Memorial Day Weekend in Terrell, TX: Shopping, Eats, and an Easy Family Day
A Long Weekend, an Easy Plan
Memorial Day 2026 is Monday, May 25, which means a three-day weekend stretching Saturday May 23 through Monday May 25. If you’re avoiding the lake-traffic mass exodus and looking for a low-key way to spend a few hours close to home, The Shops at Terrell (formerly Tanger Outlets Terrell) is one of the easiest half-day plans in Kaufman County.
Here’s our suggested loop, including where we fit in.
The Half-Day Plan
10:30 AM — Arrive. Free parking, biggest lot near the Nike anchor. Saturday morning before noon is by far the calmest window of the weekend.
10:45 AM — Outlet anchors. Hit two or three:
- Levi’s for any denim refresh before summer
- Old Navy Outlet for kids’ summer basics
- Famous Footwear for sandals or kids’ growing-foot replacements
- Crocs if you have any kids in your life under 12
Don’t try to hit everything. Pick two, get out.
11:30 AM — Snack stop. Rocky Mountain Chocolate for a small treat. Or, depending on what’s currently rotating in the food court at the center, grab a quick lunch.
12:00 PM — Gugu Gifts (Suite 112). This is our pitch: 15 minutes max. If you have a Memorial Day cookout this weekend, walk out with a hostess gift. If summer birthdays are coming up, get ahead of them. If you just want a candle, we have that too.
12:30 PM — Optional add-on. Hometown Cinema at the center is showing the big summer releases — turn the half-day into a full one if the kids are up for it.
1:30 PM — Home with two outlet bags, a wrapped gift, and a movie behind you.
What to Bring to a Memorial Day Cookout
Honest answer from us: don’t bring more food. Every host has more food than they need. What they don’t have:
- Greenleaf Citron Sol candle ($12) — bright, lemony, sets the outdoor patio mood without competing with grill smoke
- Crow Canyon Enamelware platter ($36–$40) — they unwrap it, immediately use it for the watermelon, you’re a legend
- Voluspa Lychee 5.5 oz ($22) — for the host who already lives this aesthetic
- A small Glory Haus mug ($20) — for the host’s morning-after coffee, with a card
Anything in the $20–$45 range hits the right note: thoughtful, not extravagant, doesn’t make the host’s gift back to you next year a competition.
Practical Notes for Memorial Day
- Hours: most stores at the center keep regular Saturday hours. Monday Memorial Day has slightly reduced hours. Sunday is typical.
- Parking: free and plentiful. Saturday after 1 PM gets busier; arrive earlier if you can.
- The drive: I-20 Exit 501. Coming from Heartland, Travis Ranch, Forney, or anywhere in Kaufman County, you’re 10–20 minutes out.
- Restaurants in Terrell proper: if you want to extend the day, Historic Downtown Terrell has lunch options worth a 5-minute drive.
We’re Open Memorial Day Weekend
Saturday May 23 and Sunday May 24: standard hours Monday May 25 (Memorial Day): open midday for late-arrivals and last-minute cookout-gift runs
Walk in: Gugu Gifts, 301 Tanger Dr, Suite 112, Terrell, TX 75160. Free wrapping, real humans, no membership card required.
Email gugu@gugugifts.com with any questions ahead of the weekend.