Six things to do in Boston for Memorial Day Weekend 2018

There are plenty of events going on in Boston to keep you busy this holiday weekend. There are also opportunities to pay tribute to the military heroes who gave their lives for our freedom.

Here are some free, family-friendly events to check out:

Garden of Flags

More than 37,000 service members from Massachusetts have died fighting for the country since the Revolutionary War.  As is tradition in Boston, volunteers plant a flag in honor of each and every one of them around the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The sobering display will dot the Common from Wednesday afternoon through Monday evening.
May 23 - May 28, all day starting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Boston Common; 139 Tremont St.; Boston, massmilitaryheroes.org.

Free Admission Day at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Kick off the summer season with family art-making activities, gallery tours and talks, musical performances, and film screenings. Hear engaging performances throughout the day, including a multidisciplinary concert created by teens from Sociedad Latina. Make art inspired by the exciting exhibitions on view, including “M. C. Escher: Infinite Dimensions” and “Phantasmagoria.”
May 28, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Museum of Fine Arts; 465 Huntington Ave., Boston; mfa.org

Free Admission Day at the Institute of Contemporary Art / Boston

From Kevin Beasley’s sculptures exploring the intersection of sound and clothing at the ICA, to the curtain calls for the MFA’s Gustav Klimt and M.C. Escher exhibitions, there’s more than enough thought-provoking work to take in for the day. 
May 28, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Institute of Contemporary Art; 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston; icaboston.org.

Free Ferry Day

Don’t miss this chance to explore the Harbor Islands for free. Hop on the ferry to Georges Island to explore the Civil War-era Fort Warren and take in stunning views of the Boston skyline, or head to Spectacle Island for some quality hiking and beaches. Boats will be running between Boston’s Long Wharf North and the islands starting at 10 a.m.
May 26, various times; Long Wharf, Boston; bostonharborislands.org.

Honoring Our Heroes

Honor the men and women who served in our nation’s military at the USS Constitution Museum this Memorial Day Weekend. Learn about the daily struggles that crew members on board “Old Ironsides” faced during the War of 1812, and how their stories continue to inspire people today. Throughout the weekend, the Museum will be partnering with Operation Gratitude to create and send paracord “survival” bracelets to deployed troops overseas and first responders in the United States. Don’t have time to make a bracelet? Consider writing a thank you letter that will be included in one of the 100,000 care packages that Operation Gratitude sends out each year. Admission to the Museum is free throughout the weekend for active duty, retired, and reserve military personnel. Admission for others is donation-based.
May 26 - May 28, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., USS Constitution Museum; Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown; ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

Cedar Grove Memorial Day Service and McKeon Post

Dorchester’s annual observance of Memorial Day will have a distinctly Irish accent this year. The keynote speaker of the time-honored ceremony in Cedar Grove Cemetery on May 29 will be Brigadier General Peter O’Halloran, who has served with the Irish Army. The ceremony at Cedar Grove Cemetery starts around 10 a.m. following a parade from the John P. McKeon Post AMVETS #146 on Hilltop Street. Five different Dorchester veteran posts will participate in the observances.
May 28, 10 a.m., Cedar Grove Cemetery; 920 Adams Street, Dorchester; cgcem.org.