Cary's Memorial Day Remembrance is 2:30 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2027, at Veterans Freedom Park. What is open and closed, and how trash pickup changes.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from the Town of Cary, GoCary and Wake County, linked below.

Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027. The Town of Cary has already set its ceremony for that day.

Who to call

  • Memorial Day ceremony: town event contact, 919-462-3847
  • Town of Cary, including trash: Cary 311, or 919-469-4000 from outside town limits
  • GoCary: 919-485-RIDE (7433)
  • Emergency: 911

Memorial Day Remembrance

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2027, Veterans Freedom Park, 1517 N. Harrison Ave. A free ceremony honoring the men and women who gave their lives in service, with remarks from local veterans and musical tributes from the Cary Town Band, according to the town’s Memorial and Veterans Day page.

  • Parking: at Cary Academy, 1500 N. Harrison Ave. An ADA-accessible shuttle runs from an hour before to an hour after the ceremony.
  • Before and after: in 2026 the town served complimentary refreshments and invited guests to visit the park’s Freedom Tower Monument (April 2026 town newsletter).
  • Field of Flags: in 2026 Veterans Bridge Home, Advance Auto Parts and Boy Scout Troop 200 placed a Field of Flags at the park.

In 2026 the speakers were Matthew Kallio, a retired Air Force technical sergeant and commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7383 in Cary, and Paul Berry, a retired Marine Corps command sergeant major who works with Veterans Bridge Home. The 2027 speakers will be on the town page.

The town’s next veterans event is the Veterans Day Observance, 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at the same park.

What is open and closed

Town of Cary. Memorial Day is a town holiday and most offices are closed (town holidays).

GoCary. Buses run a Sunday schedule; Door to Door runs Tier 1 trips only (GoCary holiday hours).

Wake County. On Memorial Day 2026, county offices, libraries and convenience centers were closed and county parks were open (county holiday schedule). The 2027 schedule will be on the same page.

Trash and recycling

The town publishes holiday collection changes through Cary Collects and its monthly utility bill newsletter. We did not find a posted Memorial Day change for 2026. For Labor Day 2025, the town moved the whole week’s collections one day later, Tuesday to Friday (August 2025 newsletter). Check the app the week before Memorial Day. The town’s Citizen’s Convenience Center on North Dixon Avenue closes for good on Dec. 30, 2026; see our trash and recycling guide.

The start of summer

Cary’s splash pads and spraygrounds reopen in May; in 2026 they closed for the season on Sept. 21, and Downtown Cary Park says they return in May 2027 (water play page). Pools, camps and splash pads are on our summer guide.

What this means for you

  • Park at Cary Academy for the ceremony and take the shuttle if you need it.
  • No library visits on Memorial Day; county parks stay open.
  • Confirm your trash day in Cary Collects the week of the holiday.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Memorial Day ceremony in Cary?

Yes. The Town of Cary’s Memorial Day Remembrance is 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2027, at Veterans Freedom Park, 1517 N. Harrison Ave. It is free.

Where do I park for the Cary Memorial Day ceremony?

The town directs event parking to Cary Academy, 1500 N. Harrison Ave., with an accessible shuttle running from an hour before to an hour after the ceremony.

Does GoCary run on Memorial Day?

Yes, on a Sunday schedule. Door to Door runs Tier 1 trips only.

Are Wake County libraries open on Memorial Day?

No. In 2026 Wake County libraries, offices and convenience centers were closed on Memorial Day, while county parks stayed open.