18 Fun and Festive Memorial Day Party Ideas

On Memorial Day we remember and honor all the brave men and women who serve us and our county. Protecting us and preserving the American dream – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Memorial Day is also the traditional kick-off to summer. Celebrate the long 3-day weekend with a gathering or 2 of family, friend, and neighbors.

Here are some Memorial Day party and menu ideas to get your Memorial Day party started. Memorial Day Party ideas from Breakfast, brunch, and dinner.

Every menu idea is super easy so that everyone can enjoy the party and no one is stuck in the kitchen.

Memorial Day Party Ideas and Menus

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Hearty & Healthy Breakfast Menu

A fresh juice bar, homemade granola, fresh fruit, and a selection of mini quiche. This is the perfect breakfast to kick-off a busy holiday weekend.

Fresh Fruit juice Bar

Fresh Fruit Bowls –

Combine several types of fruit for a simple fruit medley.

Cantaloupe, Honeydew or Watermelon
Grapes
Strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries
Pineapple
Oranges or Clementines
Kiwi or Starfruit

Peel and chop melons into about 1-in squares, or if you want something a little more decorative, use a melon baller and make melon balls. Peel orange and cut into pieces. If you are using star fruit or kiwis, slice crosswise. Star fruit make very appealing star-shaped slices. Mix all fruit together into a bowl, leaving the strawberries and grapes whole. Tossing fruit with a little lemon juice will prevent any browning of the cut fruits and keep fruits fresh. It also adds a nice flavor.

Mini Quiche (featured)

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Down South Memorial Day Breakfast Menu

Memorial Day Party Ideas

This is the breakfast menu my family served when I was a child for holidays, special occasions and family get-togethers.

Fresh Fruit Juice Bar

Best-ever Southern Buttermilk Biscuits (featured)

Simple Scrambled Eggs with Roasted Red Peppers

Easy Crispy Peppered Bacon

Hashbrown Casserole

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Memorial Day Brunch Menu

For busy holiday weekends, brunch is the perfect excuse to get family and friends together for a long leisurely meal, served with a champagne and juice bar.

Brunch is the perfect way to kick-off a long leisurely weekend. Serve simple food with a bubbly bar and just sit back and relax. Let the conversation flow. I like to begin brunch around 11 AM and just let them go well into the afternoon.

I’ll usually have a charcuterie tray ready to go if the party extends into the afternoon and some fresh shrimp to toss on the grill to keep the party going.

The perfect way to spend the day.

Mimosa & Bellini Bar

Spanish Tortilla also called Tortilla de Patata or Potato Omelette

Seared Ahi Tuna Cups

Grilled Nectarine and Arugula Salad

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Cajun Memorial Day Zydeco Brunch Menu

Put on a little Zydeco, Dixieland Jazz and mix in some smooth jazz and a little bit of blues music and settle in with a spicy Cajun Bloody Mary or a Classic Bloody Mary.

This is a hearty brunch menu and could easily be served for lunch or dinner. Add a spicy Gumbo for lunch or dinner.

Spicy Cajun Bloody Mary or a Classic Bloody Mary

Voodoo Shrimp House of Blues Easy Copycat Recipe

Southern Skillet Cornbread with Bacon, Spinach and Cheddar

Morning Call Beignets

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Grilled Make-Your-Own Pizza Party

This is such an easy and fun party to throw. Pizza cooks super fast on the grill and the crust gets perfectly crisp. This is a crowd pleaser since everyone gets to choose their own toppings.

This will become your new favorite way to cook pizza.

Classic Sangria or Fruity Frose or Your Favorite Frosty Beer

Make Your Own Grilled Pizza

Heirloom Tomato Basil and Fresh Mozzarella Salad

Easy Chocolate Fondue Recipe

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Backyard Burgers and Brews Mother’s Day Menu

Sometimes the best days are spent lazing around the backyard or the pool and firing up the grill and cooking up some burgers.

Pitchers of Red, White, and Blue Mojitos

Choose one of these burger options

Red Hot Bacon Blue Cheese Burger

South of the Border Burger with Guacamole and Fried Jalapeno

Aloha Burger – with teriyaki sauce and grilled pineapple

Spicy Italian Burger – with onions and peppers and Hot Dry Capocollo with provolone

Stuffed Pesto Turkey Burger – with Bacon and Feta Cheese

Black Bean Veggie Burger – with pico de gallo, guacamole and queso

Don’t be Crabby Burger – with melted brie and spicy pineapple slaw

Feta Watermelon Salad

Sweet Balsamic Strawberries

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Make Your Own Taco Party

Everyone loves tacos and setting up a make your own taco bar is super fun and easy.

