On the morning of November 11, the brass of the Burbank Community Band carries across McCambridge Park before you see the players—marches and American classics starting at 10:15 a.m., lawn chairs unfolding, kids hoisted onto shoulders. Across Los Angeles County the same morning, flags rise in cemeteries and civic plazas from the Antelope Valley to Long Beach. Veterans Day 2026 falls on a Wednesday, and the county's calendar fills the days around it with ceremonies, brunches, and concerts. Here is how to move through them.
Hear the Band Play at McCambridge Park in Burbank
Burbank's Veterans Day ceremony pairs a formal observance with a live concert by the Burbank Community Band—patriotic music, marches, and American classics, with the music beginning at 10:15 a.m. Arrive early enough to find a spot on the grass, and plan to stay through the program rather than treating it as a quick stop.
Watch the Flyover at Pasadena City Hall
Pasadena's Veterans Day and America's 250th Anniversary Celebration brings a military flyover over City Hall, alongside guest speakers, historical exhibits, and family activities. The program recognizes the legacy of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps and the contributions of women in military support—give yourself time to walk the exhibits between speakers.
Spend the Morning at Ceremonies Across the County
November 11 is dense with observances, and you can build a day around two or three of them if you plan the geography:
- Lancaster Cemetery — a Remembrance Ceremony at one of the region's historic cemeteries, hosted by the Antelope Valley Cemetery District.
- Arceo Park, El Monte — a Veterans Day ceremony with light refreshments provided.
- Columbia Memorial Space Center, Downey — a Veterans Day ceremony at the space center.
- Chinese Cemetery, Los Angeles — a flag-raising ceremony hosted by Chinatown American Legion Post 628; Legion members are asked to wear their Legion caps.
- Central Park, Whittier — the Annual Veterans Day Celebration with live music, community performances, and family activities; bring blankets and lawn chairs.
- Veterans Historical Plaza, Newhall (Santa Clarita) — the Annual Veterans Day Ceremony with local veterans organizations, musical performances, speakers, and a ceremonial changing of the flags by the Knights of Columbus Santa Clarita.
- Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, Long Beach — a Veterans Day celebration at the medical center.
Start the Day Before, at the Brunch and the Birthday
Veterans Day week opens on Tuesday, November 10, with three gatherings worth arranging your travel around. The 2nd Annual Veterans Brunch at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles honors Veterans Day and the U.S. Marine Corps birthday, hosted by VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System with TELACU Veterans Upward Bound, Veterans Stand Together, and Shriners Los Angeles, and is open to veterans, service members, and families. The same day, the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center marks the Marine Corps' 251st anniversary with a birthday celebration supported by Villa's Tacos. In Arcadia, the Community Center hosts a complimentary Veterans Day lunch with presentations and patriotic entertainment, open to all.
Make a Day of It, From the Valley to the Harbor
The county-wide spread is the point: you can stand at a historic cemetery in Lancaster in the morning light and reach the Long Beach VA campus later the same day, or stay closer to the city and pair the Chinatown flag raising with a Whittier afternoon on the lawn. Whichever route you choose, confirm times and addresses for individual events before you set out, since the county calendar lists programs without full details for every site. Book your stay near the cluster you most want to attend—Burbank and Pasadena for the morning concerts and flyover, or the Antelope Valley if the Lancaster ceremony is your priority—and check the LA County Military & Veterans Affairs events calendar as November approaches for updated specifics.