San Clemente is a Marine town in a quiet, everyday way. Camp Pendleton begins just south of the city, Marines show up at local ceremonies, and the city has an adopted battalion. Veterans Day is when that connection is most visible. This guide covers what the City and local organizers have actually published for 2026, what we could not confirm, and where to go if you want to honor a veteran or you are one yourself.
How we put it together. We checked the City of San Clemente's calendar first, then the Marine Monument site run by the Heritage of San Clemente Foundation, then local reporting from the San Clemente Times and a regional Orange County events roundup. Where a detail came from only one source, we say so. Veterans Day event details are often announced late, so treat our unconfirmed items as things to verify, not plans to rely on.
When is Veterans Day 2026, and what is closed?
Veterans Day is always November 11, and in 2026 it falls on a Wednesday. The City's calendar lists "Veterans Day, City offices closed" as an all-day entry for November 11, so City Hall, permit counters and similar services will not be open. The City also lists Thanksgiving and the day after as closures, which we cover in our Thanksgiving guide.
A few practical notes. The City Council is listed to meet on Tuesday, November 10, at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, the day before the holiday. OCTA's holiday schedule page names only New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas as days when buses run on a Sunday or holiday schedule, and does not list Veterans Day, which suggests regular service. We could not confirm that, so call OCTA at 714-636-7433 or check the schedule before you rely on a bus. As a federal holiday, federal offices close, and banks and other businesses may keep their own hours, so check anything you need that day.
| Date | What | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Nov 8 | Veterans ceremony at Park Semper Fi, 1 p.m. | One regional listing. Not on the City calendar or the foundation's site. Unconfirmed |
| Tue, Nov 10 | Marine Corps birthday. City Council meeting at 4:30 p.m. | Council meeting is on the City calendar. Birthday is a fixed date |
| Wed, Nov 11 | Veterans Day. City offices closed | Confirmed on the City calendar |
| Sat, Nov 14 | Veterans Day celebration at Heroes Hall, Costa Mesa, noon to 3 p.m. | Listing only, details to confirm with Heroes Hall |
| Thu, Nov 26 | Thanksgiving. City offices closed | Confirmed on the City calendar |
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What is the San Clemente Veterans ceremony, and when is it in 2026?
San Clemente's annual Veterans Ceremony takes place at the Marine Monument in Park Semper Fi, in the Pier Bowl above the pier. The Heritage of San Clemente Foundation, a nonprofit, hosts it with the City. It is open to the public and, in recent years, has been a mix of speeches, music, a color guard and recognition of veterans and Marines.
For 2026, one Orange County events roundup lists a Veterans ceremony and Marine Corps birthday event on Sunday, November 8, at 1 p.m. at Park Semper Fi, on Avenida Victoria in the Pier Bowl. We could not find that event on the City's own calendar (which shows nothing on November 8) or on the Marine Monument site, whose events list shows Veterans Day 2025 but not 2026. The roundup page is an unofficial source, and the page itself notes that confirmation is up to the organizers. So the honest status is: likely, but unconfirmed.
| Year | Date and time reported | What was reported |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Saturday, Nov 12, noon | Dedication of the Marine Monument, on the Marine Corps' 230th birthday (Marine Monument site) |
| 2018 | Friday, Nov 9, 10 a.m. | Parade down Avenida Del Mar welcoming home Marines of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (San Clemente Times) |
| 2021 | A Sunday afternoon, 2 p.m. | Veterans ceremony and Marine Corps birthday event with a plaque dedication (Patch) |
| 2025 | Saturday, Nov 8 | City's annual Veterans Ceremony hosted by the Heritage of San Clemente Foundation, marking the Marine Corps' 250th anniversary (San Clemente Times) |
| 2026 | Sunday, Nov 8, 1 p.m. (listing) | Unconfirmed. Check with the organizers |
The pattern is useful: the ceremony is usually held on a weekend near the Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day, not on the 11th. That is why a Wednesday visit to Park Semper Fi on November 11 may be a quiet one, and why Sunday, November 8 is the date to ask about. Even the start time has varied, with one 2025 guide listing noon and others giving different times, so arrive early the first time.
