The U.S. Army is marking its 250th anniversary Saturday, June 14, with a daylong festival, music performances , fireworks and a pomp-filled procession through the streets of the nation's capital in a display with few precedents.
The parade and festival, coinciding with President Donald Trump 79th birthday and Flag Day , will consume several blocks of central Washington, D.C. , mainly taking place on the National Mall. Meanwhile, protests are scheduled across the nation on the same day, including in California .
The day kicks off at about 5:15 a.m. PT with a wreath-laying ceremony headed by the Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth at Arlington National Cemetery. It will be livestreamed here , followed by a series of all-day events including an evening parade and concluding with a fireworks display. The parade, along with several other events and concerts, will also be livestreamed.
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The festivities are the "opening event" for the yearlong celebration of America's 250th birthday in 2026, organizers say. While planning for the 2026 sesquicentennial started nearly nine years ago by an act of Congress , planning for the June 14 parade began a little over a month ago, according to USA TODAY reporting The administration has repeatedly said that the Army’s anniversary and Trump’s birthday are coincidental, though it is unclear if the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps will get their own celebrations during theirs. 250th birthdays this fall .
Here is the latest schedule of events, as of a June 11 information sheet published by the U.S. Army's Public Affairs team, along with how to watch.
When and where is the June 14 DC military parade?
The military parade The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 14, in the heart of Washington, D.C., spanning six blocks and bisecting the National Mall. Organizers say the procession begins at 3:30 p.m. PT.
The festivities begin earlier in the day but shift from festival to parade at 3 p.m. PT, according to organizers, with updated procession times listing a 3:30 p.m. PT start time on Constitution Avenue and lasting until approximately 4:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. PT. Afterward, there will be an enlistment ceremony, a concert on the Ellipse, and fireworks.
More information, including any possible changes or updates, is likely to be available on the Army's event website. www.army.mil/1775/ .
Graphic of parade route: See where the procession will go through central DC
DC military parade, festival schedule
Here's a breakdown of other events throughout the day, according to the U.S. Army event page as of June 12 (all times Pacific):
- Around 5:15 a.m. PT: Wreath-laying ceremony headed by Sec. of Defense Pete Hegseth at Arlington National Cemetery
- 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.: Fitness competition
- 8 a.m.: Music performances by the U.S. Army band and U.S. Army Drill Team, among others; cooking demonstration by celebrity chef and U.S. Army veteran Andre Rush
- 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Noah Hicks' performance on main stage
- 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: NFL "Skills and Drills" event
- 10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.: Recognition event for Medal of Honor recipients
- 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.: Scotty Hasting's performance on main stage
- 11:45 a.m. to noon: "Army Astronaut Special Presentation" event
- 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m.: 250th Army Birthday Festival official ceremony with cake cutting, streamed live
- 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. : The festivities transition to the parade
- 3:30 p.m.: The parade begins
- Approximately 4:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. : The festivities shift to an enlistment ceremony, a concert at the Ellipse, and fireworks.
When is the Army Birthday Festival on Saturday?
The free festival will be held on the National Mall from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. PT, according to Army organizers.
Attendees are advised to enter at 7th Street between the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, between Madison Drive NW and Jefferson Drive SW. It is open to the public, and will feature opportunities to interact with soldiers, watch military demonstrations and displays, listen to live music.
Organizers say the festival is family-friendly, pointing to robotics displays, celebrity meet-and-greets, face painting, games, and a rock wall. available for kids .
What are some of the events during the Army Birthday Festival?
The U.S. Army will hold a fitness competition earlier in the day, from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. PT, organizers say , with events "highlighting the fitness of both individuals and squads" to "test how the teams work under stress and motivate each other" to cross the finish line.
Rather watch the fitness competition than participate? You can tune in to the livestream here , scheduled to begin at 6:10 a.m. PT. Awards for the competition will be presented at noon, which will also be live-streamed .
At 8 a.m., upon the start of the festival, there will be a cooking demonstration by celebrity chef and U.S. Army veteran Andre Rush, who has worked as a chef in the White House during four prior administrations.
Music performances also commence at 8 a.m., with performances by the U.S. Army band and U.S. Army Drill Team, among others, lasting until 10:30 a.m.
How to watch the Army's 250th anniversary parade
The parade will be livestreamed on all U.S. Army social media platforms, and on the U.S. Army's livestream page .
Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Tom Vanden Brook
Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @ Kathryn Plmr .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What time is Trump’s DC military parade? See full festival schedule, how to watch from home
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