6 Memorial Day Weekend Events for an Elevated Summer ‘26 Kickoff

When Memorial Day Weekend rolls around, the vibe in NYC shifts to a distinctly summery flair. MDW 2026 is packed with opportunities for daytime exploration, late-night partying, and everything in between. Elevate the start of your summer with these dazzling MDW 2026 events.

1. Catch the Rocky Horror Show’s Broadway rendition at Studio 54

Opened just last month, the 2026 Broadway rendition of this cult favorite is being shown at the iconic Studio 54 — yes, the one from disco’s glory days. It’s almost too perfect of a setting for this campy ‘70s horror-glam musical, for which there are four performances across Memorial Day Weekend 2026. Pair the show, which stars iconic performers including Luke Evans, Juliette Lewis, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, with cannabis products that elevate every act.

Dates and times: 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 22; 3:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23; 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24

Address: 254 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019

Directions from The Travel Agency: 18-minute walk from The Travel Agency – Fifth Avenue

2. Dance and picnic at Prospect Park

After that half-day, you’re inevitably taking on the Friday of MDW. Start your Saturday morning with some body-rocking fun under the sun. With the Dance Fitness – Upbeat Pop class at Audubon Center at the Prospect Park Boathouse, you’ll roll, shake, clap, and grapevine your way into the weekend.

After the class wraps up, throw a picnic blanket down on the grassy patch across from the Camperdown Elm and enjoy a light post-workout brunch near this historic tree. Alongside your usual picnic staples, pack some Camino Sours Energy Tropical Burst gummies. With a 2:1 ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), they’re great for pairing cannabis and exercise and then keeping the buzz going for your picnic.

Date and time: Saturday, May 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Address: 101 East Dr, Brooklyn, NY 11225

Directions from The Travel Agency: 13 minutes / 2 stops on the Q from The Travel Agency – Downtown Brooklyn

3. Party day-to-night with Tinzo + Jojo on the Elsewhere rooftop

Bask in the summer sun and transition into evening bliss on Elsewhere’s lively rooftop, where you can experience six hours of DJ sets from Tinzo + Jojo on Saturday, May 23. The festivities begin at 4 p.m. at this hip Brooklyn venue near the Jefferson Street L station, continuing through 10 p.m. amid a crowd of revelers dressed to impress. (Pro tip: Stick around for a full-venue hard techno night that runs from 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. — you can spend basically a full day here.)

Your phone won’t be allowed on the dance floor at the Tinzo + Jojo event, so this is an occasion for truly getting lost in the moment. You may find this easier with an uplifting, euphoric Woodstock Picasso Moon pre-roll in your pocket.

Date and time: Saturday, May 23, 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Address: 599 Johnson Ave #1, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Distance from The Travel Agency: 23 minutes / 9 stops on the L from The Travel Agency – Union Square

4. Tour NYC through ice cream

If it’s summer, it’s time for as much ice cream as your heart desires. Use Sugar Spice and Glitter’s self-guided NYC ice cream tour to hit all the Big Apple’s best spots in one go. Drop by however many ice cream shops you want, even if that’s just a few, on whichever day of MDW feels right for a sweet treat.

If you’re drawn to the Union Square area for this adventure, we recommend closing out your tour with Gelateria Gentile. It’s open till midnight just three blocks from The Travel Agency – Union Square, where you can pick up a Timeless vape to enhance the flavor. Choose the Blackberry Kush cultivar to potentially reignite your hunger and, once you’re home, sleep more easily.

Date and time: Whenever you want

Address: Wherever your day takes you, though Gelateria Gentile is at 75 University Pl, New York, NY 10003

Distance from The Travel Agency: Varies, though Gelateria Gentile is a 4-minute walk from The Travel Agency – Union Square

5. Watch great movies (and see so much more) at Museum of the Moving Image

At the Museum of the Moving Image, displays about everything film- and image-related — X-ray technology, The Muppets, even blockchain — are only part of the fun. This Astoria museum also doubles as an independent theater that hosts regular film screenings, including two can’t-miss showings during MDW 2026.

The first is Alipato at Muog, a 2024 documentary that was censored in the Philippines. In the film, director JL Burgos explores the kidnapping of his brother, a known farmer-activist and organizer, in broad daylight. The second is Dog Day Afternoon, a 1975 crime drama known for one of Al Pacino’s greatest performances as a crook at wit’s end. Before watching a movie at this museum, light up with Find.’s Modified Goat flower (we deliver to Astoria!) to get truly immersed in the story.

Dates and times: Alipato at Muog screens Friday, May 22, at 6 p.m.; Dog Day Afternoon screens Saturday, May 23 at 1:15 p.m.

Address: 36-01 35th Ave, Queens, NY 11106

Distance from The Travel Agency: 26 minutes / 6 stops on the M from The Travel Agency – Fifth Avenue

6. Close out MDW with a history lesson at Grand Army Plaza

Although Memorial Day is best known in NYC as the unofficial start of summer, it’s also a federal holiday rich with history. To close out your MDW, learn all about the latter with a registration-required Memorial Day history lesson at Grand Army Plaza.

Head to the giant arch (you know the one) for a presentation from the Urban Park Rangers. They’ll teach you about how the Civil War is related to Memorial Day and why this holiday happens in May. Once that’s wrapped up, explore the Grand Army Plaza area with a 10-pack of Higgs’ potentially uplifting, energizing 19’s mini pre-rolls in tow.

Date and time: Monday, May 25, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Address: 20 Grand Army Plz, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Distance from The Travel Agency: 25-minute walk (or 13 minutes / 2 stops on the 2/3 train) from The Travel Agency – Downtown Brooklyn

Quick tips for pairing cannabis with Memorial Day Weekend

Whether you’re an experienced traveler or newer to cannabis, you should pace yourself, consider discretion, shop licensed, and chat with The Travel Agency’s friendly budtenders to find the best products for your adventures.

Start low and go slow. At first, consume a smaller amount of cannabis than you think you can handle. Only after your product’s onset time passes should you consume more, and only if you truly need stronger effects. Use our cannabis dosing guide to learn about onset times and discover your ideal starting dose.

Keep it discreet. The list of places where you can smoke in NYC isn’t as big as you might think. Keep the rules in mind so you’re only lighting up or taking a pull from your vape where allowed, or stick to edibles (including THC drinks) for complete discretion.

Choose only licensed dispensaries. Only at licensed dispensaries do all products undergo state-mandated lab testing for potency, purity, and quality. If a dispensary has a teal sticker with a QR code at its entrance that, upon scanning, takes you to the NYS dispensary verification tool, it’s licensed.

Get help finding your ideal products. At The Travel Agency, our outgoing, informative budtenders tailor their recommendations to your exact wants and needs. Tell us what kind of adventures you’re seeking, and we’ll get you where you’re going.

Power your Memorial Day Weekend with The Travel Agency

This MDW, swing by The Travel Agency to energize yourself for outdoor exercise, sink into a focused mindstate ideal for movie screenings, or gear up for an all-night adventure. We’ll help you pack a perfect bag whether your itinerary includes stops in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, or beyond. Visit our locations in Union Square, SoHo, Downtown Brooklyn, or Midtown East (Fifth Avenue) to elevate every occasion from MDW and beyond.