Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027. The city's commemoration at Evergreen Cemetery, flag placing, City Hall closed and trash delayed a day all week.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the City of Gainesville’s Memorial Day Commemoration listing, its garbage and recycling holiday schedule, Historic Evergreen Cemetery, the Alachua County Public Schools calendar and the Visit Gainesville calendar. City Solid Waste: 352-334-2330.

Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027. The City of Gainesville marks it with a commemoration at Historic Evergreen Cemetery, where volunteers place flags on the graves of more than 1,100 veterans the Saturday before. City offices close, and trash pickup slides a day for the rest of the week. The 2027 program has not been announced; below is what the city did in 2025 and 2026, labeled by year.

What this means for you

  • Ceremony: Evergreen Cemetery, 10 a.m. to noon in 2026; 2027 time to be confirmed
  • City offices: closed Monday, May 31
  • Trash and recycling: delayed one day for the rest of the week
  • Schools: the last day for students is Friday, May 28, 2027

The commemoration

The city’s Memorial Day Commemoration honors Gold Star families and service members who died in service. In 2025 the city described it as a two-hour program at the Veterans Monument with guest speakers, military honors and a patriotic concert by the Gainesville Brass Quintet. In 2026 it ran from 10 a.m. to noon on Monday, May 25, at Historic Evergreen Cemetery, 401 SE 21st Ave., with a keynote speaker, live music and tributes from local organizations. It is free.

Placing flags at Evergreen Cemetery

More than 1,100 veterans are buried at Evergreen Cemetery, and volunteers place a flag on each grave before Memorial Day. The city provides flags and maps and asks volunteers to wear comfortable clothes and shoes; families, coworkers, scouts, clubs and teams are welcome. In 2026 the flag placement ran from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 23. To volunteer, contact the city’s parks department through the Memorial Day listing.

What is open and closed

  • City of Gainesville offices, including the Solid Waste Division, are closed on Memorial Day, according to the city’s holiday list.
  • Trash and recycling: on the city’s 2026 schedule Memorial Day is a scheduled holiday, so every collection after it that week moves one day later: Monday to Tuesday, Tuesday to Wednesday, Wednesday to Thursday and Thursday to Friday. Details are on our trash and recycling guide.
  • Schools: Alachua County Public Schools finish the year on Friday, May 28, 2027, and mark Memorial Day as a holiday.
  • Parks: state parks such as Paynes Prairie are open every day of the year. City pools and splash pads are covered on our summer camps and pools page.

Other Memorial Day weekend events (2026, for reference)

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation, 8528 E. County Road 225, ran a guided walk-or-ride tour with big cat feeding demonstrations on Memorial Day 2026.

What this means for you

  • Set trash carts out a day late all week after Memorial Day.
  • Volunteering to place flags is a family-friendly way to mark the weekend; watch the city’s events directory in May.

Related: summer camps and pools and Fourth of July fireworks.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Gainesville’s Memorial Day ceremony?

The City of Gainesville holds its Memorial Day Commemoration at Historic Evergreen Cemetery, 401 SE 21st Ave. In 2026 it ran from 10 a.m. to noon on Memorial Day. The 2027 program has not been announced.

Is there trash pickup in Gainesville on Memorial Day?

No. On the city’s 2026 schedule Memorial Day is a scheduled holiday, with collections delayed one day for the rest of that week, so Monday’s route runs Tuesday and so on. The 2027 schedule is not posted yet.

Is Gainesville City Hall open on Memorial Day?

No. City offices, including the Solid Waste Division, close on Memorial Day.

How can I help place flags on veterans’ graves in Gainesville?

Volunteers place flags on the graves of more than 1,100 veterans at Evergreen Cemetery the Saturday before Memorial Day. In 2026 it ran from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 23; the city provides flags and maps.