Published November 8, 2026
NEWPORT BEACH | GO DO STUFF | NOVEMBER 8, 2026
Some towns do Veterans Day with a parade. Balboa Island does it with a fire truck that cooks.
The Balboa Island Museum throws an annual Veterans Day barbecue at Balboa Island Park, and Visit Newport Beach’s calendar lists this year’s for Saturday, Nov. 14, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Check the museum’s site for tickets before you go.
What to expect
Going by last year’s, the seventh annual: burgers, hot dogs, chili, chips, ice cream, lemonade, coffee and, because this is a classic island party, Spam. The Newport Beach Fire Department’s Grill Truck did the cooking. There were raffle prizes and special awards for Vietnam War veterans.
Last year tickets were $15 for adults and $10 for kids, and island veterans ate free. The money goes to the museum’s Veteran History Project, which records local veterans’ stories before they get lost. That’s the part worth the price of the hot dog.
The actual holiday
Veterans Day itself is Wednesday, Nov. 11. City offices and the library are closed.
Do it right
- Bring a vet. Bring two.
- Ask somebody where they served. Then listen.
- Take the ferry over from Balboa and make a morning of it on Marine Avenue.
Go say thanks. Eat the Spam. It’s for a good cause.
Sources
- Balboa Island Museum: 7th Annual Veterans Day Barbeque (2025 details)
- Visit Newport Beach: Veterans Day BBQ
- From City Hall to You, Nov. 6, 2026 (Veterans Day closures)
Help us out, Newport.
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