Perfect Palomas or Strawberry Basil Margarita

Make Your Own Taco Bar

Mexican Street Corn

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Memorial Day Tapas Party Menu

These little bites of love and yum are perfect for serving a crowd or just hangin’ out on Memorial Day.

White and Strawberry Peach Sangria

Choose 3 or 4 depending on the number of guests

Crab and Brie Wonton Cups

Buffalo Chicken Beggars Purse

Chicken Salad Wonton Cups

Seared Ahi Tuna Wonton Cups

Cambozola, with pistachio and almond drizzled with honey

Camembert with Fig Jam

Brie with Lemon Curd

Cream Cheese with Hot Pepper Jelly

Gruyere with Sautéed Mushrooms

Mozzarella with Oil-packed Sun-dried Tomatoes

Butternut Squash with Goat Cheese and Fried Sage

Spanakopita – Spinach and Feta Cheese Phyllo Cups

Chicken Pesto

Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese and Rosemary

Herbed Goat Cheese with Crispy Bacon Jam

Mexican Chocolate Bourbon Fondue

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Charcuterie Cocktail Party Menu

Memorial Day Party Ideas

Charcuterie platters are so much fun and take the cheese tray to new heights. Served with a Strawberry Rosemary Frosé or your favorite wine or Sangria.

Strawberry Rosemary Frosé

Charcuterie Platter with fresh fruit and assorted cheese and crackers

Marinated Roasted Italian Veggies

Your Favorite Wine

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Memorial Day Party Idea

Memorial Day Italian Feast Menu

A slow cooker cooks the chicken so you can sit back an relax with your guests and enjoy a glass of Chianti and a bowl of garlic steamed clams with the gang.

Chianti

Wine and Garlic Steamed Clams

Slow Cooker Chicken Fra Diavlo

Crusty Italian Bread served with a mixture of Italian spices, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

Italian Roast Vegetables

Italian Trifle or Zuppa Inglese

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Super Easy Crawfish Boil Memorial Day Dinner Menu

Try this Super Easy Crawfish Boil recipe for your Memorial Day party or for a fun backyard get together.

Easy Crawfish Boil Party

Crawfish boils are a part of Louisiana life, friends and neighbors get together to gorge themselves on piles of succulent “mudbugs” A crawfish boil is an all afternoon and many times late into the evening affair. A crawfish boil is an ideal way to spend a lazy afternoon with the gang or for a super easy party – anytime.

Pat O’Brien’s Copycat Hurricane Cocktail

Crawfish Boil with corn and potatoes

Loaves of French Bread

Simple Green Salad

New Orlean’s Bread Pudding

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Elegant Memorial Day Dinner Menu

Filet Mignon, potatoes au gratin and a French 75 champagne cocktail – simply heaven. Elegant, easy and the perfect way to celebrate Memorial Day.

French 75

Filet Mignon

Potatoes Au Gratin Tart

Your Favorite Bold and Juicy Red Wine

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Summer Seafood Memorial Day Dinner Menu

Lobster and clams in a spicy garlic wine sauce with shrimp, clams, and mussels is a super easy and decadent meal to celebrate Memorial Day.

Classic Champagne Cocktail

Lobster, Shrimp, Clams, and Mussels in a Spicy Garlic Wine Sauce

Angel Hair Pasta with Homemade Pesto

Crusty Italian or Sour Dough Bread

Sweet Basalmic Strawberries

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Memorial Day Shrimp Boil Menu

I love throwing big open house parties during the summer in the backyard by the pool. I want the parties to be easy and stress-free. So sometimes we do a potluck, but most of the time we plan and serve the food and drinks.

The key to enjoying your party when entertaining a crowd is to follow the K.I.S.S. method – “keep it, simple, stupid”. That means no fancy recipes. I love to throw what I call one-pot parties. Try one with this easy low country shrimp boil to make your party fun for you and your guests. This is such a low-stress entertaining option, you’ll do these one-pot parties all summer and into fall.

Ice Cold Beer + Bayou Swamp Water Cocktail

Easy Low-Country Shrimp Boil

Crusty Bread

Spiked Watermelon

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Memorial Day Party Ideas

Tropical Island BBQ Menu

The flavors of spicy jerk pork and silky smooth coconut rice with bananas and cashews. Make this an awesome Memorial Day BBQ menu that will satisfy the crowd.