What happened at the 2025 ceremony
The San Clemente Times covered the 2025 event, held on Saturday, November 8. Residents, city leaders and service members gathered at Park Semper Fi for the city's annual Veterans Ceremony, which also marked the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. Wayne Eggleston, the former mayor and executive director of the Heritage of San Clemente Foundation, served as master of ceremonies.
The program opened with prelude music and the presentation of colors by the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines at Camp Pendleton, which the report calls San Clemente's adopted unit. A San Clemente High School senior sang the national anthem, a chaplain from the battalion gave the invocation, and Mayor Steve Knoblock delivered welcoming remarks. Two Marine Corps commanding officers, from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines and the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, gave keynote addresses. We expect the 2026 program, if held as listed, to follow a similar outline, but that is an expectation, not a published schedule.
What is Park Semper Fi?
Park Semper Fi is a small park in the Pier Bowl, overlooking the San Clemente Pier, built around a life-sized bronze statue of a Marine in Dress Blue uniform. According to the Marine Monument site, the monument was dedicated on Saturday, November 12, 2005, at noon, on the Marine Corps' 230th birthday. The Heritage of San Clemente Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, raised the money privately.
The San Clemente Times reported in October 2025 that the park was marking its 20th anniversary, and credited former mayor Wayne Eggleston with the vision. The report describes the park as a symbol of service and sacrifice and of the ties between the Marine Corps and the coastal community, drawing thousands of visitors each year. The Marine Monument site also asks for contributions toward a plaque honoring the Marines, Army and Navy personnel killed at Kabul airport on August 26, 2021, which is to be installed at the park. If you want to help in a concrete way, that is a documented project.
If you are visiting, the park sits in the same part of town as the pier, the Beach Trail and Avenida Del Mar. Our Downtown and Pier Bowl guide explains the area, and our Beach Trail guide covers walking and the train. Parking in the Pier Bowl is limited, and on busy days it fills, so arrive early or take the train to the San Clemente Pier station, which Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink serve.
Curious what daily life in the Pier Bowl is like? Read the Downtown guide. See Downtown & Pier Bowl
What is the Marine Corps birthday, and why does San Clemente celebrate it?
The Marine Corps marks its birthday on November 10. The San Clemente Times called the 2025 anniversary the 250th, which makes 2026 the 251st. The monument itself was dedicated on the Marine Corps' 230th birthday in 2005, and the foundation has tied the Veterans ceremony to that date ever since, which is why the event is billed as a Veterans ceremony and Marine Corps birthday event.
The connection runs deeper than a statue. San Clemente's adopted unit is the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), based at Camp Pendleton. When the battalion returned from a six-month deployment to northern Australia in 2018, the city threw a parade down Avenida Del Mar on November 9 at 10 a.m. City officials said at the time that it was the first military parade of its kind since at least 2012, and then-mayor Tim Brown said the city has had adopted units since the 1990s. Camp Pendleton's Marines also appear at local events, and in 2025 the battalion presented the colors at Park Semper Fi.
We found no published plan for a 2026 parade or a battalion event in San Clemente. If you want to know what the battalion or the foundation has planned, the foundation's Marine Monument page and its Facebook page are the most direct places to ask.
What other Veterans Day ceremonies are nearby?
