Bay Area Memorial Day events go virtual
With the Bay Area, the country and the world still working toward a new normal in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, plans to honor Memorial Day, which this year falls on Monday, May 25, have shifted to the online landscape. But with everything from virtual tours of military museums to livestreamed music and comedy events, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday weekend while staying home.
Stand Up for Books Eastwind Books of Berkeley plans to host a comedy fundraiser featuring Margaret Cho, Joel Kim Booster, Sherry Cola, Jenny Yang, Irene Tu and many others via Zoom.
7 p.m. Friday, May 22. $1550 donations encouraged. For more information and to register for access, go to bit.ly/standupfor book.
Carnaval San Francisco The annual Bay Area celebration of Latin American and Caribbean culture moved the party online in 2020, with the theme “Salud Es Poder — Health Is Wealth.” Throughout May, the organization has featured interviews and activities on its Facebook, YouTube and Instagram pages centered on ways to stay physically and mentally healthy.
During Memorial Day weekend, the organization plans to host a livestreamed concert on Sunday, May 24 — in partnership with Dave Martinez Ventures, LatinLive, Jaffe Events, HowLive, MyBravaBox and Earshot Entertainment — to raise money for families in the community impacted by the pandemic. The concert is expected to feature Grammy Awardwinning act Los Tigres del Norte, Bayonics and others.
Carnaval SF plans to also provide live entertainment at the Latino Force Mission Food Hub at 701 Alabama St. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. SaturdaySunday, May 2324, for those waiting in line for free food.
SaturdaySunday, May 2324. Free. Donations encouraged. Sunday’s concert streams online at www.latinlife.com. For more information and archive of streamed performances, go to bit.ly/carnavalsfonline.
USS San Francisco Memorial
After announcing that the memorial’s annual event would be canceled amid COVID19 con
cerns, USS San Francisco Memorial Foundation president John A. McKnight revealed plans to release a brief video on the eve of the federal holiday. The video message, like the inperson event, pays tribute to the service members who lost their lives aboard the heavy cruiser San Francisco during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942.
Video content available Sunday, May 24. Access and more information at usssanfrancisco.org.
Ancestry’s Parade of Heroes Genealogy site Ancestry plans to host a virtual event with performances, interviews and a tribute to the 75th anniversary of World War II. The 45minute event will be hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and is set to feature and a performance by singer Tori Kelly, music from the Lincoln Way marching band from New Lenox, Ill., and interviews with veterans.
8 a.m. Monday, May 25. Free. Live stream available on Ancestry’s Facebook page. The video will then be archived and available to watch anytime at www. ancestry.com.
“Banding Together” Soundwaves TV and 107.7 The Bone plan to host a virtual concert to raise money and awareness for those in the music community affected by the pandemic. The event is expected to feature “at home” performances from noteworthy artists, including the Sam Chase, ZOLA, Matt Jaffe, Phil Demmel, State Line Empire and others; appearances by media luminaries; and interviews with representatives from Bay Area schools, venues, recording studios and record stores threatened by the shutdown.
Noon Monday, May 25. Donations encouraged. For more information and access details, go to www.soundwavestv.com.
Virtual Golden Gate Park As part of Golden Gate Park’s ongoing virtual concert series, patrons have access to a recording of 2019’s Surrealistic Summer Solstice Jam, celebrating the music of 1969. The event was produced by Dawn Holliday with the musical direction of Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz.
The concert special, made available to stream on May 16, features Bay Area music legends, including Norman Greenbaum, Country Joe McDonald, the New Chambers Brothers, It’s a Beautiful Day and Ace of Cups, as well as founding members of iconic Bay Area bands like Jefferson Starship, Santana, Jerry Garcia Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, RatDog and many others.
Stream through May 30. Free. More information, activities and access at www.goldengatepark150.com.
San Francisco Presidio The Presidio Trust plans to share virtual content to commemorate the holiday and honor those who died in military service, in lieu of its canceled annual inperson event. Additionally, the organization offers its Presidio at Home program, featuring a curated collection of free videos, photos, educational tools and more that invite everyone to experience the park while sheltering in place.
Ongoing. For more information, go to www.presidio.gov.
USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum While the Hornet museum remains closed to the public, patrons can honor the federal holiday by taking a virtual tour of the museum, from the ship’s bridge to the engine room. The ship’s website also offers activities for younger audiences, including Apollo 11 coloring pages, an aircraft carrier Hornet puzzle collection, a paper airplane experiment and more.
Ongoing. For more information and access, go to www.usshornet.org.