Trump's DC military parade 2025: Start times, schedule, route, map, how to watch

President Donald Trump's multi-million dollar festival and parade celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army kicked off Saturday morning, June 14, and will continue late into the evening, rain or shine, the White House says.

The 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade will conclude a day-long festival, full of music, fireworks and a fitness competition. The pomp and circumstance also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday.

"For two and a half centuries, the men and women of America's Army have dominated our enemies and protected our freedom at home," Trump said in a video posted to Truth Social in early June. "This parade salutes our soldiers' remarkable strength and unbeatable spirit. You won't want to miss it. Just don't miss this one. It's going to be good."

Here's everything to know about the 250th Birthday of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade.

What are the military festival, parade celebrating?

The military parade and festival celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress voted to establish the Continental Army, organizers say, marking the creation of America’s first national military force more than a year before the Declaration of Independence.

What time is the military parade?

With Trump arriving at the parade early, the event began at 6 p.m. ET.

Trump arrived at his viewing stand to watch the parade at 5:43 p.m. ET, about half an hour earlier than originally scheduled, as evening rain and thunderstorms are anticipated.

The president will watch the parade alongside some of his Cabinet members, Republican lawmakers and other top allies. It is unclear if the 7:45 p.m. end time will change as a result of the weather.

What is the full military festival schedule?

Here's a look at the full festival schedule*, per the U.S. Army:

• 8:15 a.m.: Wreath-laying ceremony hosted by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Arlington National Cemetery
• 9:30 a.m. to noon: Fitness competition and awards ceremony
• 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Music and entertainment provided by the U.S. Army Band, Latin Music Ensemble, DJ Nyla and U.S. Army Drill Teams
• 12:30-1 p.m. ET: Noah Hicks performance on main stage
• 1-2 p.m.: NFL "Skills and Drills" event
• 1:30-1:45 p.m.: Medal of Honors recipients recognition
• 2-2:50 p.m.: Scott Hastings performance on main stage
• 2:45-3 p.m.: Army Astronaut Special Presention
• 4:15-5 p.m.: 250th Army Birthday Festival official ceremony with cake cutting
• 6:30 p.m.: Parade begins
• 7:45-8 p.m.: Enlistment ceremony, concert at the Ellipse and fireworks

*The times listed in the above schedule are in eastern time.

What is the military parade route?

The parade will take place along Constitution Avenue NW, starting on Constitution Avenue NW and 23rd Street and ending on 15th Street alongside the National Mall, near the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

It is next to the Smithsonian Metro Station NW entrance, which will be closed, organizers say, though the Smithsonian Metro Station SW entrance will be open.

Is the miliary parade free to attend?

Yes, the military parade is free.

Do you need tickets to attend the military parade?

Tickets are not required, but those who register on the U.S. Army event website may get a good view of the procession. Prospective attendees will need to provide their full name, phone number, email and address. Attendees are limited to two RSVPs per phone number. To learn more or RSVP, visit events.america250.org/events/250th-anniversary-of-the-us-army-grand-military-parade-and-celebration.

Which roads will be closed during the military parade?

A full list of road closures is available here.

How to watch military parade from home

Paste BN will stream the military parade on its YouTube channel. The livestream is also at the top of this story.

A full round-up of TV broadcast plans, including CNN, NBC and Fox News, can be found here.

How much will the festival, parade cost to host?

Officials initially estimated the Army Birthday Festival and parade would range in cost from $25 million to $45 million, but the Army’s latest estimate totaled $40 million, as Paste BN's Tom Vanden Brook previously reported, citing a Defense official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Will the military parade get canceled if it rains?

Trump has said that the Saturday parade will go on, rain or shine, even though the National Weather Service's forecast, as of Friday afternoon, showed a 60% chain of rain.

"I hope the weather's okay, but actually if it's not, that brings you good luck, and that's okay, too," Trump said on June 12, during the congressional picnic at the White House. "It doesn't matter. It doesn't affect the tanks at all, it doesn't affect the soldiers. They're used to it. They're tough. Smart."

When was the last military parade?

The last major military parade, the National Victory Celebration, was held on June 8, 1991 to celebrate the end of the Gulf War.

Contributing: Joey Garrison, Tom Vanden Brook, Amaris Encinas and Fernando Cervantes Jr., Paste BN

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.

Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for Paste BN. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.

This story was updated to add a video.