Memorial Day is May 31, 2027. Durham County's ceremony, city and county closings, GoDurham's Sunday service and the one-day trash delay, from the 2026 notices.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027. The 2027 notices are not out yet; the details below are from the City of Durham’s 2026 Memorial Day notice and Durham County’s 2026 notice, and we will replace them when the 2027 versions are posted.

Durham marks Memorial Day with the county’s remembrance ceremony downtown, a roll call of the county’s war dead. City and county offices, libraries and recreation centers close, buses run a Sunday schedule and Monday’s trash moves to Tuesday. It is also a day off for Durham Public Schools students.

Who to call

  • Durham County Veteran Services: 919-560-8387, veteranservices@dconc.gov
  • Durham One Call (city services): 919-560-1200, closed on the holiday
  • Water main breaks and sewer overflows after hours and on holidays: 919-560-4344
  • GoDurham: 919-485-RIDE (7433)
  • Emergency: 911

Memorial Day ceremony

Durham County Veteran Services’ annual Memorial Day Remembrance Event was at 9 a.m. Monday, May 25, 2026, in Conference Room 126 of the William V. Bell Building, 201 E. Main St., downtown, according to the county’s announcement.

  • A roll call of the more than 350 known Durham County veterans who died in service.
  • A POW/MIA Table Ceremony for service members taken prisoner or listed as missing.
  • A wreath laid at the county’s war memorials, then “Taps.”
  • Free and open to the public, with seating and light refreshments. Park on nearby streets or in the city garages.

The 2027 date and time had not been posted when we checked. Veterans’ groups, churches and cemeteries holding a public observance can send the details through our contact page.

What is open and closed

From the 2026 city and county notices:

Service Memorial Day (2026 pattern)
City Hall and most city offices Closed
Durham County offices Closed; reopen Tuesday
Durham County Library, all branches Closed; reopen Tuesday
Durham Parks and Recreation office and facilities, including indoor pools Closed, except rentals
Lake Michie and Little River Lake Open on their regular schedule, 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Monday in 2026
GoDurham and GoDurham ACCESS Sunday-level service
Downtown parking Free on city holidays in on-street spaces, city surface lots and some city garages
Durham One Call Closed; requests online, in the app or by voicemail at 919-560-1200
Durham County Department of Public Health Closed

Trash and recycling

  • City customers: in 2026 the city delayed Monday garbage, recycling and yard waste collections by one business day, to Tuesday. The Waste Disposal and Recycling Center, the Yard Waste Facility and the Household Hazardous Waste Center closed for the day. Check the Durham Rollout app for your street and our trash and recycling page.
  • County customers: in 2026 the county’s solid waste and recycling convenience sites closed on Memorial Day and reopened Tuesday. County roadside recycling kept its normal schedule that week.

The long weekend

  • Pools: the city’s outdoor Hillside Pool did not open until June 10 in 2026; the indoor pools close on the holiday. Details are on our summer camps and pools page.
  • Lakes: Lake Michie and Little River Lake are open over the weekend.
  • Outdoors: greenways and trailheads are on our walking and biking trails guide.

What this means for you

  • Monday trash customers: roll carts out Tuesday.
  • Need a city service over the weekend? File it online or in the Durham One Call app; staff pick it up the next business day.
  • For the Fourth of July, see our fireworks page.

Frequently asked questions

When is Memorial Day 2027?

Monday, May 31, 2027. It is also a holiday on the Durham Public Schools 2026-27 calendar.

Is there a Memorial Day ceremony in Durham?

Yes. Durham County Veteran Services holds an annual Memorial Day Remembrance Event. In 2026 it was at 9 a.m. on Memorial Day in Conference Room 126 of the William V. Bell Building, 201 E. Main St., free and open to the public.

Is trash picked up on Memorial Day in Durham?

No. In 2026 the city delayed Monday garbage, recycling and yard waste pickup by one business day, to Tuesday. Check the Durham Rollout app for 2027.

Do GoDurham buses run on Memorial Day?

In 2026 GoDurham and GoDurham ACCESS ran Sunday-level service on Memorial Day.

Are Durham libraries open on Memorial Day?

No. In 2026 every Durham County Library location closed on Memorial Day and reopened the next day.