Traffic, freebies and other things to know for Memorial Day weekend

With Memorial Day comes free food, events, parades, stuff and more. These deals and steals range to everything from free admission to Colonial Williamsburg for military families to a free bike-in movie marathon at the Hill Center. (AP Photo/ Joseph Kaczmarek, File) Memorial Day 2016 freebies and deals
Consumers don't have to wait for Memorial Day weekend for sales, some are happening now. (Thinkstock)
It may seem like every store is having a major sale for Memorial Day weekend, but are they worth it? It all comes down to what you’re buying. You might want to avoid those summer items and head instead for the spring items stores are looking to get rid of. (Thinkstock) How to get the most out of Memorial Day sales (Getty Images/iStockphoto/zhudifeng)
Participants in the Rolling Thunder annual motorcycle rally ride in the national mall during the annual parade ahead of Memorial Day in Washington, Sunday, May 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
For D.C. area residents sticking around this weekend, there will be plenty of Memorial Day weekend events to check out – like Rolling Thunder – and plenty of road closures to go with them including rolling closures along Interstate 66 and limited access to portions of Interstate 395. Find a comprehensive list. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Memorial Day weekend events trigger road closures: What you need to know to get around (AP/Jose Luis Magana)
The Rev. James Magness blesses motorcycles during the 'Blessing of the Bikes' at the Washington National Cathedral, May 27, 2016, in Washington, DC. Rolling Thunder members and supporters will participate in a motorcycle rally on Sunday afternoon in Washington. Rolling Thunder is an advocacy group that seeks to bring awareness to prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA) service members of all U.S. wars. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
The Rev. James Magness blesses motorcycles during the ‘Blessing of the Bikes’ at the Washington National Cathedral, May 27, 2016, in Washington, DC. Rolling Thunder members and supporters will participate in a motorcycle rally on Sunday afternoon in Washington. Rolling Thunder is an advocacy group that seeks to bring awareness to prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA) service members of all U.S. wars. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Memorial Day weekend events from across the country (Getty Images/Drew Angerer)
If you’re thinking about traveling by Metro this weekend, check for delays and know to avoid the Orange Line as it will be closed for the entire Memorial Day weekend. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Metro to close Orange Line, work on all lines Memorial Day weekend
Police car on the street at night
Most drivers know not to text and drive, or drink and drive, but police say most need to remember frustrated driving, especially on a holiday weekend like Memorial Day. When drivers act on stress, they can get a ticket. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File) Police to target aggressive, impaired drivers during Memorial Day getaway (Getty Images/iStockphoto/OlegSirenko)
Heavy northbound traffic approaches the first on-ramp for the 95 Express Lanes in Stafford County in this WTOP file photo. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Transurban, which operates the 95 Express Lanes in Virginia, expects increased volume Thursday and Friday afternoons from noon to 6 p.m. With the increased volume, drivers using those lanes should expect to see higher-than-average tolls. The lane operator suggested avoiding those peak times to see the greatest benefit of those toll lanes. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) What to expect on the 95 Express Lanes this holiday weekend (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Traffic is seen on Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, Friday, May 23, 2014, near Andrews Air Force Base, Md., outside Washington, ahead of Memorial Day weekend. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Friday is no longer the busiest day to leave for your road trip this Memorial Day weekend. Thursday is every bit as bad as Friday on holiday weekends, according to Bob Immler in the WTOP Traffic Center. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) The worst time to leave for Memorial Day weekend (AP/Carolyn Kaster)
Trent Harmon, left, and Trace Adkins, right, will perform at Sunday's National Memorial Day Concert in Washington D.C. (AP Photos by John Salangsang & Lawrence Jackson)
This year’s National Memorial Day Concert, which airs live Sunday night from 8-9:30 p.m. on PBS and around the globe, will feature “American Idol” winner Trent Harmon, Trace Adkins and The Beach Boys. The annual concert is free to the public but if you’re headed down, be sure to grab your spot early. (AP Photos by John Salangsang & Lawrence Jackson) “Idol” winner joins Adkins, Beach Boys for Memorial Day Concert ( (AP Photos by John Salangsang & Lawrence Jackson))
bay bridge (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Planning to spend some time at the beach this weekend? Get the latest traffic and weather updates on WTOP.com. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Beach traffic and weather (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A lot of neighborhood pools open up over Memorial Day weekend. Local safety officials are reminding adults they have to be careful with their kids. (Getty Images/iStockphoto/YanLev) Memorial Day: Keeping pool time, backyard gatherings safe (Getty Images/iStockphoto/YanLev)
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Consumers don't have to wait for Memorial Day weekend for sales, some are happening now. (Thinkstock)
Participants in the Rolling Thunder annual motorcycle rally ride in the national mall during the annual parade ahead of Memorial Day in Washington, Sunday, May 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
The Rev. James Magness blesses motorcycles during the 'Blessing of the Bikes' at the Washington National Cathedral, May 27, 2016, in Washington, DC. Rolling Thunder members and supporters will participate in a motorcycle rally on Sunday afternoon in Washington. Rolling Thunder is an advocacy group that seeks to bring awareness to prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA) service members of all U.S. wars. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Police car on the street at night
Heavy northbound traffic approaches the first on-ramp for the 95 Express Lanes in Stafford County in this WTOP file photo. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Traffic is seen on Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, Friday, May 23, 2014, near Andrews Air Force Base, Md., outside Washington, ahead of Memorial Day weekend. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Trent Harmon, left, and Trace Adkins, right, will perform at Sunday's National Memorial Day Concert in Washington D.C. (AP Photos by John Salangsang & Lawrence Jackson)
bay bridge (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Valerie Bonk

Valerie Bonk started working at WTOP in 2016 and has lived in Howard County, Maryland, her entire life. She's thrilled to be a reporter for WTOP telling stories on air. She works as both a television and radio reporter in the Maryland and D.C. areas. 

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