Memorial Day in Colorado Springs lands on Monday, May 25, 2026. For most of the country, it's the unofficial start of summer — a long weekend, a barbecue, a sale flyer in the mailbox. For military families, it carries weight that has nothing to do with any of that.
This guide is for families who want to spend the day the way it was intended — honoring the men and women who didn't come home. Whether you've been in Colorado Springs for years or you just PCS'd in last month, this is where to go, what to know, and how to fold the day into something meaningful with your family.
Having served twelve years in the Army, including time in the 75th Ranger Regiment, I'll tell you straight: this day matters. The community here knows that. You'll find ceremonies, runs, and remembrance events across the city — most of them free, all of them welcoming, none of them requiring you to dress a certain way or know anyone there.
Here's what to know.
Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day: Why The Distinction Matters
If you take nothing else from this post, take this: Memorial Day and Veterans Day are not the same.
Memorial Day honors service members who died in service to the country. Veterans Day honors all who served — living and deceased. The two are observed on different days for a reason, and confusing them is one of the fastest ways to make a Gold Star family wince.
You'll see ads this week wishing people a "Happy Memorial Day." You'll see retail discounts framed around the weekend. None of that is the point. The point is the names on the headstones at Pikes Peak National Cemetery, the empty seats at family dinners, and the kids growing up without a parent because of a uniform that was worn.
A simple way to think about it: if you want to thank a living veteran for their service, save it for November 11. On May 25, the people being honored aren't standing next to you.
For families new to a military town like Colorado Springs, this distinction shows up in how people talk, what businesses post, and what events get attended. You'll see flags at half-staff from sunrise until noon — that's tradition, not error. You'll see the National Moment of Remembrance observed at 3:00 PM local time across the country. That moment is for the fallen.
You don't have to be a veteran or a Gold Star family to participate. You just have to know what the day is about.
Memorial Day Ceremonies in Colorado Springs (May 25, 2026)
Colorado Springs has more Memorial Day events than most cities its size, which makes sense — Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, the Air Force Academy, and Cheyenne Mountain all sit within a 30-minute drive. Here are the ceremonies worth knowing about.
Pikes Peak National Cemetery — 10:00 Am
This is the largest and most well-attended ceremony in the region. The cemetery is at 10545 Drennan Road in southeast Colorado Springs. The ceremony takes place at the main flagpoles. Free, open to the public, and expect to share the morning with several hundred to a thousand people. The 2026 program is expected to include an honor guard, the New Horizons Concert Band, Scouting America, American Legion Post 209 providing a rifle salute, and the Honor Bell.
Parking fills fast. The cemetery sets up off-site parking at the L3 Harris lot at 8955 Drennan Road, with a free shuttle running before the ceremony. Plan to be on the shuttle by 9:00 AM if you want a seat near the front. The Pikes Peak National Cemetery page on VA.gov is the authoritative source for hours and visitation rules — and the Pikes Peak National Cemetery Facebook page is where they post the final ceremony details each year, so check that closer to the date to confirm timing.
Volunteers place a flag on every gravesite the weekend before. If you can't make the ceremony itself, walking the rows on Sunday afternoon is one of the more powerful things you can do in this city.
Monument Cemetery — 10:00 Am
About fifteen minutes north of Colorado Springs, Monument Cemetery hosts a quieter ceremony at 800 Eighth Street in Monument. Around 100 people typically attend. The program includes a reading of "In Flanders Fields," a presentation of flags, and a bugler playing taps. Free and family-friendly.
Evergreen Cemetery — ~10:00 Am
One of the oldest cemeteries in Colorado Springs, with nearly 80,000 burial sites. The ceremony has historically featured the New Horizons concert band, a color guard, and guest speakers, and typically draws around 2,000 people. They partner with Redemption Hill Church for overflow parking and shuttle service. Check local news closer to the date for the 2026 program.
Memorial Park (Veterans Memorial) — ~11:00 Am
Located near downtown Colorado Springs, Memorial Park hosts a Veterans Memorial ceremony that has historically drawn around 200 people and tends to be the most central option if you live in or near the city core.
