This article was updated on June 10, 2025.
The upcoming “America 250” military parade and festival in Washington, DC, will fall on June 14 to commemorate the Army’s 250th birthday; the date is also President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, something that surely has no significance at all. Here is the most up-to-date information on the celebration that’s bringing, among other things, lots of tanks to the city.
What exactly is planned for the military parade and other events on June 14?
The day will kick off with a fitness competition and awards on the National Mall from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM—guests can enter starting at 8 AM. Next comes the army birthday festival from 11 AM to 6 PM, leading into the highly anticipated parade, which will start at 6:30 PM.
The parade will feature approximately 6,600 soldiers, 150 military vehicles, and 50 helicopters. The official route will begin on Constitution Avenue by the Lincoln Memorial and end at 15th Street; some lightweight military vehicles will cross Memorial Bridge to join from the Pentagon. Along with the parade, there will also be a flyover, a parachuting demonstration from the Army’s Golden Knights, a concert on the Ellipse, and fireworks.
As part of the parade, a procession of heavy military vehicles will make their way down Constitution Avenue, including 28 M1A1 tanks, 28 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, 28 Strykers, and four Paladins, according to a Pentagon press conference held on May 21. There will also be several towed artillery pieces, historical military equipment including an M4 Sherman and a Douglas C-47 Skytrain—both used extensively during World War II—as well as 34 horses, two mules, one wagon, and a single dog.
Roughly 50 Army helicopters will participate in the flyover, taking off from Joint Base Andrews and flying in formation. Reagan National Airport will remain open, but it will suspend air traffic during the parade flyover and fireworks. This is expected to impact at least 116 flights, according to reporting from NBC Washington. In anticipation of disrupted flight schedules, some airlines are offering passengers free rebooking to fly out of Dulles or Baltimore/Washington international airports.
The military parade will aim to tell the story of the Army’s 250-year history, beginning with the Revolutionary War and ending with the contemporary era. Cohorts of soldiers marching down Constitution Avenue will be dressed in specific time-period uniforms sourced from a production company.
Approximately 200,000 visitors are anticipated for the day’s event, according to the Pentagon.
What time do the parade and concert start?
The parade will run from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, the concert will start around 7:30, and the fireworks will start at approximately 9:45 PM. The festival and parade are open to the public, but those interested in attending can register here for up to two tickets to cut down security times.
What will all this cost?
All of the day’s events are projected to cost anywhere from $25 to $45 million for the Army. Reuters has previously reported that this figure excludes costs borne by the DC city government; at the Pentagon press conference, Army officials could not confirm whether this figure includes or excludes additional city government costs, such as trash collection and police overtime.
Won’t all those military vehicles tear up DC’s roads?
Much concern has been raised about the damage that heavy military vehicles could to do DC’s streets. Army officials will be placing 13 metal plates on the roads—specifically in high-risk areas where the vehicles are turning sharply—in order to minimize damage. They also said that new track pads will be added to the tanks, creating a rubber layer of separation between the tanks’ metal tracks and the road surfaces.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser commented in April about the upcoming military parade, stating, “If military tanks were used, they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads.” According to Army officials, the Army will be responsible for the costs of any unforeseen road damage; NBC Washington reported that this figure could surpass $16 million. Yesterday, the military vehicles arrived in DC after being transported by train from Fort Cavazos in Texas.
Where will the thousands of soldiers stay?
Soldiers have already begun arriving in DC—around 500 are currently in the General Services Administration building downtown, which can hold up to 5,000. They will be sleeping on cots and eating some meals onsite. They will source other meals locally, with a daily allowance of $58—down from the previously reported $69 a day.
What’s the background behind this parade?
President Trump had previously floated the idea of a military parade back in 2018 after witnessing a bold Bastille Day celebration in Paris the year before. He’d reportedly asked the Pentagon to “top” the French celebration, but sticker shock from the projected cost—with one estimate running up to $92 million—ultimately led him to drop the idea.
According to the Pentagon, planning for the Army’s 250th birthday bash—including the festival on the Mall as well as various worldwide events—has been underway for the past two years. However, the idea for a military parade only emerged earlier this year. According to Army officials, this new initiative “grew out of discussions” and was not a directive from the White House.
So, is this all just a big birthday bash for Trump?
Despite the optics of this parade falling on Trump’s birthday, Army officials insisted at the May 21 Pentagon press conference that there is no connection between the two events. There are “no plans” to sing “Happy Birthday,” and there will be no recognition by the Army of the President’s birthday.
Though Trump may not be blowing out any candles at this parade, he’ll still be involved in a number of other ways. Risers are being built for Trump to view the spectacle, and Trump will also administer the oath to a group of 250 future soldiers during the parade, according to the Pentagon. Near the end of the day, the Army’s Golden Knights will parachute down to present Trump with a folded flag.
Will there be protests?
Grassroots organizations have planned hundreds of protests in places including Alaska, Maine, and Puerto Rico. Many of these are part of the “No Kings” protests, and while the organizer’s website says it will not host an event in DC, they are hosting protests in Virginia and Maryland. The local group Resist DC plans to lead a rally on Connecticut Avenue. The local chapter of RefuseFascism will lead a march to the White House. Various other groups will also co-host a “Pro-Democracy Picnic” with live music, food, and entertainment. Expect more events to pop up. In the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Trump said that anyone protesting the parade in DC would be met with “very big force.”
Has there ever been a military parade before in DC?
The last time DC saw a military parade was in 1991, following the victory of Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War. During that parade, organizers had the foresight to remove lampposts from the city streets to make way for heavy military vehicles. But even those precautions weren’t enough: the 67-ton tanks still left tread marks on Constitution Avenue’s hot asphalt, which had been softened that day by the 85-degree heat. In another parade boo-boo, combat helicopters sprayed dust along the National Mall during their landing, inadvertently pockmarking several statues at the nearby Hirshhorn. One sculpture, “The Nymph,” had to be restored after she was pelted by a firehose-like spray of dirt and gravel.
