Memorial Day is the official start of the summer season and if you are looking for something other than a parade or a cook-out, here is a sampling of some interesting Memorial Day events. 

On Saturday, a tour of Trailside's Luquer-Marble Wildflower Garden will be held. The flowers are in peak and this garden is home to over 70 species of flowers and ferns and includes some increasingly rare native plant species. Trailside Nature Museum, Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Routes 35 & 121 South, Cross River, NY  10518, Saturday May 28.  

Animals & Acrobats takes visitors back to the days of the traveling circus with fire jugglers, tumbling acrobats, rope walkers and magicians as they used to travel the countryside as a ragged band of entertainers, setting up shop at various locations in Van Cortlandt Manor. Continuous performances over the holiday weekend feature a baby bear, airborne acrobats, contortionists, and are lead by Ringmaster Jonathan Kruk.  Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 South Riverside Avenue (off Route 9), Croton-on-Hudson. Saturday through Monday, 10am to 5pm. 

The U.S. Marine Corps will demonstrate a helicopter search and rescue effort at Playland Park on Sunday. The West Point Concert Band will perform for Service Member Appreciation Day on Sunday at noon.  Playland Beach, Playland Park, Rye. 

26th Annual Memorial Day Antiques Fair features over 85 booths of antiques and collectible on at Lasdon Park & Arboretum, 2610 Amawalk Road (Rte. 35), Katonah, NY 10536. Monday 10am to 5pm  

If a marching band is a must, Mamaroneck will begin its annual Memorial Day parade at 5 pm on Sunday outside the Mamaroneck Avenue School. The parade will head down Mamaroneck Avenue, turn onto Prospect Avenue and finish up at the American Legion Post 90 at 189 Prospect Avenue.

Happy Memorial Day!