Angel Run at Red Leg Brewing — 8:00 Am to Noon
The Angel Run is a paid 5K/10K hosted by Red Leg Brewing at 2323 Garden of the Gods Road. Registration fees vary by distance and timed/untimed option — all proceeds benefit Angels of America's Fallen, a Colorado Springs 501(c)(3) that covers after-school activities for children of fallen service members and first responders until age 19.
There's a timed option, an untimed option, and a virtual option for families outside the area. Music, food, and drinks afterward. This one's worth it even if you don't run — they welcome walkers and ruckers too, and you can register on race day.
For a fuller list of weekend events, Visit Colorado Springs maintains a current Memorial Day events page updated each spring.
A note: the four cemetery and Memorial Park ceremonies above are all free and open to the public. The Angel Run requires a registration fee, but those dollars go directly to children of the fallen. None of these events require any military affiliation to attend.
Making the Day Meaningful With Kids and Family
If you have kids — especially young ones — Memorial Day can feel hard to explain. Here's what's worked for our family and other families I've talked to over the years.
- Keep the explanation simple. "Today is the day we remember the people who died while serving our country." That's it. They don't need the history of the Civil War or a breakdown of every conflict. Match the explanation to their age.
- Bring them to a ceremony. Even if they get fidgety, the visuals matter — the flags, the quiet, the people in uniform standing at attention. They'll remember the feeling long after the words.
- Let them place a flower or a flag. Pikes Peak National Cemetery allows artificial flowers and potted plants from the Thursday before Memorial Day until the Wednesday after. Bringing one and letting your kid place it on a grave — any grave — gives the day a concrete action they can hold onto.
- Observe the 3:00 PM Moment of Remembrance. Wherever you are. One minute of silence. Pause whatever you're doing. If you're at a barbecue, pause the music. The whole country does it at the same time, and there's something powerful about that for kids to feel.
- Don't skip the rest of the day. Memorial Day isn't about being somber for twelve hours straight. After the ceremony, go for a hike. Have the barbecue. Sit on a patio at one of the veteran-owned spots around town. The people being honored didn't serve so you'd feel guilty about enjoying a Monday with your family — they served so you could.
How Colorado Springs Holds Its Military Community Year-round
One of the reasons Colorado Springs ranks as one of the best places for military families — and why so many service members choose to retire here — is that the community doesn't just show up on Memorial Day. It shows up year-round.
The flags placed at Pikes Peak National Cemetery on Memorial Day weekend are placed by volunteers, not staff. The Wreaths Across America ceremony in December puts a wreath on every grave. The Honor Bell rings for every veteran funeral.
If you're new to the area, those rhythms are part of why this city feels different. The military isn't a section of the population here — it's woven into the city. Roughly one in four households in Colorado Springs has a current or former service member.
For families considering a move here, that's the texture you're moving into. The practical details matter, but so does the culture — and Memorial Day is the day the culture is most visible.
Bottom Line
Memorial Day in Colorado Springs is one of the most meaningful days on the local calendar. You don't have to be a veteran or a Gold Star family to participate — you just have to show up.
The short version:
- Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10:00 AM is the biggest ceremony in the region
- Monument Cemetery and Evergreen also hold 10:00 AM services; Memorial Park follows around 11:00 AM
- The Angel Run at Red Leg Brewing is a paid race that funds children of the fallen
- 3:00 PM is the National Moment of Remembrance — pause wherever you are
- Memorial Day is not Veterans Day — May honors the fallen, November honors all who served
If you're new to Colorado Springs, this is the weekend the city shows you who it really is. Show up to one ceremony. Place a flower. Pause at 3:00 PM. The rest of the day is yours.
Questions about the area, PCS planning, or anything else?
- Call or text: (719) 413-6610
- Email: [email protected]
Want this kind of local intel in your inbox each week? Sign up for the Ridgeline newsletter.