If you want a ceremony on the 11th itself, several nearby cities hold one. These are from an Orange County events roundup, last updated October 25, 2026. Many entries are marked time to be announced, so confirm each with the city.
| City | Event | Date and time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dana Point | Veterans Day Service (VFW Post 9934) | Wed, Nov 11, time to be announced | Strands Vista Park, 34201 Selva Rd. |
| Ladera Ranch | Veterans Day gathering | Wed, Nov 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., ceremony 10:30 a.m. | Town Green |
| Laguna Niguel | Veterans Day ceremony | Wed, Nov 11, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free | Sea Country Senior & Community Center, 24602 Aliso Creek Rd. |
| Mission Viejo | Veterans Day ceremony | Wed, Nov 11, time to be announced | Norman P. Murray Community & Senior Center, 24932 Veterans Way |
| Lake Forest | El Toro Memorial Park 37th Annual Veterans Day Program | Wed, Nov 11, 11 a.m., free, rain or shine | 25751 Trabuco Rd. |
| Irvine | City Veterans Day ceremony | Wed, Nov 11, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free | Marine Corps Memorial Park |
| Costa Mesa | Veterans Day celebration at Heroes Hall | Sat, Nov 14, noon to 3 p.m., free hot dogs and chips | OC Fair & Event Center |
| Huntington Beach | Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day event | Tue, Nov 10, 3 to 9 p.m., tickets required | Bolsa Chica State Beach |
The roundup has no listing for San Juan Capistrano or the Camp Pendleton area, so those are gaps in the list, not proof that nothing is happening. The Heroes Hall event in Costa Mesa is listed for November 14. Earlier years' versions of that event have been free, and a 2025 listing placed it on a Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., but we could not find a 2026 announcement from the venue, so confirm with the OC Fair & Event Center before you drive up.
Moving to San Clemente from elsewhere in Orange County? Compare the neighborhoods first. Compare neighborhoods
How can you plan Veterans Day weekend in San Clemente?
Because the main ceremony is likely the weekend before the holiday, plan around that, and treat the 11th as a day to visit the park and nearby ceremonies. Here is a simple outline.
- Early in the week: check the Marine Monument page and the City's calendar for a confirmed 2026 ceremony time and place. Call the City at 949-361-8200 if neither lists it.
- Sunday, November 8: attend the ceremony at Park Semper Fi if it is confirmed. Arrive early, because the Pier Bowl is compact.
- Tuesday, November 10: the Marine Corps birthday. Say thank you to a Marine or a veteran you know.
- Wednesday, November 11: City offices are closed. Pick a nearby ceremony, such as Laguna Niguel or Irvine at 11 a.m., or walk the Beach Trail to the pier.
- Saturday, November 14: the Heroes Hall celebration in Costa Mesa, if the venue confirms it.
If you are bringing children, the ceremonies are quiet and last under an hour or two, according to the listed times. A flag, a folding chair and a layer for ocean breezes are enough. For food before or after, our food and drink guide lists places near Avenida Del Mar, and our beaches guide covers the sand below the park.
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How can you honor veterans in San Clemente beyond attending?
- Contribute to the Kabul plaque. The Marine Monument site asks for donations for the plaque honoring the personnel killed on August 26, 2021, to be installed at Park Semper Fi.
- Attend the ceremony and the Marine Corps birthday event if they are held. Turnout matters to the Marines who present the colors.
- Check on a neighbor. Many veterans do not mention their service. A visit, a ride to an appointment or help with a chore is often more useful than a flag on a porch.
- Support the groups that run these events. The Heritage of San Clemente Foundation is a nonprofit, and its site explains how to contribute.
- Hire and refer veteran-owned businesses when you can, and thank the people who serve you.
None of these needs a ticket or a registration. If you want to volunteer at a ceremony, contact the foundation through its site, since we did not find a volunteer sign-up.
What help exists for veterans who live here or want to?
If you are a veteran, or you are helping one, there are three sources worth knowing about. We link to the official pages. We cannot confirm eligibility for any person, and benefits change, so check the source for your situation.
Orange County Veterans Service Office
The county's Veterans Service Office offers free benefits claims counseling and referral help to veterans, their dependents and survivors, including service-connected disability claims, survivors benefits, burial benefits and education benefits. The county's page lists the Santa Ana office at 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B and a phone line at 714-480-6555. Appointments can be booked online or by phone. A third-party listing shows different hours from the county's own, so call ahead before you drive.
