What to know about the military parade marching into town
And how to avoid it.
This weekend, Trump will cap off a week of siccing the U.S. military on its own citizens by celebrating the military’s 250th birthday in an ostentatious parade and festival, replete with tanks, armored vehicles, 50 helicopters, and – for some reason – two mules and a dog.
The event is taking place Saturday (coincidentally enough, the president’s 79th birthday), but preparations for the celebration — a spectacle unlike anything in recent American military history — will start earlier in the week. The setup will involve closing roads, restricting parking, and generally making getting around downtown D.C. a nightmare for four days.
Here’s what you need to know about the big show — especially if you’re trying to avoid it.
When and where is all this taking place?
Saturday’s festivities will take place on the National Mall between 7th and 23rd streets.
The day starts early with a fitness competition that runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. But attendees will start entering the event through the security checkpoints at 8 a.m. — so if you were planning a morning jog on Saturday, maybe try Rock Creek Park or Kingman Park instead.
The festival itself will start at 11 a.m. with military demonstrations, equipment displays, music, and other activities in the area around the Smithsonian Castle. At 6:30 p.m., the parade – which will be a procession (morbid exhibition?) of tactical vehicles used in wars from Vietnam to Iraq, horses, and, according to the Army, two mules pulling wagons – will begin. It’ll start at 23rd Street and move down Constitution Avenue over the course of an hour and 15 minutes before ending at 15th Street.
The day will end with a concert, parachute demonstration, and fireworks display. According to the current run-of-show, everything should be over by 9:45 p.m.
What do I need to know about road closures?
If possible, your safest bet is to avoid the Mall starting on Thursday night, and maybe even just plan to stay north of K Street completely.
Major roadways, including the George Washington Parkway between Route 50 and I-395, Rock Creek Parkway below Virginia Avenue, and the Arlington Memorial Bridge will be shut down in both directions from midnight on Friday until Sunday night or Monday morning. (Mind you: the parade is just over one hour long and on Saturday!)
Other closures near the Mall and West Potomac Park will be even lengthier, starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday and ending at 6 a.m. on Monday. For a full list of closures and parking restrictions, click here. It is very long and subject to change, according to officials.
(U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
What about public transit?
Metrorail service will be operating normally, but the Smithsonian station's Mall entrance will be closed. If you’re going down there Saturday, people are directed to use the south entrance on Jefferson Drive SW or go to L’Enfant Plaza or Federal Triangle.
Several Metrobus routes are expected to see delays and detours. Avoid the 7A, 10A, 16A, 16C, 16E, 22A, 32, 36, 70, 79, and P6.
Flying out of DCA Saturday? You might not be!
Even air travel will be disrupted on Saturday — a rare occurrence for a special event in D.C., where we regularly host fireworks shows, parades, and large-scale gatherings of national security concern without shuttering an airport.
Due to preparations for a special air display during Saturday’s parade, the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Homeland Security have issued temporary flight restrictions for DCA, pausing departures and landings for an unspecified period of time on Saturday. As of Wednesday, a spokesperson for the FAA said only that during the “peak of the celebration,” all arrivals and departures will be halted. The FAA will also be implementing a special traffic management system at the airport, given that many of the roads people take to get there will be shut down, some as early as Thursday.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said anyone with reservations to fly in or out of DCA on the 14th should check with their airlines for updates. American Airlines, which operates a hub at DCA, has already said it will be offering special fee waivers for service changes.
Going out on a boat ride? Think again!
A security zone will be established on the Potomac River, Anacostia River, and adjacent waters, including the Tidal Basin. If law enforcement vessels are present from 2 p.m. Friday until 1 p.m. on Saturday, you will need to seek permission to enter the zone by calling 410-576-2693 or dialing the captain of the port on channel 16 at 156.8 MHz. (Let’s assume that if this is relevant to you, you know what that means.)
Starting Saturday at 1 p.m., no persons or vessels will be permitted within the maritime security zone, and the U.S. Coast Guard will be patrolling the vicinity.
Throughout the weekend, the Washington Channel will remain open to all vessel traffic.
What’s the security like for something like this?
Somewhat ironically, federal and local law enforcement agencies will be out in full-force on Saturday to protect the military’s birthday party, which, again, will bring more than 100 tactical vehicles and weapons and more than 6,000 troops to the National Mall.
The event has been designated a national special security event — something D.C. is rather familiar with. During NSSEs, D.C.’s local law enforcement agencies partner with federal bodies like the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security for extensive security plans.
Matt McCool, a special agent with the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, said on Monday that crews will erect 18.5 miles of anti-scale fencing around the parade and festival areas and station concrete barriers, 175 magnetometers, and thousands of law enforcement officers across the Mall. (The fencing is expected to come down by June 19, according to McCool — a full five days after the event.)
McCool added that people may see drones flying around on Saturday, but issued a reminder: “Rest assured, all drones will be owned and operated by the Secret Service or our partners, so please do not be alarmed,” he said Monday. So, take comfort in a little surveillance?
The Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Park Police will be on full activation on Saturday, ready to deploy all available resources and personnel. The Metropolitan Transit Police Department will also be increasing staffing at nearby train stations. Members of the D.C. National Guard, as well as out-of-state National Guard members, will also be deployed in D.C. on Saturday, according to McCool.
During a press conference on Monday, officials stressed they were not aware of any current threats to the event, but the FBI will be running a “command post” out of their Washington Field Office to gather intelligence and assess potential threats.
Are there counterprotests?
On Monday, U.S. Park Police Chief Jessica Taylor said the National Park Service has “several permits” pending for First Amendment demonstrations – but Mike Litterst, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, said in an email that the major First Amendment permit he was tracking related to the parade was cancelled last week. (According to Axios D.C., that protest — The National Protest Against Trump and the War Machine — originally had planned to march to the National Mall from Malcolm X Park.)
Per NPS permits provided to The 51st, a pro-democracy rally is slated to take place in Fort Reno Park in Tenleytown, roughly five miles away from the parade. The permit lists a head count of 300 people. An “Equity March” starting in Freedom Plaza is expected to draw some 500 protesters, according to its NPS permit application, and a “Refuse Fascism” march has applied for a 500-person permit in Lafayette Park and Logan Circle.
Across the country, multiple cities are hosting “No Kings” rallies in protest of Trump’s military bonanza – but locally, those are taking place in the ‘burbs.
If you’re looking for a way to be in community on Saturday, FREE DC and Harriet’s Wildest Dreams will be celebrating D.C. rather than the military: D.C. Joy Day is taking place in Anacostia Park, with food, music, activities for kids, and teach-ins.
How much is this costing? What’s all this about damages to D.C.?
According to Army spokesperson Ruth Castro, the celebration is expected to cost between $25 million and $45 million in federal dollars — a budget that even raised eyebrows from Republicans in Congress. (If you’re interested, the Southern Poverty Law Center has compiled a list of what $45 million federal dollars could buy in America, from 14 million lunches for high schoolers to Medicaid coverage for 6,000 people.)
In late May, NBC News reported that military officials estimated the parade could cause some $16 million in damages to D.C. streets — on account of our roads being designed to hold say, Metrobuses and Priuses and not 100,000+pound tanks. Asked about this potential destruction, Bowser said in early June that she wasn’t aware of any damage estimates, but that the city would work to repair any roads and, as is protocol during NSSEs, seek reimbursements from the federal government.
To mitigate possible damage, Army engineers are installing one-inch-thick steel plates at pivot points on roads and replacing rubber pads on vehicles, according to Castro. Colonel Jess Curry with the Army Corps of Engineers said at a press conference on Tuesday that vehicle operators are going to be “very careful” moving through the parade and had “complete confidence” that the event would result in little to no damage to D.C. streets.
Getting the actual equipment to the parade grounds could be a different story. Some of the vehicles are being transported here from across the country (including one tank from Texas that, according to a video the Army posted on social media, had “Hang Fauci & Bill Gates” graffited onto it.)
DDOT director Sharon Kershbaum said the city is working with the federal government to assess the route that vehicles will be taking to get to the Mall, make sure these roads and bridges can withstand the weight of military equipment, and set speed and pacing guidelines to reduce potential harm.
How many people are even going to this?
America250, the body organizing the event, estimates more than 200,000 people will be visiting the Mall for the free celebration, but did not return requests for comment with actual RSVP numbers. Destination D.C., the city's tourism nonprofit, could not provide any estimates for hotel stays.
The Army estimates that 6,600 troops will attend (they will be housed in government office buildings downtown).
When asked at a recent press conference if she would attend, Bower said she “would definitely go,” but isn’t sure what her plans are. A spokesperson for the mayor did not immediately have an update on the mayor’s weekend agenda as of Wednesday morning.
It’s unclear when (or if) the birthday boy will be speaking at the parade or festival. Spokespeople for America250 did not immediately return our request for comment.
So what is this actually celebrating?
Technically, the event is marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Military. The celebration has been on the books since last summer, when the Army filed a permit for a much smaller bash: 300 soldiers, a concert from the U.S. Army band, and four cannons.
Once Trump took office, the event ballooned into what we’re seeing now, fulfilling a years-long dream of the president. Much of the preparation and security planning has been fast-tracked since April, McCool said Tuesday.
While other presidents from Truman to JFK have been inaugurated alongside some military equipment, Saturday’s event is likely to be the largest military parade in decades, second only to the 1991 parade in D.C. that marked the victory of the Gulf War.
What can I do instead?
If marveling at a display of American killing machines is not your thing — no worries! Each week, we publish a weekly list of civic engagement opportunities — ways to tap into your community, advocate and lobby your local leaders, and connect with folks on issues you care about. Watch out for that roundup coming Thursday, in addition to our weekly events post.
To get out of town completely (you’ll have to leave soon or prepare for a bit of a longer journey!), revisit our springtime staycation post for quick getaways around D.C. Our list of romantic winter getaways accessible by public transit might also work for you. And it may be just as cute (or even cuter) without the snow.
