While Memorial Day is a time to honor those who served, it’s also the unofficial start of summer. From backyard barbecues to meaningful traditions, here are six fun, easy, and kid-friendly ways to spend Memorial Day with your family.

Host a Backyard BBQ With Built-In Fun

There’s no better way to kick-off summer than with a classic barbecue. Grill up burgers, hot dogs, and veggie skewers on the grill. Looking for some Memorial Day side dishes to add to the menu? We’ve got you covered, click here. Don’t forget dessert. An American flag fruit tray makes your red, white, and blue snacks look as good as they taste.

While you are cooking, let the kids work up an appetite with reusable water balloons, a scavenger hunt card set, or a traditional game of football or even soccer.

Catch a Parade and Show Your Patriotic Spirit

If your town has a Memorial Day parade, grab your mini American flags and patriotic party accessories, and make a morning of it. You can even pack a picnic and after the parade, head to a nearby park, set up some lawn chairs and blankets, and let the fun continue! Don’t forget the Frisbee’s, cards, dominoes, and rest of the picnic toys/games to keep everyone entertained.

Get Creative With DIY Patriotic Crafts

Set up a craft table for the kids with this patriotic art supply kit. Create popsicle stick flags, handprint art, or your own red, white, and blue decorations. You can even create a patriotic mural with sidewalk art.

Hit the pool, beach, or lake

Almost everyone is planning to beat the unseasonably warm heat this Monday by taking a dip in some body of water. Whether you hit the pool, beach, or lake, make sure to follow water safety instructions so that you can truly have fun and enjoy. If you do take a trip to the lake or river, consider going on a tubing adventure where you can just lay back, relax, and let the waters move you!

Visit a Memorial or Cemetery

For a more reflective family activity, visit a local memorial or veterans’ cemetery. Bring a bouquet of silk flowers or create a small patriotic arrangement with your kids to leave in remembrance. It’s a heartfelt way to connect to the meaning behind the holiday.

Wind Down With a Patriotic Movie Night

After a fun-filled day, wind down with a movie that celebrates family and values. Stream some of your favorite holiday movies such as The Six Triple Eight, pop some fresh kernels, and cozy up under a stars and stripes throw blanket.

It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; and some records show that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered in 1865. Although it is unclear how Memorial Day began, remember why we now celebrate it.

Happy Memorial Day!