VA home loans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says VA direct and VA-backed home loans can help veterans, service members and their survivors buy, build, improve or refinance a home, and that nearly 90 percent of VA-backed loans are made with no down payment. You need a Certificate of Eligibility, which shows the lender you qualify, and you still need the credit and income a lender requires. The VA page does not explain the funding fee or closing costs in the section we read, so ask a lender to walk you through those and to explain how a VA loan works at San Clemente prices. Our market update shows where prices sit, and our buying guide covers the costs beyond the price.
CalVet Home Loan
California's Department of Veterans Affairs runs its own CalVet Home Loan program. County benefit sheets describe it as funded by state bonds, with eligibility generally tied to 90 days of active duty and a discharge that is not dishonorable, plus financial qualification. The program's official page was not available when we checked, and some of the material we found is older, so start at calvet.ca.gov and confirm the current loan limits, fees and eligibility before you rely on any number.
Thinking about buying or selling in San Clemente? Alex can walk you through the neighborhoods, the numbers and what to ask a lender, whether or not you have served.
For the rest of the season, see our guides to Halloween in San Clemente, Thanksgiving and Christmas lights and holiday events, and our overview of moving to San Clemente.
Frequently asked questions about this topic
When is Veterans Day 2026?
Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The City of San Clemente's calendar lists City offices as closed that day.
Is there a Veterans Day ceremony in San Clemente in 2026?
The annual Veterans Ceremony is held at Park Semper Fi in the Pier Bowl. One regional listing says Sunday, November 8 at 1 p.m., but we could not confirm it on the City calendar or the Marine Monument site. Check with the Heritage of San Clemente Foundation or the City.
Where is Park Semper Fi?
In the Pier Bowl, overlooking the San Clemente Pier. It holds the Marine Monument, a bronze statue of a Marine in Dress Blues, dedicated on November 12, 2005.
Who runs the San Clemente Veterans Ceremony?
The Heritage of San Clemente Foundation, a nonprofit, hosts it in partnership with the City, according to local reporting. Wayne Eggleston, a former mayor, is its executive director.
What is the Marine Corps birthday?
November 10. The Marine Corps marked its 250th anniversary in 2025, so 2026 is the 251st.
What is San Clemente's adopted unit?
The 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4) from Camp Pendleton. Its Marines presented the colors at the 2025 ceremony, and the city held a welcome-home parade for the battalion in 2018.
Are City offices open on Veterans Day?
No. The City's calendar lists City offices closed on November 11, 2026.
Do buses run on Veterans Day?
OCTA's holiday schedule page does not list Veterans Day among the days it runs a holiday schedule, which suggests regular service. Confirm with OCTA at 714-636-7433.
Are there Veterans Day ceremonies on November 11 near San Clemente?
A regional roundup lists Dana Point, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest and Irvine ceremonies on November 11, several at 11 a.m. Many are marked time to be announced, so confirm with each city.
Where can veterans get help with benefits?
The Orange County Veterans Service Office in Santa Ana offers free claims counseling and referral help. Its phone line is 714-480-6555. Call ahead for hours and appointments.
Can I buy a home with no down payment as a veteran?
The VA says nearly 90 percent of VA-backed loans are made with no down payment, but you need a Certificate of Eligibility and must meet a lender's credit and income requirements. Ask a lender about the funding fee and closing costs.
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Further reading
- City of San Clemente events calendar
- Marine Monument and Park Semper Fi (Heritage of San Clemente Foundation)
- San Clemente Times: San Clemente Honors Veterans, Marines at Park Semper Fi (2025)
- San Clemente Times: Park Semper Fi celebrates 20th anniversary
- San Clemente Times: 2/4 welcomed home by adoptive city (2018)
- Orange County Veterans Day Events 2026
- Orange County Veterans Service Office
- VA home loans
- OCTA holiday bus schedules
- Downtown and Pier Bowl
- San Clemente Beach Trail guide
- San Clemente beaches
- Buying a single-family home in San Clemente
Figures are from the cited sources and change over time. Confirm current details with Alex or the MLS before making decisions.
