Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, Nov. 11th, 2026 and Tuolumne County has a full five days of ways to honor it, starting with the opening of the Field of Honor on Saturday, Nov. 7th,2026.
Ceremonies and Gatherings
The anchor of the week is the Tuolumne County Field of Honor presented by Sonora Sunrise Rotary Club. Hundreds of American flags fill Standard Park and Sports Complex, 18500 Standard Rd. in Sonora, from Saturday, Nov. 7th through Wednesday, Nov. 11th. It is FREE, open daily from noon to 4:30 p.m., and illuminated in the evening. Opening ceremonies begin at noon on Saturday, Nov.7th with a color guard, guest speakers, and free hot dogs. Each flag is dedicated to a veteran, service member, or first responder, so take a moment to read the names.
*For more information call Lisa Dasko, 2026 Field of Honor Chair, at 209-400-1644
to dedicate a flag!
Black Oak Casino Resort, Tuolumne (1 p.m.): Join the resort in the Willow Creek Lounge, 19400 Tuolumne Road North, to recognize the courage, service, and sacrifices of our nation's heroes. Check the resort's page or call 209-928-9300 for the full schedule of Veterans Day specials.
Places to Pay Your Respects
Visit Tuolumne County's Veterans Memorial Trail is a mobile passport and map of nine memorials, monuments, and points of remembrance around the county. You can check in at each stop and complete the trail at your own pace.
Free Entry to Yosemite on Veterans Day
Veterans Day is one of the National Park Service's fee-free days, so entrance fees are waived at Yosemite National Park on Wednesday, Nov. 11th, 2026. That makes Veterans Day a good day to pair a morning ceremony with an afternoon in the park, or to stay an extra night and spend the holiday there. *Fee-free applies to entrance fees only. Camping, parking, and shuttle or tour costs may still apply.
Skip the Valley and head for a quieter corner of the park: Hetch Hetchy, right here in Tuolumne County near Groveland. Granite walls and waterfalls rival Yosemite Valley's, with a deep blue reservoir below the 430-foot O'Shaughnessy Dam that holds back an 8-mile-long reservoir that still supplies drinking water to the San Francisco Bay Area. Granite walls and waterfalls surround the reservoir, and trails from the dam lead to Wapama Falls, which drops more than 1,000 feet. The entrance is on Evergreen Road off Highway 120, just before the Big Oak Flat entrance.
What to know in November:
The Hetch Hetchy Road is open from sunrise to sunset only.
From November through March, the road may close or require chains because of ice and snow. Call 209-372-0200 for current road conditions before you go.
Vehicles and trailers over 25 feet long or 8 feet wide are not permitted on the narrow, winding road.
Hiking and walking are available year-round. Pets are not allowed on the dam or hiking trails, and swimming and boating are prohibited on the reservoir.
Where to Stay
Staying overnight lets you see the Field of Honor lit at night, attend a morning ceremony without an early drive, and still have time for a museum and a good meal. Lodging for every budget is available throughout the county.
This Veterans Day, come to Tuolumne County to remember, Walk the Field of Honor, read the names on the flags, visit our memorials, and thank a veteran in person. Find countywide events by visiting our events page or stop by the Visitor Center at 193 S. Washington St. in Sonora, or call 209-533-4420 - open 10am-2pm on Veterans Day.
You’ll need a place to stay during your visit — with options to fit your style and your budget. Choose from mountain resorts, historic inns, cozy vacation cabins (perfect for gathering the family), distinctive B&Bs, and full-service RV parks, all offering a range of affordability.
