Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027. Alexandria's city ceremony honoring Rocky Versace, the national cemetery, pool openings, closings and trash changes.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the city’s events calendar, holiday collection calendar and aquatics pages, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Alexandria National Cemetery page.
Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027. The city marks it with a morning ceremony honoring Capt. Rocky Versace and the 68 Alexandrians who died in the Vietnam War. It is also the weekend the city’s outdoor pools open. The 2027 schedule is not posted yet; the details below are from 2026 and will be updated when the city announces this year’s plans.
Who to call
- City services: Alex311, 311 or 703-746-4311
- Alexandria National Cemetery: 703-221-2183 (supervised from the National Memorial Cemetery at Quantico)
- Pools: Memorial Pool 703-746-5451; Old Town Pool 703-746-6999; Warwick Pool 703-721-3422
The city’s Memorial Day ceremony
On Memorial Day 2026 the City of Alexandria and the Friends of Rocky Versace held a ceremony from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. It honored Capt. Rocky Versace, the 68 Alexandrians who lost their lives in the Vietnam War, those still missing in action and all who served (2026 listing).
Alexandria National Cemetery
The national cemetery at 1450 Wilkes St. is run by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The VA says:
- Its office is closed on federal holidays except Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
- A flag is placed on every gravesite for Memorial Day only.
- Cut flowers may be left on graves at any time of year.
Directions: the cemetery is about six blocks west of U.S. 1, at the end of Wilkes Street (VA cemetery page).
Pools open for the season
| Pool | Address | 2026 opening |
|---|---|---|
| Memorial Pool | 901 Wythe St. | Sat. May 23; open Memorial Day, though closed other Mondays |
| Old Town Pool | 1609 Cameron St. | Sat. May 23; weekdays from Tuesday, May 26 |
| Warwick Pool | 3301 Landover St. | Sat. May 23; weekdays from Tuesday, May 26 |
Outdoor pool passes went on sale May 1 in 2026. Daily admission was $3 for ages 5-17, $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $6 for nonresidents, with children 4 and under free with a paying adult. The interactive fountain at Potomac Yard Park, 2501 Potomac Ave., is free and runs 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. See our summer camps and pools guide for full schedules.
What is open and closed
| Memorial Day 2026 | |
|---|---|
| City offices | Closed |
| Trash, recycling, yard waste | Delayed one day all week: Monday routes Tuesday, Tuesday routes Wednesday, Wednesday routes Thursday, Thursday routes Friday |
| Household hazardous waste and electronics drop-off | Closed |
| Alexandria National Cemetery | Open |
The city publishes the 2027 holiday collection calendar at the start of the year; our trash and recycling guide will carry the Memorial Day 2027 changes.
What this means for you
- Expect trash a day late all Memorial Day week.
- Pools open the Saturday before; buy a season pass from May 1 if you swim often.
- Watch the city calendar in May for the 2027 ceremony time.
Related guides: summer camps and pools, history and landmarks and Fourth of July fireworks.
Frequently asked questions
When is Memorial Day 2027?
Monday, May 31, 2027.
Is there a Memorial Day ceremony in Alexandria?
Yes. In 2026 the city and the Friends of Rocky Versace held a ceremony at 11 a.m. on Memorial Day at Mount Vernon Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave., honoring Capt. Rocky Versace and the 68 Alexandrians who died in the Vietnam War. The 2027 details are not posted yet.
Is trash picked up on Memorial Day in Alexandria?
No. In 2026 Memorial Day pickup slid one day for the rest of the week: Monday routes on Tuesday, through Thursday routes on Friday. The city posts the 2027 schedule on its holiday collection calendar.
When do Alexandria’s outdoor pools open?
The city’s outdoor pools open on Memorial Day weekend. In 2026 Memorial, Old Town and Warwick pools opened Saturday, May 23, and Memorial Pool opened on Memorial Day itself, though it is normally closed Mondays.
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