Veterans Day Celebration on the Queen Mary

On Wednesday, November 11, the Queen Mary in Long Beach opens its decks for a Veterans Day celebration. Veterans, active duty military and their guests get complimentary admission, which makes it a solid pick for family events Los Angeles offers on a day off from school and work. The retired ocean liner served as a troop ship in World War II, so the setting suits the occasion.

When: Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Queen Mary, 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach Admission: Free for veterans, active duty and guests, RSVP required Hosted by: The Queen Mary

What to expect

The program mixes a few gentler activities with a bit of history. Live music plays during the afternoon, and there are arts and crafts and other interactive activities for visitors of different ages. One table is set aside for writing a letter to the troops, a simple task that even younger children can take part in with a little help from a parent.

The other draw is the embarkation tour. It covers the history of the ship, from its days crossing the Atlantic as a luxury liner to its wartime service carrying soldiers. For veterans in the family, walking those decks tends to start conversations, and for kids it turns a history lesson into something they can touch. If you are collecting things to do with kids LA has for the holiday, this one pairs a purpose with a real landmark.

Plan your visit

The source lists the admission as complimentary for veterans, active duty military and their guests, with an RSVP required. Reserve ahead through the official event page rather than counting on a walk-up entry. The listing does not spell out how many guests each veteran may bring or what ID to carry, so check the page or contact the ship before you head out if you are bringing a larger group.

The ship sits at the waterfront on Queens Highway, a short drive from downtown Long Beach. Parking and any lot fees are set by the venue and are not part of the free admission, so budget a little for that. Allow extra time to board, since the ship is large and the tour and activities are spread across it. Dress in layers, because the harbor breeze can be cool even on a sunny November afternoon.

If you want to make a day of it, Long Beach has plenty nearby, including the harbor, the Aquarium of the Pacific and the downtown waterfront. Browse more family events or see what else is on in Long Beach, and check upcoming events Los Angeles wide before you lock in the plan.

For the full details and to RSVP, use the Visit Long Beach event page.