Memorial Day weekend needs a real plan.

The weekend is bigger than a normal Friday-to-Sunday list. Saturday is the decision point: strawberries in Bluemont, horse farms around Middleburg and Upperville, Revolutionary War history at Franklin Park, Tarara's concert opener, circus shows in Sterling, and an all-day art and music fundraiser in Hillsboro. Sunday gives you NoVA MusicFest at 868 Estate, a second day for the stable tour, and a quieter Bluemont plan. Monday is different. I did not find a confirmed public Memorial Day parade in Loudoun, but there are meaningful local ceremonies in Leesburg, Lovettsville, and Purcellville, plus the Ringing in Hope race and marketplace in Ashburn. If a parade is the priority, Falls Church is the closest confirmed one I found.

Start here

№ 01
Saturday-Sunday

Strawberry Jubilee at Great Country Farms

Official details

The most straightforward family plan this weekend. Great Country Farms is celebrating strawberries with farm games, wagon rides, a strawberry float parade, a pie-eating contest, and the donut strawberry shortcake people will talk about on the drive home.

Ticketed farm admission. Strawberry supply and U-pick availability change with weather, so check before driving out.

№ 02
Saturday-Sunday

Hunt Country Stable Tour

Official details

A self-guided look inside horse farms and equestrian properties that are not usually open to the public. This is the scenic, very-Loudoun pick if you want a countryside day built around horses, farms, and the back roads around Middleburg and Upperville.

Ticketed. It is a driving tour, so look at the map before you leave and do not try to hit every property.

№ 03
Saturday

The Road to Independence Historical Encampment

Official details

A free VA250 event with Revolutionary War history, mounted First Dragoons demonstrations, hands-on activities, historical flags, spycraft with invisible ink, corn husk dolls, hoop and stick games, and Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum demonstrations.

Free county event. Good choice for families who want something active but not hard to plan.

№ 04
Saturday

Tarara Summer Concert Series: So Fetch

Official details

Tarara's summer concert series opens with So Fetch, a 2000s dance party built around pop and throwback singalongs. Bring a chair or blanket and make it your Saturday night plan if you want a crowd, wine, and a real start-of-summer feel.

Ticketed and rain or shine. Tarara lists higher door pricing than online pricing, so buy ahead if you are going.

№ 05
Sunday

NoVA MusicFest benefiting Cancer Can Rock

Official details

A full Sunday music fundraiser at 868 Estate with DMV artists across blues, rock, and country. All ticket proceeds support Cancer Can Rock, which helps musicians facing cancer record in a professional studio.

Ticketed fundraiser. Plan for a full afternoon and evening, not a quick tasting stop.

Monday and more worth knowing

01

Cirque de Paris

Friday-Monday

A touring French circus with aerialists, acrobats, BMX, illusion, and family showtimes. Useful if weather gets messy or you need a Sterling option that does not depend on a vineyard or farm.

02

Memorial Day Weekend at Dirt Farm Brewing

Friday-Monday

A low-effort Bluemont add-on if you are already headed west for strawberries, Hillsboro, 868, or the stable tour. Dirt Farm is calling out summertime food specials from The Garage and daily taproom hours.

03

Leesburg Memorial Day Observance

Monday

The local Memorial Day observance, hosted by Mayor Kelly Burk, with wreath laying at several war memorials. Put this on the calendar if you want the long weekend to include the reason for the holiday.

04

Lovettsville Memorial Day Ceremony

Monday

Lovettsville's annual ceremony honors military personnel lost in service to the country. It is a straightforward local remembrance option if you are in northern Loudoun.

05

Purcellville Memorial Day Ceremony

Monday

Purcellville's ceremony begins at Town Hall, then includes a procession to the Tear Drop for wreath presentations, Taps, a ceremonial rifle salute, flag raising, a moment of silence, and remarks.

06

Ringing in Hope: A Salute to Our Troops

Monday

A Memorial Day race, walk, and marketplace in Ashburn. The event includes 10K, 5K, and 1-mile options, plus a marketplace with vendors, food, entertainment, and family activities.

07

Closest confirmed parade: Falls Church Memorial Day Parade and Festival

Monday

If the goal is a real Memorial Day parade, this is the closest confirmed option I found. Falls Church has a full festival day with vendors, kids' rides, live music, a ceremony at 11:00 AM, and the parade down Park Avenue at 2:00 PM.

Three ways to plan it

01

If you have kids

Start with Strawberry Jubilee or the Road to Independence Historical Encampment during the day. If the weather turns, use Cirque de Paris. For Monday, Ringing in Hope works if you want a morning activity with a marketplace attached.

02

If you want the classic Loudoun version

Do the Hunt Country Stable Tour on Saturday, Tarara Saturday night, then NoVA MusicFest at 868 on Sunday. That gives you horses, scenery, wine country, and live music without making the weekend feel random.

03

If you want Monday to feel like Memorial Day

Choose one ceremony: Leesburg at 10:00 AM, Lovettsville at 11:00 AM, or Purcellville at 11:45 AM. If you specifically want a parade, plan around Falls Church at 2:00 PM and remember it is outside Loudoun.

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