Mount Soledad's Veterans Day Ceremony Is on Saturday the 7th, Not Veterans Day

Overview

Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial holds its Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 7 — and that's the detail to get right, because Veterans Day itself is Wednesday, November 11.

The ceremony is four days early. The Memorial publishes nothing for the 11th.

So if you turn up on Veterans Day expecting a ceremony on that hilltop, you'll find the memorial and the view and no event. Saturday the 7th is the day.

Everything about it is free: admission, parking, and the shuttle up the hill.

Here's the practical bit, and it's the thing that makes this easy.

Don't drive to the memorial. Park at one of two lots and take the free shuttle.

Mount Soledad's approach roads are narrow residential streets and the parking at the top is limited at the best of times. The Memorial runs free shuttles from:

• Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church — 6551 Soledad Mountain Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037
• San Diego French-American School — 6550 Soledad Mountain Road, La Jolla, CA 92037

Those two are across the road from each other, which makes it simple — aim for either.

Arrive by 10:30 a.m. That's the Memorial's own recommendation, and with shuttles involved it's good advice.

The Programme

This year's ceremony is titled "Guardians of the Promise," subtitled the 250-Year Unbroken Line — tied to the approaching 250th anniversary of the United States.

• Remarks from distinguished speakers. No lineup is published
• Patriotic music
• A tribute to living veterans, active-duty members and military families

And then it keeps going.

"The Guardians' Gathering" follows on the west lawn, with live music from the band Full Strength starting by 1 p.m., plus refreshments. Free and family friendly. The Memorial's own line: "When the ceremony ends, the celebration begins."

So this isn't an hour and out. Plan for the afternoon if you want it.

How to Go

• When: Saturday, November 7, 2026, 11 a.m. Arrive by 10:30
• Where: Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial, 6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr S., La Jolla, CA 92037
• Admission: free. "No tickets needed"
• Parking: free, off-site, with free shuttles from the two Soledad Mountain Road lots above
• Afterwards: The Guardians' Gathering on the west lawn, live music from 1 p.m.
• Accessibility: not published — see below

Good to Know

• It's Saturday the 7th, not Wednesday the 11th. The single most important thing on this page.
• Take the shuttle. Parking at the top is limited and the roads up are residential.
• Both shuttle lots are on Soledad Mountain Road, essentially opposite each other.
• Arrive by 10:30 for an 11 o'clock start.
• No tickets, no RSVP needed. (Their page shows an "RSVP HERE" prompt that doesn't link anywhere — ignore it, you don't need one.)
• Stay for the afternoon if you can. Live music on the west lawn from 1 p.m.
• Bring sun cover. It's an exposed hilltop at midday.
• If you need accessible seating or access, call ahead — none of that is published.

Why It's Worth It

Mount Soledad is one of the few places in San Diego where the view and the meaning point the same direction. The memorial walls carry thousands of individual veterans' plaques, and the whole county is laid out below them.

A free ceremony at the top of it on a Saturday morning in November, with music afterwards and no ticket to buy, is about as accessible as civic remembrance gets in this city.

Put Saturday the 7th in your calendar, not the 11th. Park on Soledad Mountain Road and ride up.

For more things worth doing, browse our events calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Mount Soledad Veterans Day ceremony? Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 11 a.m. Arrive by 10:30.

Is it on Veterans Day? No. Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, November 11. The Memorial's ceremony is on Saturday the 7th, and nothing is published for the 11th.

How much does it cost? Nothing. Admission and parking are free and no tickets are needed.

Where do I park? Off-site, with free shuttles from Mount Soledad Presbyterian Church (6551 Soledad Mountain Rd) and the San Diego French-American School (6550 Soledad Mountain Road), both in La Jolla 92037.

Do I need to RSVP? No. The event page says no tickets are needed.

What's the ceremony called? "Guardians of the Promise," subtitled the 250-Year Unbroken Line.

What happens afterwards? The Guardians' Gathering on the west lawn, with live music from the band Full Strength starting by 1 p.m. and refreshments. Free and family friendly.

Where is the memorial? 6905 La Jolla Scenic Dr S., La Jolla, CA 92037.