville National Cemetery, 1420 Gallatin Pike S. in Madison, where cemetery staff place a small flag on every grave before the holiday. The weekend also opens summer: Metro’s Wave Country opened on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in 2026, and the city’s free spraygrounds run Memorial Day through Labor Day. Nashville National Cemetery: 615-860-0086.

At a glance

  • Memorial Day: Monday, May 31, 2027.
  • MNPS: closed May 31; last day of school Tuesday, May 25.
  • WeGo (2026 pattern): Sunday/holiday schedule; no regional buses or WeGo Star.
  • Trash: 2027 schedule not posted yet; see trash and recycling.

Ceremonies

Nashville National Cemetery, 1420 Gallatin Pike S., Madison

  • Open daily, sunrise to sunset. The office (7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays) closes on federal holidays except Memorial Day.
  • Flags: staff decorate every grave with a small flag before Memorial Day and remove them right after.
  • Flowers: not permitted on graves from the Thursday before Memorial Day to the first Friday in June.
  • The 2027 ceremony time had not been announced. We will add it when the cemetery or the organizers post it.

Memorial Day weekend concert: in 2026, the Nashville Community Concert Band played a patriotic program from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at the Pavilion at Harpeth Hills, 9090 Highway 100. The 2027 date had not been posted.

Pools and spraygrounds open

  • Wave Country, 2320 Two Rivers Parkway: in 2026 it opened Saturday, May 23, and was open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Memorial Day. Phone: 615-885-1052.
  • Spraygrounds at Kirkpatrick and Watkins parks: free, open Memorial Day through Labor Day.
  • Metro’s summer outdoor pools at Cleveland, Looby and Rose community centers are free during open swim (Metro pools).

Full summer details: summer camps and pools.

What is open and closed

  • WeGo: on Memorial Day 2026, WeGo ran buses and Access vans on its Sunday/holiday schedule; regional buses and the WeGo Star did not run, and the customer care center and the WeGo Central information window were closed.
  • MNPS: closed Monday, May 31, 2027 (district calendar).
  • Trash: Metro posts holiday changes on its Waste Services page; the 2027 Memorial Day schedule was not up yet. Convenience centers close on Metro holidays.
  • Federal offices and banks close for the federal holiday.

What this means for you

  • Visiting a grave? The cemetery’s grounds policy bars flowers on graves from the Thursday before Memorial Day to the first Friday in June.
  • Pool day: Wave Country opened on the Saturday of the holiday weekend in 2026; check Metro’s page for the 2027 opening date in spring.

Related guides: summer camps and pools, Fourth of July fireworks, Labor Day and getting around.

Frequently asked questions

When is Memorial Day 2027?

Monday, May 31, 2027. MNPS is closed that day; the school year ends Tuesday, May 25.

Where is the Memorial Day ceremony in Nashville?

Nashville National Cemetery, 1420 Gallatin Pike S. in Madison, is the main site. Staff place small flags on every grave before Memorial Day, and the office is open on the holiday. The 2027 ceremony time had not been announced.

Do WeGo buses run on Memorial Day?

On Memorial Day 2026 WeGo ran buses and Access vans on its Sunday/holiday schedule, with no regional buses or WeGo Star, and its offices were closed. The 2027 notice is not out yet.

When do Nashville pools open?

Wave Country opened May 23, 2026, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and Metro’s free spraygrounds open Memorial Day through Labor Day. 2027 opening dates are not posted yet.

Is trash picked up on Memorial Day in Nashville?

Metro posts each holiday’s trash changes on its Waste Services page; the 2027 Memorial Day schedule had not been posted when we checked.